The North Carollina Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking an enthusiastic team member to promote the planning, construction, maintenance and management of trails within the counties of the assigned region. Responsible for providing North Carolina State Parks, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations with statewide and regional trail planning support, consultation and technical assistance, educational/training services, and grant management services.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:  

• Supporting counties in the Trail Program's Mountain or Coastal Regions.
• Planning and promoting community trails and greenway projects within the program's region and associated counties of North Carolina. 
• Serving as trails expert to state and federal agencies, local governments, private stakeholders, landowners, and trail user groups to plan and coordinate the acquisition, construction, and management of trails and greenways for multiple purposes.
• Organizing and conducting interagency community planning efforts for large, multi-jurisdictional trail and greenway projects involving collection and integration of data from multiple sources such as environmental protection, economic development, recreation demand, and related topics.
• Facilitating planning and cooperation across jurisdictions and among multiple land managers, conducting large, multiple partners planning meetings and helping to investigate project alternatives and potential trail corridors. 
• Assisting in the preparation, reviewing and administration of federal and state trail grant funds for trail and greenway projects. 
• Collaborate frequently with other Trails Program staff, park planners, natural resource staff, park operations, and other pertinent Division staff to ensure project objects are fully met and adhere to the Division's mission.
• Mapping potential trail corridors using sustainable trail design standards; flagging potential alignments and pinning flags the final alignment to be used by the contractor or park staff when constructing the trail. 
• Public and media are an integral part of the position; therefore, the ability to make independent, sound and contextually appropriate decisions is critical.
• Conducting presentations to the public, state and federal agencies, local governments, private stakeholders, and landowners.

Position/Physical Requirements:  

• Requires a flexible schedule which includes day, evening, night, weekend, and holiday work.
• Requires frequent travel throughout the assigned region.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a valid NC driver's license within 90 days of employment.
• Must have the physical ability to work long hours in outdoor environments traversing varied terrain year-round.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.

Qualified candidates must have or be able to:

• Demonstrated knowledge of trail construction and maintenance concepts and practices, including cost and environmental considerations.
• Demonstrated experience using regional planning concepts and practices.
• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Office, etc) and Adobe Creative Cloud products.
• Demonstrated experience using ArcGIS and/or other ESRI products

Management Prefers: 

• Demonstrated experience communicating effectively with management, staff, clients, members of the media and the general public.
• Demonstrated experience working diplomatically with a variety of clients, applicants, stakeholders and interest groups.
• Demonstrated experience planning and organizing work independently, and also to work as a team with other regional specialists.
• Working knowledge of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) and the US Forest Service (USFS) trail guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience of grants administration and monitoring.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.  

Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, community or regional planning, recreation, or a related field from an appropriately accredited institution 

AND

two years of related experience; 

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information: the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation exists to inspire all its citizens and visitors through conservation, recreation and education.
Conservation: To conserve and protect representative examples of North Carolina's natural beauty, ecological features, recreational and cultural resources within the state parks system;
Recreation: To provide and promote safe, healthy and enjoyable outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the state; and
Education: To provide educational opportunities that promote stewardship of the state's natural and cultural heritage.
To explore NC State Parks visit: https://www.ncdcr.gov/things-to-do/state-parks