Job Description
Salary: $74,360.69 - $96,668.89 Annually
Location : Austin, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 24-09885
Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)
Opening Date: 03/26/2025
Closing Date: 4/27/2025 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary Travis County Natural Resources Program is looking for an innovative, self-motivated individual to lead our Outreach, Education, and Volunteer Team (Outreach Team) on the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP), the BCP Visitor Center (BCPVC), and other county-managed lands. This position will manage, develop, and execute multifaceted communication, outreach, and engagement strategy, branding, marketing, social media, and public relations work in coordination and consultation with the executive leadership team. Guides, Manages, and evaluates the Outreach Team staff and BCP Visitor Center Manager, including supervision of staff and preparing and managing budgets. Plans, directs, and develops outreach strategies that are consistent with Office goals. Establishes collaborative engagement and partnerships with the constituency to include businesses, public agencies, stakeholders, vendors, internal staff, elected officials, and the Travis County Commissioners Court via public events, meetings, and presentations. Works under minimal direction with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
TNR is comprised of highly talented and knowledgeable individuals who work well as a team. We are passionate about natural resource conservation and strive toward a resilient and environmentally balanced Travis County.
Distinguishing Characteristics This is the third in a series of four environmental-related job classifications within the Professional Support job family. This classification is distinguished from other classifications in that it requires both technical knowledge and managerial skills. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.
Duties and Responsibilities - Performs as project manager, develops, implements, oversees, manages or administers projects, budgets, codes, specifications, policies and procedures for countywide programs, projects and improvements.
- Supervises support staff, evaluates staff job performance, coordinates and prioritizes schedules and assignments, and authorizes staff productive and non-productive work hours. Orients and trains staff.
- Implements outreach and education programs for the public, community organizations and visitors to the BCP and BCPVC
- Participates in information meetings, trainings, and conferences to explain issues related to the programs goals. Represents the department by working closely with groups, community members and organization representatives. Represents the department by working closely with groups, community members and organization representatives.
- Represents the County in attending meetings, advisory groups, neighborhood groups, boards and commissions, seminars, conferences, professional associations meetings, private organizations, and participate on related committees. Responds to difficult citizen inquires and complaints.
- Serve as point of contact with event organizers, educational groups, conservation organizations, partners, user groups and the public.
- Serves as subject expert by advising Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads, County staff, general public and other agencies, and consultants on environmental matters relevant to programs and projects.
- Acts as liaison on environmental matters. Performs County, interlocal and code enforcement coordination. Advises County staff, citizens and other agencies and consultants on environmental matters relevant to County programs and projects. Resolves problems.
- Performs tasks as assigned in annual work-plan. Works with staff to develop and implement. Prepares and conducts environmental compliance training; oversees annual reports.
- Monitors existing and proposed federal, state and local laws and regulations relevant to environmental and natural resources aspects of County programs and projects and ensures compliance with such laws and related County policies and procedures.
- Assists in the development of long range County plan for natural resources/environmental-related programs and projects. Develops, reviews and recommends budget expenditures for County projects and grants, working with project managers and staff.
- Coordinates efforts with contractors, department staff, other departments and agencies, the regulated community, stakeholders and the general public. Serves as departmental liaison for the designated programs
- Provide timely information and maintain the County website and social media accounts
- Coordinates with Elected and Appointed Officials, department heads for programs.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Requirements Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Geography, Technical Writing, Resource Economics or a directly related field AND four (4) years of experience in natural resources/ environmental analysis and grant management, including program and project development, implementation and grant administration, and including one (1) year of mid- to senior level supervisory or management experience;
OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Valid Texas Driver's License.
Depending on assigned duties may require grant/certification writing, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification, International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Erosion Control. Specialist Certification, Water Supply Operator Certification or Pest Control License.
Preferred: Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Education, or Natural Resources
Public Speaking, community outreach
Certified Interpretive Guide
Land conservation, wildlife biology, or related field
Habitat Conservation Plans and/or the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan
Volunteer coordination or project management
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of: - Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques of environmental and natural resource protection.
- Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
- Conducting investigations, including data collection, analyzing, interpreting and writing a report of results
- Federal, State, Local and County applicable environmental laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
- Implementation of environmental procedures within an organization.
- Governmental grant programs.
- Project and contract management.
- Budget preparation and office management.
- Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, ArcView GIS hardware and software, and related applications.
- Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
Skill in: - Supervisory/management issues, including planning and managing teams.
- Using biological monitoring and censusing, and wildlife control equipment.
- Conducting environmental assessments and studies.
- Interacting with all levels of government (Elected Officials), management, employees, multiple outside agencies, and outside contractors.
- Exercising independent judgment under minimal supervision.
- Performing technical writing tasks, including successful grant writing.
- Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
- Problem-solving and decision-making.
- Public speaking and content delivery.
- Both verbal and written communication.
Ability to: - Assess the impacts of proposed land development and/or maintenance practices upon water quality, land resources, and biological resources.
- Analyze and interpret mapped and graphic data and plans for land management and capital improvement projects.
- Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, and implement environmental research and projects.
- Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
- Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
- Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
Work Environment & Other Information Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, and smoke on prescribed or wild fires. Maybe subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday -Friday. May work some holidays, some nights, some weekends
Location: 9512 FM 620, Austin, TX 78726
Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)
Criminal background check, Driving, Education, and Employment verification required.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position. Benefits Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:
- Dental
- Vision
- Supplemental Life, AD&D
- Dependent Life
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- Long Term Care
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.
Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.
Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.
01
What type of degree(s) do you hold? Check all that apply.
- None
- High School Diploma or GED
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- PhD
02
How many years of communications, journalism, outreach, or public relations experience do you have?
- Less than one
- 1 to 2 years
- 3 to 4 years
- 5 years or more
03
How many years of experience do you have in mid-senior level management?
- Less than one
- 1 to 2 years
- 3 to 4 years
- 5 years or more
04
Briefly describe your experience with public speaking and community outreach.
05
Briefly describe your experience working in open, participatory, public forums of diverse opinions and values, educated debates, and complex issues.
06
Briefly describe your knowledge of central Texas flora and fauna.
07
Writing Sample Required: Please attach 1-2 paragraphs making the case for why you are the best hire for this position.
08
A resume, cover letter, and writing sample are required for your application to be complete. Have you attached them to your application?
Required Question
Job Tags
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