Parks and Recreation Aide 7 (Land & Water Conservation Fund Program Compliance Aide)

About the Role

The New York State Park System includes over 200 parks and historic sites such as Niagara Falls, Jones Beach, Letchworth, and Green Lakes, attracting over 85 million visitors annually. The Division of Environmental Stewardship & Planning, Planning & Analysis Bureau’s LWCF Program Unit oversees the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for New York State. Established in 1965, the LWCF supports land acquisition and development for outdoor recreation, with over 600 sites in NY developed or acquired using this fund. Completed projects must remain in outdoor recreation use in perpetuity and are inspected for compliance every 5 years.

This position reports to the LWCF Program Coordinator (Contract Management Specialist 2, SG-23) and primarily coordinates the compliance inspection program for LWCF-funded projects.

Responsibilities

• Research files and databases to identify regions and sites not inspected in the past 5 years or more.
• Develop and plan inspection routes, including preparing overnight travel authorization forms.
• Coordinate with the LWCF Program Coordinator to notify project sponsors (municipalities and other state agencies) of scheduled inspections.
• Perform pre-site inspection desk reviews, including reviewing previous inspections, non-compliance issues, resolutions, and identifying project elements and park boundaries.
• Conduct site inspections, collect information, and take photographs.
• Complete post-inspection reviews, document non-compliance issues, and prepare periodic reports for the LWCF Program Coordinator.
• Update AGOL inspection inventory and metadata using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for queries, data entry, and metadata updates.
• Use mobile data collection applications and Microsoft Office (Excel, Access).
• Collaborate with professionals from diverse backgrounds, including state and municipal park managers and staff in DESP and other OPRHP Bureaus.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Communicate effectively with staff and park patrons.

Qualifications

No minimum qualifications for this title per Civil Service.

• Preferred: Four-year college degree in Land Use Planning/Management, Geography, Geospatial Technology, Urban and/or Regional Planning, Outdoor Recreation Management/Planning, Environmental Science, GIS certificate, or a related field.
• Preferred: Professional experience in Land Management, Land Use Planning, Outdoor Recreation Management/Planning, or Environmental Science.
• Preferred: Proficiency with computers and software such as Windows, Microsoft Access, Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Android OS, Adobe Acrobat, and web-based applications.
• Preferred: Experience using ArcGIS, AGOL, and/or ArcPro.
• Preferred: Internet and library research skills.

Operational Needs

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license to legally operate a motor vehicle in New York State.
• Must be able to work independently in the field in various weather conditions and willing to travel long distances by car.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Benefits

• Option to join the NYS Employees’ Retirement System.
• Eligibility for health insurance, dental, and vision coverage.
• Opportunity for paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave after meeting time and service requirements.

To learn more about benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.