Class Code: 05331
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES –
HUMAN RESOURCES
NATURAL RESOURCES TECHNICIAN 2
DEFINITION
Performs a variety of technical tasks in a
fisheries or wildlife research or management unit or in a fish hatchery, forestry
nursery, state forest, urban forest, state park or recreation area; responsible
for carrying out annual plans developed by an in charge biologist; may direct
the work of others in the performance of operations in one of the units;
performs related work as required.
The Work
Examples and Competencies listed are for illustrative purposes only and not
intended to be the primary basis for position classification decisions.
WORK EXAMPLES
Administers a cooperative farming program in an
assigned area; writes farm contracts, determines crop rotation within the
context of a management plan, maps crop fields, monitors farming activities to
insure that the agreement is followed; amends contracts to prevent damage from
or by wildlife, and collects and submits remittances to farmers annually.
Assists in the implementation of a statewide residential tree
distribution program; establishes partnership with County Conservation Boards,
Resource Conservation and Development areas (RC&Ds) areas and County
Extension Offices for project implementation during the Spring and Fall
seasons.
Submits written wildlife management proposals or reports including pond
and dike locations, channelization changes, improved water management and
vegetation control techniques, and drainage improvement to the biologist.
Meets with private contractors to obtain competitive bids for contracts
for projects that are beyond the capability of available staff and equipment;
drafts agreements and contracts for project implementation. Monitors community forestry grants for
planting and maintenance compliance.
Drafts requests for proposals (RFPs) and communicates with nursery and
garden centers to acquire 6,000 to 8,000 landscape trees annually; obtains
competitive bids from nurseries and contractors; drafts agreements and
contracts for project implementation; inspects and certifies that landscape
trees meet minimum standards and are pest free; directs work of volunteers to
distribute trees.
Determines the location and composition of tree and shrub plantings,
water levels and pumping needs on unit marshes.
Assists urban forester/state forester, and arboricultural technical and
volunteer coordination assistance to city officials/community leaders, e.g.,
tree inventory, tree planting design and layout.
Investigates special land management problems and prepares written
recommendations for the supervisor.
Assists with insect trapping, tree disease and invasive plant
monitoring.
Assists a biologist, park ranger, or forester with the preparation of
annual and biennial budgets by determining unit equipment and material needs,
estimating unit operational costs and project request costs; maintains cost
accounting ledger to track purchases.
Determines needed repairs to dikes, water control structures, parking lots
and buildings and either carries out or oversees unit workers in repair and
maintenance activities.
Designs and constructs figures, graphs, and visual aids for presentation
of articles in scientific journals, professional meetings, and statewide
meetings; analyzes data, draws conclusions, and writes up findings to present
to a biologist for publication.
Assists in collecting biological data such as fish population and
harvest figures, brood fish and eggs for fish cultures, wildlife surveys such
as roadside game bird counts, winter muskrat, raccoon and deer spotlight, and
aerial deer surveys.
Conducts and/or coordinates facilities and equipment maintenance work
such as painting, mowing, vegetation control, and minor carpentry, electrical,
and plumbing projects.
Oversees inmates in the establishment and improvement of forest stands
by planting trees; works in established forest stands thinning, pruning,
collecting seed, maintaining trial plots, nursery operations and other forestry
related work.
Works at a state forest nursery to grow, process and ship tree
seedlings; carries out nursery practices such as land preparation,
fertilization, seeding, growing, irrigating, culturing, harvesting, grading and
shipping tree seedlings.
Prepares or coordinates the preparation of monthly and quarterly
management reports such as vehicle usage, inventory, purchases, and work
activities for biologists, park rangers, or foresters.
Operates and manages a state park or recreational area which does not
have a Park Ranger or other supervisory person on site.
Enforces conservation laws of the State of
Assists in reviewing design, drawings and specifications on construction
projects; assists in site review and inspection.
Operates and maintains heating, cooling, water supply, and electrical
systems of buildings and associated fish culture facilities; determines needed
repairs to such systems and makes the repair or contracts to have repairs done;
repairs circuit boards, electrical distribution systems, alarm instrumentation
panels, valves, lighting systems, etc.
Observes hatchery reared fish for abnormal behavioral and/or physical
changes which may indicate disease; makes preliminary fish disease diagnostic
examinations and carries out proper disease treatment with the concurrence of a
biologist; transports live fish from a hatchery or lake to waters in which they
are to be released with minimal loss and in an economical manner.
Creates and maintains short and long term research and survey files and
databases; oversees data entry and error checking research and survey data for
personal or mainframe computers; assists in tabulating and analyzing research
and survey data; produces final data summaries and reports using statistical
procedures.
Assists a biologist in conducting research projects which may involve
literature research, field research activities, data collection and data
processing for preliminary data analysis.
Directs and oversees inmate crews on a permanent basis engaged in road,
trail, bridge, boundary line, forest, and building maintenance and
construction.
Assists in developing communication materials, e.g., newsletters,
publications, fact sheets and news releases.
Assists a supervisor by performing, in accordance
with set procedures, policies, and standards, such duties as instructing
employees such as Natural Resources Technician 1, Maintenance Repairer,
seasonal employees or inmates about tasks, answering questions about procedures
and policies, distributing and balancing the workload and checking work; may
make occasional suggestions on appointments, promotions, and reassignments.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
Knowledge of the principles and practices of natural science as related
to natural resources programs.
Knowledge of the wildlife management, forest, farm and contracting
program requirements.
Knowledge of basic state and federal laws, rules,
and regulations as they relate to assigned natural resources programs.
Knowledge of major fish diseases and fish culture practices.
Knowledge of forestry, forest inventories, tree identifications, tree
plantings, horticulture, arboriculture, soil science, urban forestry, and plant
science.
Knowledge of fisheries or wildlife research techniques such as radio
telemetry, trapping, banding, vegetation analysis, fish sampling methods,
stream surveys, water quality studies, and fish kills.
Knowledge of basic statistical concepts and analytical procedures used
in analyzing research data.
Ability to operate sawmill equipment, grade lumber and market timber
sales.
Ability to initiate and control prescribed forest burns.
Ability to operate and maintain power tools and equipment commonly used
to maintain buildings and landscapes.
Ability to perform techniques used in conducting fisheries or wildlife management
and research projects such as population surveys, trapping, banding, water
quality analysis, stream surveys, etc.
Ability to express ideas effectively both orally and in writing in the
preparation of fisheries, urban forestry, or wildlife management and research
reports and articles for publication.
Ability to safely operate equipment such as boats and motors, power tools,
chain saws, tractors bulldozers, fish shocking equipment, floor buffers, air
compressors, air dryers, oxygen generators, ultra-violet disinfection units,
boilers, etc.
Ability to direct the work of others to ensure the safe and efficient
completion of tasks by giving assignments and directions, reviewing work for
accuracy and completeness, and answering questions about work assignments.
Ability to use personal computers to manipulate databases and
spreadsheets and communicate with other users.
Ability to perform strenuous physical labor outdoors under any type of
weather conditions.
Ability to read, understand and interpret
blueprints, electrical schematics, equipment manuals, repair manuals, and
project manuals.
Displays an ability to work with the media, i.e.,
interviews, news releases, magazine articles, and public speaking.
Displays high standards of ethical conduct. Exhibits honesty and integrity. Refrains from theft-related, dishonest or
unethical behavior.
Works and communicates with
internal and external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite,
courteous, and cooperative manner.
Committed to quality service.
Displays a high level of
initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments
efficiently. Works with minimal supervision. Demonstrates responsible behavior and
attention to detail.
Responds appropriately to
supervision. Follows policy and cooperates
with supervisors.
Aligns behavior with the
needs, priorities and goals of the organization.
Encourages and facilitates
cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity.
Fosters commitment and team spirit.
Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into
account the audience and nature of the information. Listens to others and responds appropriately.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
The equivalent of three years of full time
experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or
heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural,
conservation, or natural resources program;
OR
an
equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester
hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program
for each year of the required experience;
OR
employees
with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that
includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural
Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.
NOTE:
Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator
within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time
of hire.
SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION
For designated positions, the appointing authority, with Iowa Department
of Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise prior approval, may
request those applicants possessing a minimum of twelve semester hours of
education, six months of experience, or a combination of both, or a specific certificate,
license, or endorsement in the following areas:
900 fisheries biology
901 wildlife biology
907 forestry
936 urban forestry,
horticulture, arboriculture
Applicants
wishing to be considered for such designated positions must list applicable
coursework, experience, certificate, license, or endorsement on the
application.
Effective
Date: 07/07
CH