Natural Scientist Supervisor

Pay Range: $71,661- $93,159 annual compensation

Job Posting Closing: Thursday, March 27, 2025

Workdays & Hours: Variable; Some evening/weekend work is required.

Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, Professional Development Opportunities, and much more.

The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of nearly 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

A Natural Scientist Supervisor job is available with the City of Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department – Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R). This is a Full-Time position working 40 hours per week with benefits. The FWNC&R is an award-winning nature preserve and environmental education facility hosting 80,000+ visitors annually on a 20+ mile hiking trail system over the 3,650-acre preserve. The FWNC&R features crosstimbers and bottomland forests, prairies, wetlands, and a captive bison herd.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in natural or physical science, including biology, geology, botany, range management, environmental science, environmental education, forestry, natural interpretation, or a related field.
• Four years of experience working in a natural science field, developing education plans, providing group instruction, and/or developing and implementing natural resource management plans, including two years of experience directly related to the field of assignment.
• One year of supervision over professional staff.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Possession of a Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator license or ability to obtain within six months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in range management or wildlife conservation

• Possession of a hunter safety certificate or ability to obtain within six months of employment.
• Advanced knowledge/experience in wildlife and land management research techniques and statistics, including a thorough knowledge of ArcGIS and a statistical software package such as R
• Advanced knowledge/experience with managing livestock
• Texas Department of Agriculture (or similar) Prescribed Burn Manager training or license

The Natural Scientist Supervisor's job responsibilities include:

• Supervises staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, ensuring staff is trained, ensuring employees follow policies and procedures, maintaining a healthy and safe working environment, and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary decisions or recommendations.
• Develop and implement natural resource management plans to improve or maintain the natural qualities of the FWNC&R.
• Monitors invasive species populations (flora and fauna) and conducts control operations in accordance with standard practices.
• Manages and maintains captive bison herd through proper pasture management, health care, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Conducts wildlife surveys and research to promote proper management and to inform the public.
• Conducts prescribed burns to improve habitat quality in accordance with state and local guidelines.
• Oversees maintenance of trail system and visitor amenities
• Assist in preparing the program budget; monitor and approve expenditures; ensure purchasing protocols are followed; and plan for capital expenditures.

Working Conditions

Depending on the assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, repetitive motions, climbing, balancing, pushing, pulling, and lifting, depending on the assignment. Incumbents may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, odors, dust, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, and intense noises.

Physical Demand

Medium work – Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects.