Seasonal Regional Planner II— Trail Mapping Assistant and Maintenance Planner (Northampton) Winter 24-25

Job Description

Seasonal Regional Planner II- Trail Mapping Assistant and Maintenance Planner (Northampton) Winter 24-25

Who We Are:

The Department of Conversation & Recreation (DCR) is steward of one of the largest state parks systems in the country. Its 450,000 acres is made up of forests, parks, greenways, historic sites and landscapes, seashores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and watersheds. The DCR also oversees several swimming pools, wading pools, and spray decks.

Who We Serve:

Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to combine energy and environmental agencies under one Cabinet secretary. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) serves Commonwealth residents interested in outdoor recreational activities, clean energy solutions and those who work with animals and livestock. Equally, EOEEA works with energy consumers, power companies, clean energy providers and farmers to delicately balance the interaction with environmental protection laws and regulations while being a cornerstone for our economic prosperity.

About the Division of Design and Engineering:

Continuing over a century of visionary land stewardship, DCR's Division of Design & Engineering (D&E) collaborates with colleagues within DCR, other agencies, and communities across the state to plan, design, build, and maintain a diversity of outdoor recreational experiences and unique landscapes throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, our staff is responsible for maintaining public infrastructure including dams, seawalls, parkways and park roads, sidewalks and trails, and stormwater systems. This requires employing a diverse range of talent including architects, engineers, landscape architects, planners, tradespeople as well as business, finance and administrative support who work together to support D&E's mission. Our staff is unified by a passion for providing access to high quality public open space and outdoor recreation for all ages and abilities, and strive to improve visitor experience, enhance universal accessibility, and help modernize DCR's facilities and resources to be more carbon neutral, energy independent, and resilient to climate change.

Position Information:

Seasonal Regional Planner II- Trail Mapping Assistant and Maintenance Planner: 11/10/24-03/15/25 (18 weeks) @ 37.5 hrs: Contact Supervisor for schedule. 1 position(s). This position is based out of 136 Damon Road, Northampton.

Please note, if you are selected for this position and will be working less than 90 days, the position will automatically revert to a short-term position.

Our short-term positions are not part of the salary scale that is advertised within this job posting. Should this position revert to a short-term seasonal position (less than 90 days), your salary rate will be discussed with you during the interview phase of the process.

Position Summary:

DCR has a system of roads and trails within its properties that extends for thousands of miles. This position will assist the DCR Trails and Greenways Team with collecting field trails data, assisting with the trail review process and developing trail maintenance project for future trail maintenance contractors. Skills required to do this work are: ArcGIS Pro for data editing, GPS/field experience for collecting trails data in the field and ability to assess trail conditions and maintenance needs. The successful candidate will have a strong background in trail design and maintenance, and experience with field data collection.

Duties:

• Collecting field data to update the existing trails data schema.
• Working with local park staff and others to finalize or update park-level trail data.
• Working with existing GIS staff to QAQC data.
• Coordinating with external groups to incorporate DCR trail data into larger datasets and vice versa.
• Develop trail maintenance plans based on the field data collected.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of sustainable trail design, construction, and maintenance.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of accessible trail design, construction, and maintenance.

• Ability to recognize trail features in the field and assess maintenance needs.

• Knowledge of the terminology, symbols, codes and standard abbreviations used on trail plans, trail maps and schemas.

• Familiarity with Esri software , primarily ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Field Maps, for data collection and editing.

• Ability to work independently.

• Ability to work outdoors all year round under varying climatic conditions, traverse uneven terrain (5-10 miles per day), and carry up to 25 pounds.

• Willingness to travel throughout the Commonwealth, spend 3-4 days a week in the field as weather permits.

• Ability to communicate concisely, to express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in logical sequence.

• Ability to maintain accurate records.

• Ability to give and follow written and oral instructions in a precise, understandable manner.

• Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with persons of all ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds.

• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time technical or professional experience in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, transportation planning or land use planning, and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental sciences may be substituted for two years of the required (A) experience.

II. A Graduate degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental sciences may be substituted for the required experience.

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually competed.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.