Natural Resource Specialist II

Overview

The Natural Resource Specialist II will provide support to APS Forestry, Environmental and Special Program's vegetation management operations to ensure that the department's projects comply with the company's goals and objectives and all applicable laws and regulations. Depending on specialty, the role will interface with regulatory personnel; perform environmental permit implementation, regulatory interpretation, conduct field surveys for threatened, endangered and sensitive plant and animal species and address habitat concerns.

This role will research threatened, endangered and sensitive species life history and apply applicable mitigations to projects to protect and preserve these species and their habitats. Perform in-field inspections concerning the effectiveness of field operations which may include evaluating work performance and the company's compliance with applicable laws, industry standards and environmental regulations involving SHPO, USFWS, USFS, NEPA, FERC, DOT, ANSI, OSHA, ADEQ, SPCC, and APS safety standards and the APS Vegetation Management Manual.

Environmental factors:

• Subject to work hours outside of a normal work schedule and outdoors during inclement weather situations.
• Periodically prone to dangers inherent to work sites including exposure to sharp, high-speed rotating equipment, electrical fields, falling and flying debris, difficult terrain, pesticides, and animal, insect, and snake bites.
• Involves driving throughout the APS service territory which may include overnight travel.
• Monitors the operations of facilities for environmental compliance and identifies potential non-compliance issues.
• Additional duties may include evening and weekend on-call duty activities and for Environmental manage an on-call spill phone.

Qualifications

• BS in Archaeology, Biology, Botany, Wildlife or related environmental sciences with 5 years of documented related experience with 2 of the 5 years providing similar services for an electric utility. Must have adequate academic credentials to satisfy requirements of U.S.D.A. Forest Service to conduct cultural resource and/or biological assessments concerning threatened and endangered species and a comprehensive knowledge of pertinent environmental laws.
• ISA Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist certifications, USFWS Sub-permittee registration and applicable Arizona State Pesticide certification preferred.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. Computer experience using Arc View, MS Word, Excel and Access.
• Must have a demonstrated aptitude for public relations and interpersonal communications and demonstrate a strong commitment to teamwork and environmental stewardship.