The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages one of the largest and most diverse state parks systems in the nation and protects and enhances natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout Massachusetts. The DCR system includes over 450,000 acres of parks, forests, water supply protection lands, beaches, lakes, ponds, playgrounds, swimming pools, golf courses, skating rinks, trails and parkways.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation seeks qualified applicants for the position of Seasonal Regional Planner I.

DCR has an active Land Acquisition Program that acquires land through fee purchases and through Conservation Restrictions (CRs). Currently, DCR’s Division of State Parks holds over 330 CRs on approximately 40,000 acres of land throughout the Commonwealth. These restricted lands must be routinely monitored.

The CR Stewardship Planner will work with the CR Stewardship Program staff and assist in implementing DCR’s CR Stewardship Program, with a focus on monitoring, records management, and landowner outreach. In addition, the CR Stewardship Planner will occasionally assist the Director of Land Protection and other Land Acquisition Staff on related land protection issues and projects.

Specific duties include:

• Conducting detailed field inspections of CRs, primarily in eastern Massachusetts, and meeting with CR landowners as needed.
• Documenting existing conditions on CRs using photography, ArcGIS applications (Survey123 and Field Maps), GPS technology, and thorough notes.
• Preparing detailed monitoring reports based on field inspections.
• Updating and maintaining a detailed informational database & filing system.
• Assisting CR Stewardship Program staff in reviewing landowner requests for permitted activities and plans required by CRs (e.g., Forest Stewardship Plans, Forest Cutting Plans, Agricultural Conservation Plans) for consistency with CR
• Cultivating and maintaining positive working relationships with CR landowners.
• Working with CR Stewardship Program staff to distribute information on CRs to DCR Operations and Forestry staff, including Baseline Documentation Reports.
• Posting boundaries of CRs, as needed.
• Using geographic information systems software (ArcGIS) to develop maps of CRs and fieldwork data layers as needed.
• Assisting CR Stewardship Program staff in producing the bi-annual CR landowner newsletter.
• Assisting CR Stewardship Program staff with production of additional outreach materials for CR landowners.
• Working cooperatively with CR Stewardship Program staff and Land Acquisition and Protection Staff on a variety of projects as needed.
• Other related duties as required.

Position Information : Start Date 10/23/2022

End Date:4/8/2023

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Forestry, or Wildlife Biology.

• Knowledge of and familiarity with Conservation Restrictions
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of assessing environmental conditions including the ability to recognize potentially harmful environmental conditions.
• Knowledge of New England habitat types, native wildlife species, and invasive terrestrial plants.
• Experience in the field using GPS devices and tablets.
• Ability to use geographic information systems (i.e. ArcGIS, desktop, apps and online) to assess property conditions and create maps.
• Ability to read and understand topographic maps, assessor plans, and survey plans.
• Experience reviewing, writing and producing reports that include maps, photographs and narrative, describing conditions on a property.
• Ability to read, understand, interpret, and apply legal documents, technical literature, and regulations to conditions on a property.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain courteous, professional working relationships with landowners and other professionals.
• Ability to speak and write clearly and to communicate effectively with staff and the general public.
• Ability to work outdoors, year-round throughout Massachusetts under varying climatic conditions, and traverse uneven, rugged terrain.
• Willingness to travel throughout the Commonwealth, spending 1-2 days a week in the field as weather permits.

• Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually competed.