Flexible Remote Conservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department Information This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It's our mission to manage and conserve Colorado's natural resources for the benefit of people today - and tomorrow.

That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children. We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado's natural resources for today - and tomorrow. The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer: Medical and Dental plans Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans Paid life insurance Short- and long-term disability coverage Employee Wellness programs Flexible Spending Accounts Health Savings Accounts 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources. The mission of the CPW Resource Stewardship Program is to promote sustainable outdoor recreation settings while improving and sustaining the ecological, scenic, and scientific assets in and around Colorado's State Park lands.

This programmatic mission is accomplished through the collection of site specific biological and cultural resource data, the analysis of this data, and the application of this data to state park conservation and management planning. The Resource Stewardship Program works in collaboration with state park managers to effect conservation actions on the ground while promoting outdoor recreation in the state park system. The Resource Stewardship Program is located in the CPW Planning and Engagement Section of the Policy and Planning Branch.

The Program's work products are critical elements in the development and revision of parks and wildlife-related regulations, policies, programs, natural and cultural resource conservation planning, property planning and strategic planning activities. The Planning and Engagement Section exists to serve Colorado's residents and visitors by ensuring that CPW's management decisions are informed, sustainable, and scientifically sound. The Branch provides leadership and expertise for agency planning, public involvement, social science research, and the management of natural and cultural resources across our State Parks.

Description of Job Are you passionate about protecting native ecosystems and eager to make a tangible impact on incredible outdoor experiences and habitat conservation in Colorado's State Parks. Join the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Resource Stewardship Program as the Ecological Programs Coordinator. In this dynamic role you will be the driving force behind the conservation of vegetation and habitat resources across the park system.

Your expertise will be pivotal in overseeing high-impact initiatives such as habitat restoration, rare plant monitoring, native seed revegetation, and noxious weed management. By training and providing direction to field staff, contractors, and volunteers, you will ensure high standards of ecological data collection and project implementation, enabling informed resource management actions and decisions that support world-class recreation and the stewardship of Colorado's State Parks. In this role, you will have a unique opportunity to shape our vegetation programs.

You will consult with park managers, capital construction project managers, CPW planners, and external partners to integrate botanical data into state park resource management and the development of new state parks. This role involves creating and adapting vegetation mapping and monitoring standards to meet the specific needs of state parks, ensuring compliance with state and federal resource protection laws. Through your leadership, you will foster collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, translating baseline ecological data into long-term property zoning, ecologically sustainable trail alignments, and management goals.

In addition to coordinating field-level restoration and invasive plant management efforts, this position will oversee project administration, manage scientific data collection methods, and ensure consistency of data collected by diverse groups. Responsibilities will also include negotiating and administering contracts with restoration consultants and native seed nurseries, analyzing habitat condition assessments, and developing clear, actionable vegetation management plans for property managers. As the main authority on ecological health in State Parks, you will recruit and lead seasonal technicians, secure non-traditional grant funding, and mobilize volunteers to rescue stalled restoration projects.

By effectively managing budgets, grants, and contracts, you will ensure the successful recovery of capital construction sites and the implementation of vital conservation projects, ultimately contributing to the preservation and resilience of Colorado's natural heritage. Specific job duties include but are not limited to: Ecological Program Coordination The primary duty for this position is to research, design, and coordinate monitoring of botanical resources and ecological systems, vegetation community mapping and condition assessment, and rare plant monitoring across new and existing state parks. Lead habitat and rare plant surveys for new and existing park planning efforts.

Design and lead training sessions for staff and volunteers on ecological monitoring and data collection. Use dichotomous keys to identify rare and unknown plant species to create scientific data for use in conservation and legal compliance decision processes. Translate biological data for application in long-term property management including property zoning, trail alignments, and infrastructure placement that achieve recreational goals while protecting sensitive resources.

Collaborate with state park managers, capital construction project managers, and CPW planning managers to apply monitoring data to decision processes and provide direction for future management actions. Manage and apply data generated from inventory and monitoring projects in GIS and database formats to achieve conservation goals. Clearly communicate and illustrate the results of survey and monitoring projects.

Represent CPW in collaborations with external partner organizations like Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado Native Plant Society, and others to enhance vegetation management and restoration on State Parks. Restoration and Revegetation Coordination Identify, prioritize, design and implement habitat restoration and revegetation efforts across the state park system to meet native vegetation management goals; collaborating with contractors, capital construction staff, state park staff, and volunteers. Design site-specific native seed mixes and plant lists with a goal of using ecoregionally specific native plant material in restoration projects.

Monitor ongoing revegetation projects, intervening with real-time adaptive strategies when sites fail to germinate or are threatened by invasive species or extreme weather. Design and lead training sessions for staff and volunteers. Coordinate with CPW volunteers and the CPW Volunteer Program to support restoration efforts.

Cultivate and nurture relationships with local nurseries and seed suppliers to ensure appropriate plant material is available for restoration and revegetation efforts. Noxious Weed Management Coordination Plan and coordinate state park compliance efforts for the Colorado Noxious Weed Act and CPW vegetation directives by developing site-specific weed maps and integrated plant management plans. Create a standard approach to mapping, management protocols, and plans for terrestrial noxious weed species in the state park system that facilitates effective management and compliance with noxious weed laws.

Advise and train park managers and park resource technicians on how to prioritize and implement noxious weed treatments, ensuring strategies align with available budgets and staffing while effectively targeting invasive species like Russian olive and tamarisk. Introduce field staff to alternative, wildlife-friendly vegetation management practices (e.g., timed mowing, spot spraying) to replace broad-reaching traditional methods. Train staff on evolving state laws, mapping technologies, integrated pest management (IPM) methodology and proper herbicide application

Project Administration and Supervision Manage budgets, contracts, seasonal employees, and grants to implement all elements of habitat improvement and conservation projects. Create reports for agency leadership and Resource Stewardship Program Managers to assist them in managing program budgets and to maintain and grow internal and external support for programmatic goals and responsibilities. Supervise and manage seasonal employees and volunteers as necessary to achieve desired project outcomes.

Resource Stewardship and Policy & Planning Support Provide general support and assistance for a broad set of resource stewardship program, as well as policy and planning branch activities, i.e. other duties as assigned. As needed, assist, implement and lead new, unique, and/or priority projects as assigned by immediate supervisor or Resource Stewardship Program Managers

Maintain a working knowledge of the variety of activities that are occurring in the Section and Branch to ensure necessary coordination to pursue efficient and complementary efforts. Other duties as assigned Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Minimum Qualifications Seven (7) years of relevant work experience in botany, restoration, ecology, forestry, wildlife biology, natural resources, land management or related field in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. OR A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in Botany, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Biology, Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Environmental Science, Forestry, Park Management or an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years.

Job Class: Administrator Preferred Qualifications Current or former work experience with the State of Colorado relevant to this position. Current or former Colorado Parks & Wildlife employment or volunteer experience. Bachelor's degree in Botany, Ecology, Forestry, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, Natural Resources Management, Park Management, Wildlife Management or a related field.

Additional 2+ years of work experience in botany, ecology, forestry, wildlife biology, natural resources, land management or related fields. Master's degree in a related program. Experience with the use of GIS software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS) for mapping and spatial data analysis

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific information to diverse audiences, including non-scientific stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with volunteers, staff, external partners, and stakeholders. Ability to travel across Colorado and conduct fieldwork in various environmental conditions, including rugged terrain and inclement weather.

Experience and/or willingness to camp outdoors as a component of the work week. Ability to lift and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 30 pounds. Required Competencies Strong organizational skills, detail orientation and ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.

Ability to work independently and take initiative by using critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify challenges and solutions to challenges. Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate through all avenues of communication (e.g. email, phone, website, in-person, etc.)

Outstanding customer service skills which includes timely responses to all customers. High attention to detail. Ability to perform under pressure and on deadline.

Excellent writing and public speaking skills and demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts into accessible, audience-specific materials. Ability to problem solve independently and as a team member. Being reliable and punctual.

Experience with Microsoft 365 (Office), Google suite, and the ability to find, read and evaluate scholarly publications for use in conservation management. Conditions of Employment State of Colorado residency is required at the time of application. Regular statewide travel required to support resource survey and monitoring efforts, to train volunteers/staff and to present at conferences, CPW Commission meetings and other meetings as needed.

This position involves travel throughout Colorado, averaging 2-3 days/week, depending on the season. The overall schedule for this position is hybrid (3-4 days/week in the office or field and 1-2 days/week at home). Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR). Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver's license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.

To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who: Have an assigned State fleet vehicle Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position Utilize a State fleet vehicle as ...