Natural Resource Specialist 3 (PCN 10-1168 & PCN 10-1347) - State of Alaska

Does the prospect of working on a dynamic, cooperative team adjudicating use of state land interest you? Do you look forward to working in a welcoming and supportive environment? Do you enjoy working with a variety of clients and stakeholders, ranging from private individuals to multi-national corporations on a variety of projects?  If so, the Natural Resource Specialist position is for you!

Our team is dedicated to responsibly managing public lands to support individual and business needs. We invite you to participate in making land management decisions that will shape the quality of life for present and future Alaskans.
 
Mission and Culture
This position is housed in the Division of Mining, Land, and Water (DMLW) within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR mission is to “develop, conserve and maximize the use of Alaska's natural resources consistent with the public interest.” The DMLW's mission is “to provide for the appropriate use and management of Alaska's state-owned land and water, aiming toward maximum use consistent with the public interest.” 
 
The position offers a rewarding opportunity to help manage state-owned land within a creative and supportive team. This position plays a key role in achieving the above missions by evaluating requests to utilize state land, determining if the use is appropriate, and determining if any modification to the requested activity will be required for the project to move forward.
 
Core Responsibilities 
This position is on the DMLW Northern Region Permits and Easements Team. The team primarily evaluates permit requests for uses of state land, as well as authorizing easements for a variety of long-term needs. State land is used in many ways; each use, or requested use, may impact other users. Cases assigned to you will be novel, complex, and controversial, requiring innovative and creative solutions. Your findings will be documented in administrative decisions communicating how you came to your conclusions.
 
Benefits of Joining Our Team
The DMLW team offers meaningful work in a friendly and supportive environment, a hybrid telework model, flexible work schedules, autonomy, opportunities for career advancement, and extensive land management training.
 
The Working Environment You Can Expect
The Fairbanks office is situated on a charming and wooded campus along the Chena River, near many amenities. As a Natural Resource Specialist 3, there is a good balance between individual and collaborative efforts to ensure decisions are well considered. Opportunities for occasional, short-duration fieldwork are frequently available. This often includes travel along the major interior road systems along the Parks, Steese, Richardson, Elliott, Dalton, and Alaska Highway corridors, but can more rarely also include travel to remote locations via small plane, ATV, snowmachine, or boat.
 
The knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to be successful in this position include:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise, and legally defensible decision documents.
• Land management experience, including the ability to understand, integrate, and synthesize complex ecological, social, and public policy information.
• Experience interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, policies, and land management plans for the purpose of determining their applicability for proposed uses of state land; and experience gathering and analyzing technical and factual information for the purpose of recommending a specific course of action.
• Effective interpersonal skills, including consent building and negotiating in order to identify and resolve conflict in the context of achieving resource management goals and objectives.  
• Ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with both staff and clients. Ability to take the initiative, adapt to changing priorities, manage multiple tasks, achieve deadlines, and exercise sound judgement.