PARK NATURALIST (TEMP/PT/RETIREMENT ONLY)
Harford County MD

Nature of Work

This position performs a variety of Park Naturalist related duties associated with a nature center focused on the Chesapeake Bay/watershed ecology at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center and the Piedmont Plateau at the Eden Mill Nature Center.

Work includes conducting interpretive and environmental education programs, caring for live animals, operating watercraft, opening and closing the Center and handling visitor inquiries, etc. Other duties include maintaining a safe and clean workplace, answering telephone calls, responding to written correspondence, greeting, assisting and directing the public, keeping the Center organized and inviting to the public, etc.

The schedule of the work week will vary and will include weekdays, evenings, and weekends.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS POSITION IS NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS (MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, ETC.)

Examples of Duties

(The following examples illustrate the work performed by this position. Position may require some or all of these examples depending on the season, and demand for programs and research projects. The list is not inclusive. This position may require related duties not listed, if necessary, to accomplish the work at the Center.)

• Conducts interpretive and education programs for the public and school groups which may involve being on the water with canoes, kayaks, or a pontoon boat.
• Keeps buildings and premises in neat and safe condition.
• Answers telephone inquiries; provides information, assists public with concerns or refers them to appropriate individuals or takes messages; monitors, greets, and directs the public throughout the facility.
• Directs and supervises volunteers working at the Center, including teenagers and adults.
• Cares for the Center wildlife which may include various types of fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Opens and secures buildings/grounds; notifies police when necessary.
• Instructs users on the proper utilization of the facility.
• The job may require the use of power tools and driving a truck with a canoe or kayak trailer.
• Works in all types of weather and seasons with exposure to the outdoors and possibly live animals, animal waste, aquarium chemicals, etc.
• May conduct research and monitoring and record and analyze data, or oversee research interns and manage research data.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of local natural history, particularly the Chesapeake Bay/watershed area and the Piedmont Plateau; canoe and kayak;
  
• Ability to safely use power tools and equipment;
  
• Ability to deal with the public cooperatively and courteously;
  
• Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with other paid staff and volunteers; able to create and conduct public nature programs;
  
• Ability to create and conduct school programs; to understand and follow instructions;
  
• Ability to lift, bend, stoop, climb and reach;
  
• Ability to work independently;
  
• Ability to keep simple records.
  

EDUCATION:

Possession of a high school or vocational-technical school diploma or a GED certificate. Two years of college course work preferred in the natural sciences i.e. Earth Science, Biology, Environmental Studies, Environmental Education, Oceanography, Wildlife or Fisheries Biology, or Natural Resources Management.

• One (1) year of experience in wildlife, park/recreational, or educational settings may be substituted for each year of college coursework.
  
• Maryland Master Naturalist certification may be substituted for one year of college coursework
  

EXPERIENCE:

One (1) year of experience working with people of all ages, in wildlife, park/recreational, or educational setting.
One (1) year of canoeing and/or kayaking experience preferred.

SAFETY:
Must comply with all Federal (OSHA), State of Maryland (MOSH), safety regulations and applicable Harford County safety policies, procedures, or manual as required for this position.

Notes
The assigned location will be at Anita C. Leight Estuary Center OR Eden Mill Nature Center

FRINGE BENEFITS
(Effective July 1, 2023)

ANNUAL LEAVE - Begin accruing first day of employment and cannot be taken until successful completion of probationary period, EXCESS of 40 DAYS [320 hours] will be deposited into an 106 Premium Reimbursement Account.

0 months - 3 years 1 day per month (12 days per year)
4 years - 9 years 1 ¼ days per month (15 days per year)
10 years - 15 years 1 ¾ days per month (21 days per year)
Over 15 years 2 days per month (24 days per year)

* Please note that leave is prorated according to your status determined by actual hours worked*

SICK LEAVE - Begin accruing first day of employment (UMLIMITED ACCUMULATION)

1 day is allowed after first month of employment
1 ¼ days per month accumulation

PERSONAL LEAVE - For new employees, personal leave is prorated according to schedule below, for the first year only. Any employee on board as of December 31st of each year automatically receives 8 days as of January 1st the following year. (NOTE: Personal Leave may not be taken until successful completion of probationary period; personal leave will be lost if not taken before December 31st of each year.)

1/1 to 1/31 6 days 4/1 to 4/30 3 days
2/1 to 2/28 5 days 5/1 to 5/31 2 days
3/1 to 3/31 4 days 6/1 to 6/30 1 day
7/1 to 12/31 0 days
FAMILY LEAVE - Up to 12 weeks per year

FUNERAL LEAVE - 3 days + 1 day for extended travel

MILITARY LEAVE - 3 weeks per year with no loss in pay for Reserve or National Guard Training, Active Duty and serving during emergencies.

CIVIL LEAVE - No loss in pay while serving Jury Duty.

RETIREMENT - State Pension System (7% employee contribution)

COUNTYFLEX - Provides the employee with a range of health care and other employee benefit options which gives employee the opportunity to design a benefit plan that best meets the employee's needs. Employee may use available credits to purchase the following:

HEALTH INSURANCE - CareFirst Triple Option and BlueChoice Opt-Out Plus Open Access and Kaiser Permanente (all plans include prescription drug coverage)

DENTAL INSURANCE - CareFirst Dental PPO Plus Plan and CareFirst Dental PPO Plan

VISION INSURANCE - Provided through BlueVision Plus

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Provided through American Fidelity. Employees may fund health and child care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

PRE-TAX - All deductions for health, dental, vision and flexible spending accounts are subject to deductions from paycheck before federal and state taxes are applied.

LIFE INSURANCE -
Provided through MetLife - $50,000 policy - NO COST TO EMPLOYEE

SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE (TERM/WHOLE/UNIVERSAL AND AD&D)
Provided through MetLife.

LONG TERM DISABILITY - Provided through MetLife.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION -
Lincoln Financial Group - Retirement Consultant David Weiland
Phone 410-236-2494 Email- Dave.Weiland@LFG.com
[Customer Service Representative 1-800-234-3500]

RETIREE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE BENEFITS-
Employees hired on or after 7/1/2010 will have an automatic Retirement Health Savings account made available as the primary retiree healthcare benefit. This 105(h) Universal Reimbursement Account will only be able to be accessed upon separation of service and/or retirement whichever applicable. These accounts are employer funded, tax free, & portable with 20 different Nationwide investment options.
These funds are solely for the use of offsetting your premium health care cost, prescriptions, co-pays and deductibles. Upon death funds are made available immediately to the surviving spouse or qualified dependents (as defined by the IRC 152 (a).

DEATH BENEFITS - PAID BY COUNTY

50% of accumulated sick leave

All accumulated annual leave

Personal leave (maximum of 2 days)

$50,000 life insurance

One (1) month's salary

PAID BY RETIREMENT
One year's pay (after 1 year's service) plus employee's contributions refunded with interest.

HOLIDAYS - 11 per year:

New Year's Day January 1st
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 3rd Monday in January
President's Day 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day last Monday in May
Juneteenth June 19th
Independence Day July 4th
Labor Day 1st Monday in September
Veteran's Day November 11th
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November
Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day December 25th

OTHER BENEFITS: Employee Assistance Program
Travel and Official Expense Reimbursement
Uniforms and Safety Clothing
Tuition Assistance
Legal Plan

Agency Harford County

Address 220 South Main Street

Bel Air, Maryland, 21014

Phone 410-638-3201

Website http://www.harfordcountymd.gov

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