Conservation Program Manager

The Park Service manages and protects more than 90,000 acres of South Carolina's natural and cultural resources, which range from deep mountain wilderness and old-growth forests to plantation homes, battlefields, waterfronts, and wetlands. The state park system includes 48 operational parks and six historic properties. The system also includes more than 1,500 separate buildings, 155 cabins, 80 motel rooms, 3,000 campsites, two 18-hole golf courses, two saltwater fishing piers, 42 ponds, 156 miles of paved roads, and more than 300 miles of hiking and riding trails.

Job Purpose and Duties:

Coordinates and facilitates the natural resource management and conservation activities of the State Park Service's Resource Management Section in collaboration with the field and other internal departments.

1) *Coordinates the development and implementation of a wide variety of natural resource management plans/ projects (agency-wide and for individual park needs) including visitor service enhancements, invasive exotic plant management, species management, nuisance animal management, and land conservation/restoration projects. *Works with Resource Management Chief, Forester, and Geospatial Analyst to plan and facilitate state-wide natural resource projects. *Preparation of specific management plans for individual state parks and system-wide -Provide technical assistance for conservation, visitor services, and land management needs. *Provide technical assistance and/or field evaluations as needed to support park development *Work with Resource Management team to develop and execute interdisciplinary projects to benefit natural and cultural resources on parks.
2) *Develop and administer federal and other partner grants/cost share to support restoration, conservation, or species management projects. *Administer grant budgets, maintain accountability to federal aid standards, and communicate project results *Provide grants, reports, and other supporting documents accurately and in a timely manner based upon grant and/or agency requirements. *Works with procurement officers and contractors/outside partners to prepare and acquire contracts for visitor service enhancements, nuisance animal removal, ecological restoration, and land conservation work.
3) *Develops and enhances SC State Park Service's planning and prioritization of resource management and conservation projects through geospatial and technical methods *Work with Resource Management Chief to prioritize conserved lands for acquisition and manage state-wide land acquisition projects. *Assist Resource Management Chief and Geospatial Analyst in maintaining and building out land record database *Assist Resource Management Chief in securing and managing funds and grants for land acquisition and conservation.
4) Responsible for the coordination of research permitting and monitoring projects on SC State Park property. *Maintain the SC State Park Service Research and Collecting Permit application portal and permit results database *Review results for external research projects *Establish and/or conduct inventory/monitoring protocol and surveys on parks with significant restoration activity and/or species of interest or concern *Conduct annual compliance reports to appropriate agency partners.
5) Serves as liaison with other land managing agencies including Department, State and Federal Attend and facilitate trainings/meetings across the state/region to improve knowledge and keep abreast of current trends in resource management, land conservation and habitat restoration. Develop Resource Management Training for field and program staff to develop or improve their resource management skills and knowledge in topics like nuisance animal handling and management, threatened and endangered species, and ecological restoration.
6) Performs administrative functions for specified projects. Conveys information to park service staff, visitors, and/or other stakeholders pertinent to resource management projects on State Park lands.
7) Practice and promote teamwork within the work unit/office, throughout the agency and with external agency stakeholders. Represents office as an active member on agency teams assigned throughout the year.