ADMINISTRATOR III

This is a position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Land Acquisition and Planning unit. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. Future vacancies may also be filled via other recruitments. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year.

18

580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401

Program Open Space Stateside (POS) preserves natural areas for public recreation and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland through fee simple and easement acquisitions. This position relates directly to the mission of the Department of Natural Resources (the Department) by protecting land that provides open space and rural landscapes for citizens to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, diverse landscapes, and the natural resources of Maryland. This position is responsible for administering fee simple acquisitions in assigned regions of the State as a Program Administrator, obtaining and reviewing due diligence related to mineral interests statewide, and coordinating the review of acquisition related due diligence in other assigned regions of the State. This position identifies and analyzes potential fee simple acquisitions for State Park lands, State Forest lands, Wildlife Management Areas, Natural Resources Management Areas, and Fisheries. This position must work with other teams within the Land Acquisition and Planning Unit and with various units within the Department to identify and provide guidance on potential acquisitions. This position relates directly to the mission of the Department by protecting land that provides open space and rural landscapes through the Program Open Space Stateside (POS) funded easement program in order to protect open space and a variety of natural resources. This position is also responsible for the acquisition of conservation easement acquisitions statewide that are funded by, acquired by, and held by the Department or our partners through the Forest Legacy Program. This position is responsible for the negotiation, development, and final execution of conservation easement acquisitions. This position must work with the Department’s partners, other teams within the Land Acquisition and Planning Unit, and with various units within the Department, as well as coordinating with individuals that provide technical assistance to the Forest Legacy Program.

The Department of Natural Resources, Land Acquisition & Planning Unit, located at the Tawes State Office Building, Annapolis, Maryland, is currently accepting applications for an Administrator III.  This position is responsible for administering fee simple acquisitions for Program Open Space Stateside as a Program Administrator in assigned regions, with a focus on the Southern or Central Region. Program Open Space Stateside preserves natural areas for public recreation and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland through the purchase of fee-simple and easement acquisitions. Fee simple purchases are managed by the Department as State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife and Fisheries Management Areas. This position identifies and evaluates potential fee simple and easement acquisitions in assigned regions for all managing units within the Department, administering candidate acquisitions from initial evaluation, through due diligence review, contract negotiation, Board of Public Works approval, acquisition and archiving. This position must work with other teams within the Land Acquisition and Planning Unit and with various units within the Department to identify and provide guidance on potential acquisitions in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.  This position works in close coordination with other government agencies, land trust partners, and members of the public. This position requires effective communication and time-management skills, excellent planning and organizational skills, and multiple knowledge bases and skill sets such as: land records and title research, plat records research, natural resource planning, real estate acquisition principles including due diligence and survey review, project management and oversight, and software skills.

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six years of administrative staff or professional work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute 30 college credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Applicants who do not have a Master's degree must have 2 years of the above experience involving real estate acquisitions or acquisition-related natural resources planning, including analyzing, negotiating and overseeing the acquisition of real property and/or conservation easements on real property, and/or the review and analysis of real estate related due diligence in a technical or legal environment.

• One (1) year experience evaluating properties as conservation easement candidates, including meeting with landowners, conducting site visits to document the property’s conservation values, drafting and negotiating conservation easement terms, preparing conservation easement baseline documentation, obtaining necessary due diligence for conservation easement projects, negotiating conservation easement contracts with landowners, working to get conservation easement projects successfully to settlement, and documenting the transaction to the project file. 
• Three (3) years experience conducting deed/title/property and plat records research.  
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe, MDLANDREC or FINDER or equivalent, SDAT Real Property Database, PLATS.NET for data research, management and presentation.  
• Understanding of real estate principles, terms, definitions and legal documents needed to effect an acquisition of real property. 

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your minimum qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.

Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you provide all the experience and education related to this position completely and accurately.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to: Department of Natural Resources, Human Resources, 580 Taylor Avenue, C-3 Annapolis, MD 21401. The Human Resources unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address.