Serving DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee and Polk Counties

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The role of the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape (APAFRSL) Resilience Specialist is to collaborate closely with partners and supporters to identify, implement and accelerate collaborative projects to enhance resilience to protect military missions, community infrastructure, working agricultural lands, and habitats. Resilience projects are ones that mitigate risks and increase resilience of military installations and the landscapes that overlap mission footprints. The Resilience Specialist will work in close coordination with the APAFR Sentinel Landscape Coordinator (Coordinator) at the Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC), other staff at the CFRPC, the partners of the APAFR, and military installations to develop collaborative, near-and long-term, resilience and adaptation project proposals.

The primary role of the Resilience Specialist would be to assist the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and its partners in outreach and technical assistance to underserved and new landowners within the APAFRSL and the FL Wildlife Corridor. The Specialist will work with the Coordinator to develop projects, facilitate partner collaboration, pursue funding, and administer projects. At the discretion of the Coordinator, the Resilience Specialist may work directly with NRCS staff on utilizing NRCS technical and financial assistance programs. The Resilience Specialist would also assist with the APAFRSL Military Installation Resilience Review (MIRR), FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) proposals and projects, APAFRSL Sentinel Landscape Implementation Plan resilience strategies and actions, recently awarded America the Beautiful grants, and FL Department of Environmental Protection-awarded vulnerability assessment grants for community resilience.

The APAFRSL Resilience Specialist will report to LegacyWorks Group (LWG) and the APAFRSL Coordinator to identify adaptation and resilience needs. This position will be based within the CFRPC service area and require travel throughout the APAFRSL area, with additional regional and national travel as well. This position will have a hybrid work arrangement – up to three days a week in the CFRPC office at 555 East Church Street, Bartow, Florida 33830.

APAFR Resilience Specialist Position - Sentinel Landscapes- USDA - DOD DOI seals

Summary of Responsibilities:

  • • Support the APAFRSL Coordinator and LWG to advance resilience planning and actions
  • • Assess and record the state of resilience and adaptation planning, projects and priorities of federal, state, and local government agencies, military installations, NGOs, and communities in the APAFRSL Sentinel Landscape including coordination with on-going planning/implementation of the Avon Park MIRR
  • • Monitor state, federal and private resiliency funding opportunities, solicit concepts, convene and support partnerships with military installations, government agencies and others, coordinate and support the development and submission of at least six collaborative proposals for near-term resilience and adaptation projects within the first 12-18 months of hire
  • • Identify, recommend, and pursue funding for individual partner actions that support implementation plans, including administration of grants and contracts. Solicit project ideas and develop proposals for near-term resilience and adaptation projects and potential landscape resilience-related scientific research needs that could be implemented in the first 6-12 months to take advantage of newly available funding
  • • Coordinate with and support the Coordinator. Work effectively with partners and supporters of the APAFR Sentinel Landscape Partnership, the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS), the Department of Defense Resilience and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program; the Sentinel Landscapes Federal Coordinating Committee, and military installations to advance and synchronize resilience coordination, planning and actions within the APAFR Sentinel Landscape
  • • At the discretion of the Coordinator, participate in NRCS State Technical Committees and/or engage at relevant events, conferences, and meetings
  • • Identify resilience issues affecting historically underserved stakeholders within the APAFRSL. Recommend actions to mitigate impacts
  • • Assist the Coordinator in developing reporting metrics and standards for landscapes including resilience
  • • Record and report quarterly and annually the resilience and adaptation accomplishments with APAFR Sentinel Landscape to the Coordinator

Desired Qualifications:

  • • Strong interpersonal skills
  • • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • • Strong organization, time management skills, and project management skills
  • • Track record of working with historically underserved communities
  • • Advanced degrees or equivalent experiences in natural resource conservation, resilience and adaptation, agriculture, environmental science, or comparable field
  • • Proven experience in coordinating diverse interests to achieve large-scale goals
  • • Proven experience in building and managing partnerships
  • • Experience with the administration of grants, agreements, and contracts
  • • Working knowledge of the military services, the Department of Defense and NRCS
  • • Knowledge and experience with APAFR Sentinel Landscape partner agencies/organizations
  • • Working abilities with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Hours & Pay
This position is full-time exempt of 40 hours per week. Salary range is $65,000 – $75,000 based on relevant qualifications and experience.

Benefits
As a full-time salaried employee you are eligible to participate in the organization’s group medical and dental insurance plans if you elect (at this time, employer contribution is 50% of the cost for the employee only); and eligible for an $80/month home office equipment allocation from LegacyWorks to contribute to the costs of remote work. LegacyWorks also has a 401k plan which you will be eligible to participate in; we do not offer any match contribution at this time.

LegacyWorks has an unlimited paid time off policy that encompasses both holidays and vacation days. This is a trust based pact between employer and employee and amongst team members, and it is up to each of us to communicate effectively about planning time off and manage this policy responsibly. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Workplace

LegacyWorks is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work culture. LegacyWorks is committed to increasing the diversity of the team, including board and staff, and continuing to improve compensation and benefits. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and value life experience and achievements. It is our duty that all employees and applicants for employment are not to be discriminated on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Workplace
LegacyWorks is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work culture. LegacyWorks is committed to increasing the diversity of the team, including board and staff, and continuing to improve compensation and benefits. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and value life experience and achievements. It is our duty that all employees and applicants for employment are not to be discriminated on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.

To Apply:
Email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Angela@legacyworksgroup.com at LegacyWorks Group, with Avon Park Sentinel Landscape Resilience Specialist in the subject line. Applications are only accepted electronically. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice. This position is funded for a 3-year period, with the possibility of extension based on available funding. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled (interviews anticipated for April 2024).


About LegacyWorks Group
LegacyWorks Group is proud to serve as the Support Organization for the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, and in this role we are managing funding from federal agency partners and serving as the place of employment for Sentinel Landscape employees including Resilience Specialists. Our team is open-hearted, entrepreneurial and highly collaborative. Team members have a variety of leadership, facilitation and project management experience as well as a diversity of cultural and educational backgrounds. We seek curious candidates with big hearts and sharp minds who learn fast.

Our team members are comfortable with complex challenges that require collaboration, innovation, diplomacy, relationship building, leadership and high levels of partner and community engagement. We approach new ideas and challenges with optimism and show up open, curious and committed to learning. Our work requires a commitment to exploring the edges of what is possible and thus requires continuous personal and professional growth.

We seek out high impact opportunities that often will not move forward unless we can play one or more catalytic roles including facilitation, project management, process design, strategy development, planning, leadership development, community engagement, securing and structuring funding or financing, designing and launching funds, data dashboard development and more.