Contact Name: Philip Corney
Company/Organization/Agency: NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Address: 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 United States
Email Address: philip.corney@parks.ny.gov
Contact Phone: (518) 801-2406
Job Title: Regional Trails Specialist
Job Description: Title: Regional Trails Specialist
Salary Range: $19.74/Hour - Starting Rate
Negotiating Unit: CSEA
Work Location: Saratoga Spa State Park, Regional Administration Building/Office
Region: Saratoga Capital-District Region
Position Overview:
The Regional Trails Specialist is a full time, long-term seasonal position that will assist the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) in the maintenance of its extensive network of trails. This position will work throughout the Saratoga Capital Region of New York State Parks, which includes parks and historic sites across Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Washington, Schoharie, Greene, Columbia, and Essex Counties. The Saratoga Capital Region offers an exciting mix of history, culture, sports and performing arts all surrounded by the tranquil beauty of its forests, lakes, mountains, and farms.
This position will have a wide range of responsibilities with the primary goal of supporting the Regional Trails Manager through efforts in improving and enhancing regional trail resources while also making them more accessible and inclusive. The successful candidate will be able to supervise the regional trail technicians effectively by serving as a crew leader during the field season(May-November), operate independently during the off-season(December-April) on assigned field projects & operational needs, demonstrate an attentiveness to detailed projects, possess critical thinking skills for problem solving, have a strong understanding to safety, and initiative to collaborate with the Regional Trails Manager on region-wide trail improvements. During the field season this position is 100% outdoors, and during the off season the position is 30% outdoors & 70% office. The position requires work on uneven and steep terrain, carrying and moving tools, materials, and equipment up to 50lbs or more.
Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Recruiting, supervising, training, and leading regional trail technicians for the field season operations & trail projects
• Leading field projects that involve technical rock work, signage installation, tread & drainage improvements, and new trail construction
• Servicing and inventorying trail tools/gear/equipment
• Submitting completed & accurate timesheets every pay period for the trail technician(s) hours worked and facilitating time off requests for the trail technicians
• Maintaining a clean and productive office space, workshop space, and park vehicle
• Tracking statistics & measurements on trail projects being worked on and completed by the regional trail technicians
• Taking pictures of staff working on projects, before & after pictures capturing the physical changes of the trail, and group photos for use of program promotion & position recruitment for future years
• Enhancing trail crew promotional materials; posters, banners, flyers, videos, newsletters etc.…
• Enhancing trail volunteer base, structure, and activity across the region
• Creating emergency response plans and job hazard assessments for project sites, developing alternative inclement weather projects, and enforcing PPE use by trail technicians on projects
• Working closely with the Regional Trails Manager on regional & agency trail priorities
Minimum Qualifications:
• At least one year of experience supervising multiple people in a work environment
• At least one year of experience doing trail work that includes new sustainable trail construction, trail tread and drainage improvements, building & working with stone to create staircases/crib walls/retaining walls/ etc.., trail corridor maintenance, and signage installation
• At least one year of experience using hand tools, power tools, and performing/troubleshooting basic tool maintenance
Preferred Skills/Experience:
• Working knowledge of sustainable trail building techniques
• Experience working on paid or volunteer trail crews
• Experience with leadership, communication, time management and problem-solving
• Experience with recruiting, interviewing, and training
• Experience with rigging setups, rigging equipment use, and rigging equipment maintenance
• Experience with chainsaws, pole saws, and hazardous tree/limb removal
• Experience with handheld GPS data collection, Arc GIS online, and Collector
• A degree in Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Forestry Management, Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Engineering, Recreation Management, or similar field
Position Schedule and Duration:
This position is a 40 hour/week Monday–Friday, long-term seasonal position with NYS OPRHP in the Parks and Recreation Aid 6 Title. Typical workday will be 8:00am – 4:30pm, with a 30min lunch. Start date of this position is February 20th, 2023.
Benefits:
This position has the option to join the NYS Employee’s Retirement System. Is eligible for health insurance, dental and vision coverage. Opportunity for paid time off in the form of vacation, sick, personal and holiday leave after enough time & service has been met.
This position is eligible to receive certifications for the following but not limited to:
• CPR/First Aid
• Respirator Fit Test & Use Training
• Equipment Trailering/Load Securement Training
• UTV Operator/Safety Training
• Tractor Operator/Safety Training
• Risk Tree Assessment Training
• Game of Logging Level 1 & 2 or equivalent Training
To Apply:
Please email a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references in once single PDF document to Philip J. Corney at Philip.Corney@parks.ny.gov by 12/1/2022. Please insert the words "Regional Trails Specialist Application" in the subject line. For any questions regarding the position please reach out to Philip J. Corney by email at Philip.Corney@parks.ny.gov and/or by phone at (518) 801-2406 / (518) 584-2000 EXT 232.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Agency Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide their current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@aoer.nv.aov
POSTING DATE: 1/02/2023 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL: 1/31/2022
Job Start Date: 2/20/2023
Application Deadline: 1/31/2023
Additional Information: View photo albums of prior year projects and staff: https://www.flickr.com/photos/196841803@N04/