Conservation Director

Definition & Duties

The Conservation Director is an at will position appointed by, reporting to, and serving at the pleasure of the Johnson County Conservation Board. Under the general direction of the Johnson County Conservation Board, the Conservation Director serves as the chief executive officer responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing all aspects of the Johnson County Conservation Board program and department. The Conservation Board sets policy, and the Conservation Director is charged with formulating strategies to implement Board policy, to meet the mission and organizational goals established by the Board. The Conservation Director may advise the Board on policy matters, but the Board has the final authority in policy determination, program content, and direction. The Conservation Director also oversees administration of all staff, subject to the Board’s ultimate authority. The Conservation Director fulfills the Board’s responsibility for custody, control, and management of all real property in the conservation system, according to Iowa Code 350. Iowa’s county conservation boards derive their authority from Chapter 350 of the Iowa Code. One of the board’s major responsibilities under Subsection 350.4(6) is to hire and fix the compensation of a director, “who shall be responsible to the county conservation board for the carrying out of its policies.”

Knowledge of & Ability to

• Natural Resources, Cultural History, and Recreation:
• Basic field identification and natural history of native plants and animals, particularly in Iowa.
• Federal, state and local legislation and regulations relating to conservation
• Code of Iowa relating to conservation
• Comprehensive knowledge of and interest in the natural world and its constituent parts, e.g. astronomy, geology, ecology, field biology, and the like.
• Pre-settlement and settlement history of Iowa, and Johnson County.
• Environmental restoration principles and practices.
• Knowledge of and involvement with organizations and agencies concerned with conservation, natural resource management, education, water quality, etc.
• Natural resources including fisheries, wildlife, forestry, agronomy, grasslands, and aquatic ecosystems.
• Political process and political climate in Iowa, as pertains to local government and conservation.
• Principles and practices of public management, administration, and employee relations
• Work safety regulations and standards
• English language to include grammar, spelling, sentence structure, vocabulary and proofreading skills
• Organizations and agencies concerned with conservation, natural resource management, education, water quality, etc.

• Prepare, discuss, justify, and work within a budget.
• Recruit, hire, train, manage, evaluate, discipline, and motivate staff in accordance with Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) employment policies
• Maintain confidentiality and security of information as appropriate
• Be detail-oriented and accurate when working with documents and information
• Have clarity of speech, hearing, and writing which permits effective communication
• Have sufficient manual dexterity to make handwritten notations which permits moderate use of a keyboard and mouse
• Have sufficient vision which permits moderate production and review of a wide variety of materials both in electronic and hardcopy forms
• Occasionally lift, push, and/or move up to 75 pounds
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with groups, organizations, the general public, and colleagues.
• Possess general outdoor recreation and sporting skills (or an appreciation thereof) in one or more areas such as canoeing, backpacking, hiking, biking, orienteering, archery, firearms safety, hunting, fishing, trapping, boating safety, etc.
• Comprehend, analyze, and interpret conservation laws, principles, and practices, and the ability to explain them to various audiences.
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and supervision of personnel.
• Coordinate, schedule, and delegate responsibility to effectively administer various program components.
• Properly procure, manage, allocate and dispose of Board property.
• Develop, oversee, implement, and evaluate site plans, comprehensive plans, annual plans, and annual reports of accomplishments.
• Effectively develop and apply policy and procedure under Board guidelines, in compliance with local, State and Federal law.
• Plan, develop and evaluate programs appropriate for the needs, wants, and desires of Johnson County, its residents and visitors.
• Develop short and long-range goals, set objectives and strategies to implement these goals.
• Knowledge of where to find resources to expand knowledge and program development.
• Basic knowledge of environmental and conservation education principles and concepts.
• Communicate, orally and in writing, effectively to groups and individuals in formal and non-formal situations.
• Responsively handle visitor and public complaints, and emergency situations, with courtesy, tolerance, and respect for differing opinions.
• Prepare news releases, fliers and other basic publicity.
• Operate visual aid equipment.
• Work with and cooperate with other officials, private agencies, and organizations.
• Design and maintain educational displays and exhibits.
• Operate computers, audiovisual, photographic and other equipment necessary for program development.
• Understand the impact and use of radio, TV and social media to advance organizational objectives; experience presenting to the public.
• Stand, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, bend, twist, crouch, and crawl
• Occasionally walk on uneven and unstable surfaces such as construction sites, wooded areas and ditch embankments
• Have sufficient personal mobility to complete work and attend meetings at various county facilities and other locations
• Occasionally work in inclement weather conditions
• Work flexible schedule, evenings and additional time as needed

Minimum Education, Training & Experience & Special Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with major course work in natural resources, outdoor recreation, public administration, or a related natural science field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in natural resource management; OR any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work. Five (5) to Seven (7) years of supervisory experience.

Special requirements: Valid driver’s license and be insurable under county liability coverage. Must pass background check.

Specific Duties

to be performed satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Employ, upon the approval by the Board of such positions, assistants, and employees necessary for proper and efficient administration of the conservation program, and for development of and maintenance and operation of such properties and facilities as may be held or acquired by the Board.
• Set and oversee direction for the conservation department’s work units by exercising general supervision over staff, including conducting staff meetings to review work plans, progress of assigned work, and results.
• Administer and develop policy by formulating, planning and directing the county conservation program with written and oral administrative policy in accordance with Board policy.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for the Conservation Board by researching records, current mandatory standards, and contacts with other agencies in formulating recommendations to the Conservation Board on a wide range of problems, proposals and/or issues.
• Oversee, and actively involve into community outreach/public relations/marketing by organizing and facilitating meetings and maintaining public contacts and contacts with organizations and other county departments.
• Manage personnel administration by making department head decisions, overseeing recruiting, selecting, training, evaluating, promoting, disciplining, and discharging departmental personnel.
• Annually outline and recommend to the Board a program of administration, development, maintenance, and operation of Board assets, resources and programs each budgetary year, including an estimate of cost, which shall be presented to the Board.
• Administer budget and finances by obtaining budget requests from staff and preparing annual budget for presentation to the Conservation Board and County Board of Supervisors; maintaining and monitoring expenditures and budget activity.
• Seek grant support that is in accordance with the vision and mission of the Conservation Board and the department.
• Carry out land acquisition program of the Board by working to identify potential willing sellers with suitable land to add to the Board’s program; writing offers and acceptance agreements and negotiating land transactions in consultation with legal counsel for the Board; and, when appropriate, recommending to the Board disposition or exchange of real property in order to maximize the public conservation benefit yielded by the Board’s landholding portfolio overall.
• Assist the Johnson County Conservation Board President in the function and conduct of Board meetings as requested.
• Submit to the Board at each monthly meeting a report on the field operations, administrative activities, and financial status of the conservation program.
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to staff in order to optimize productivity and ensure that projects are completed effectively and efficiently; assess the strengths and capabilities of staff, clearly communicating expectations and deadlines, and providing the necessary resources and support for successful task completion.
• Direct the staff in maintenance of county conservation areas.
• Oversee community outreach/public relations by organizing and facilitating meetings and maintaining public contacts and contacts with organizations and other county departments.
• Perform all work duties and activities in accordance with JCCB policies, procedures, and safety practices.
• Attend work regularly at the designated place and time, including department meeting and professional development opportunities.
• Keep well informed on trends, procedures, and philosophies in outdoor recreation; to be knowledgeable on the design and development of park facilities; to be knowledgeable and active in the preservation and rehabilitation of natural resource areas; to be generally knowledgeable of national and state programs and specifically knowledgeable of local programs affecting natural resources and human use of these resources; and to periodically report to the Board the results of research and investigation in the above mentioned areas.
• See that county, state, and federal statutes are adhered to in all Conservation Board activities.

• Johnson County Human Resources Online Application
• A one-page cover letter
• Resume
• Three (3) Professional References
• Writing sample: Your writing sample can be an essay, article, research paper, or other similar work previously produced.