Conservation Agent

Town of Foxborough (MA) Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States Full-Time

About this position

<undefined><span style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;" id="isPasted">A wetland science-oriented position that provides support, coordination, and professional management for the Conservation Commission in carrying out its mandate and its mission to protect the Town’s natural resources, including its biodiversity, conservation areas, wetlands, and other water resources. The Conservation Agent will perform technical inspection work including field visits, inspections of site work, drafting Orders, attending Commission meetings, and otherwise ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state and local wetlands and stormwater management regulations, codes, and bylaws, issuing findings and recommendations.</span><br></undefined>
<p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;" id="isPasted">Conducts review of applications and filings to determine compliance with local wetlands and stormwater bylaws and federal and state laws, including the performance of field inspections for proposed wetlands work. Monitors construction sites to ensure compliance with permits.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Attends all public meetings and hearings of the Conservation Commission. Ensures legal requirements are met, including postings, timeframes, minutes, public records requests, open meeting law, and other requirements.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Reviews Notices of Intent/other filings and associated documents for accuracy, completeness and compliance with the law and regulations.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Coordinates management of open space and general resource protection. Assists the Commission in the planning, management, and acquisition of Town conservation land. Oversees and carries out land stewardship tasks such as trail building and maintenance, signage, and cleanup.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Oversees maintenance of the Lane Property, an 89-acre protected area featuring a Learning Center. The Town deploys senior volunteers to assist in the maintenance and operation of this property.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Manages the implementation of the Open Space and Recreation Plan, ensuring the Plan is updated as required by law.</p><span style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Familiarity with Bordering Vegetative Wetlands, including the ability to delineate wetlands throughout four seasons and identify and certify vernal pools.</span><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Researches, pursues and coordinates grant and other funding opportunities; manages grant funds.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Maintains the Town-owned conservation land database and performs Deed and Title Research as needed at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Researches and prepares legal documents, reports, and presentations for the Conservation Commission including drafting wetland permits, findings, scope of services, and other documents.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Serves as an information resource for Foxborough residents and business owners, researching issues and providing data or explanations as requested. Advises the public concerning wetlands protection laws and regulations as they apply to specific sites; responds to inquiries pertaining to Town conservation properties and land use.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Responds to complaints and enforces wetlands regulations. May issue cease and desist orders or recommend appropriate action/remediation. Maintains case files and materials including electronic records.</p><p style="margin: 15px 0px; color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Manages Conservation Department budget and expenditures. Manages a team of land stewardship volunteers. Manages Conservation Office, including shared administrative secretary, and maintains regular office hours.</p>
<undefined><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;" id="isPasted">Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field and five years of experience in wetlands protection, land conservation, environmental management or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.&nbsp;</span><br></undefined>
<undefined><strong style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;" id="isPasted"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u>Supervision</u></span></strong><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-indent: 0px;">Works under the administrative direction of the Director of Land Use and Economic Development with additional oversight from the Conservation Commission. Supervises volunteers and one shared administrative employee.</span><br><br><strong style=" font-weight: 700;"><u>Work Environment</u></strong><br><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-indent: 0px;">Administrative work is performed in office conditions; outdoor work includes wetlands and field investigations in various weather conditions with exposure to potential health hazards. Has regular contact with Town departments, boards, other governmental agencies, attorneys, engineers, consultants and the general public.</span></span></undefined><br><br><undefined><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-indent: 0px;"><strong style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;" id="isPasted"><u>Additional Requirements</u></strong><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's License. MACC Certification recommended</span><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><strong style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><u>Knowledge, Ability and Skill</u></strong><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thorough knowledge of wetlands protection laws, regulations and underlying principles of wetland science; knowledge of local plants, natural communities and wildlife, geology, hydrology; knowledge of currently accepted wetland assessment and storm water management techniques and wetland boundary identification.</span><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ability to read and interpret technical data, engineering maps and plans, Wetlands Protection Act and local bylaws; ability to enforce regulations firmly, tactfully and impartially; ability to interact appropriately with the general public and project applicants; ability to work with other Town boards and departments; ability to communicate clearly in oral, written, and graphic form.</span><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Technological skills; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; basic accounting skills; organizational and planning skills.</span></span></span><br></undefined>

Salary Information

$85628.88 - $106467.12 Annual Salary