Job Description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.

Applicants may attach a Resume/Cover Letter to the online application.

The Department of Natural Resources has an exciting opportunity for a Land Management Specialist within the Land and Waters Bureau of the Department located in Des Moines, IA. The primary purpose of this position is to provide land management services for program areas located in the Conservation and Recreation Division of the DNR. Those services include: resolution of boundary conflicts, land survey contracting, preparation of departmental agreements and easements, administration of the Habitat Management Lease Program, coordinate building disposals, and negotiate the acquisition/disposal of sovereign land and easements.

Specific Job Duties Include:

• 
  Investigate and resolve land use conflicts.
• Assist with the development of boundary agreements, title exchanges, reciprocal land use agreements, leases, and licenses.
• Contract land surveys with private professional land surveyors for land acquisitions or address boundary issues.
• Assist with negotiation and preparation of management agreements with other governmental agencies and coordinate approval from Departmental staff and Natural Resources Commission.
• Coordinate the preparation of general Departmental agreements, including 28E agreements, utility easements and boundary dispute agreements.
• Oversee the agricultural leasing program to manage wildlife habitat on DNR land and ensure compliance with Chapter 21 administrative rules while developing and maintaining agricultural lease forms and procedures.
• Coordinate the Department’s agricultural lease relationship with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to ensure compliance with the USDA farm program requirements.
• Issue new sand and gravel permits and renew expiring permits.
• Plan and participate in negotiations for the acquisition of public property rights. Acquisition projects include fee title, access easements, flowage easements, conservation easements, land exchanges and land disposal.

Essential Functions:

• Investigate and resolve land use conflicts
• Develop boundary agreements, title exchanges, reciprocal land use agreements, leases, and license
• Prepare management agreements with other governmental agencies
• Contract land surveys with private professional land surveyors
• Prepare general Departmental agreements, including 28E agreements, general easements, utility easements, and boundary dispute agreements
• Oversee agricultural land leasing program to manage wildlife habitat on DNR Land
• Plan and participate in negotiations for acquisition of public property rights
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with DNR staff, management personnel, and other government agencies
• Work independently with consistent results and minimal supervision
• Adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress, some travel across the state as required
• Demonstrate initiative, customer service focus and display high standards of ethical conduct

Critical Job Competencies
Accountability, Integrity, High Productivity, Customer Focus, Team Player, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Computer Skills, Self-Management, Technical Skills (GIS, Land Management)

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources offers a family friendly work environment, professional development opportunities and is united in our mission to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Flexible work hours and hybrid telework opportunities exist for this position.

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Selectives

203 Instructional Design 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in all of the following:

• Determining the current state and needs of the learner
• Defining the end goal of instruction
• Creating a plan to bridge the gap between the current state of the learner and the end goal of instruction
• Evaluation of this training

AND

054 Biological Sciences
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the study of living organisms. It is broadly divided into zoology and botany.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree and two years of Right of Way Agent experience in real estate appraisal, property acquisition, real estate sales or management, relocation assistance, right of way engineering, or other real estate or development support activity of comparable level;

an equivalent combination of experience and education substituting of one year of the required full-time experience in real estate appraisal, property acquisition, real estate sales or management, relocation assistance, right of way engineering, or other real estate or development support activity for one year (30 semester hours) of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years; an equivalent combination of experience and education substituting one year of the required full-time experience in field-commissioned sales work, engineering survey, highway construction inspection, or as the manager of a business for one year (30 semester hours) of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years; an equivalent combination of experience and education substituting satisfactory completion of any American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers Course, Society of Real Estate Appraisers Course, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Course, or American Right of Way Association Course, or its equivalent for one year (30 semester hours) of the required college education with a maximum substitution of four years; Employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Right-of-Way Agent 1.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description (Download PDF reader).

Additional Qualification Requirements

All positions in this classification travel extensively throughout the State of Iowa. All applicants for this classification must be able to obtain a valid driver's license.

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