Resource Specialist (Staff Specialist)

CAREER DESCRIPTION

RESOURCE SPECIALIST
(STAFF SPECIALIST)

SALARY INFORMATION
In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive salary range increase on the following date:

Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00% increase

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Staff Specialist vacancies within OC Community Resources. The eligible list established may also be used to fill similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the deadline to apply is Monday, July 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm (PT).

OC PARKS
OC Parks encompasses regional, wilderness and historical facilities, as well as coastal areas throughout the County of Orange in California. Featuring 60,000 acres of parkland, open space and shoreline, Orange County's award-winning parks and programs are enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors each year, in ways as diverse as the parks themselves.

Click here for more information on OC Parks.
Click here for more information on OC Community Resources
Click here for more information on the County of Orange.

THE OPPORTUNITY
OC Parks is seeking individuals who can independently develop and deliver engaging, audience-centered interpretive programming, exhibits, and media for a park facility, manage day to day park operations, and participate in natural resource management activities.

The Resource Specialist must possess the knowledge and skill to work within an OC Parks facility with increased: ecological diversity, acreage, complexity, attendance, development, visitor impact, resource management responsibilities, community involvement, stakeholders and resource value. This position may supervise various OC Parks employees and volunteers. The incumbent will be working in the field and will walk and bike moderate distances on steep uneven terrain. Incumbents must be comfortable in an environment with wildlife including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, snakes, rodents and insects, as well as varying weather conditions. The incumbent must have the ability to independently lift 20 pounds.

The ideal candidates will possess a deep curiosity about the natural world and a desire to inspire the same in others. They will have the ability to actively engage and communicate with people of all ages and demographic backgrounds in interpretive settings. They will possess the knowledge and expertise to develop and execute environmental, historical and/or cultural education programs based on generally accepted science principles and industry best practices while keeping with the vision, mission and goals of OC Parks.

The Resource Specialist duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Designing and delivering interpretive and outreach programs.
• Developing temporary and permanent interpretive exhibits, displays, media and panels for OC Parks’ nature centers, parks and trails.
• Working directly with the Interpretive Program Curator to achieve broad programmatic themes and to develop programs.
• Managing volunteer stewardship and restoration projects.
• Supervising and training OC Parks volunteers in general park operations, customer service, interpretation and resource management roles.
• Communicating frequently with park guests, stakeholders, non-profit partners, park volunteers, park staff and management.
• Aiding parks staff in the field and with park operations as needed.
• Assisting with special events and projects in support of the OC Parks Communications Division.
• Assisting to plan, organize, and implement large scale regional public special events.
• Producing content for OC Parks' social media channels.
• Occasional supporting of Park Rangers and other first responders during emergency response and incident management.
• Occasional habitat monitoring and biological surveys.
• Occasional handling of power and hand tools.

Special Note: Incumbent should be prepared to work weekends and holidays.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess at least three years of experience designing and implementing interpretive* or informal education programming**.

*For information about the work of interpretive education program, visit the National Association for Interpretation website at https://nai-us.org

**Information education programming refers to education activities that occur outside of traditional classroom setting such as parks, museum, nature centers, among others.

Successfully completed coursework from an accredited college or university in environmental studies, ecology, primary or secondary education, museum studies, biology, cultural resource preservation, interpretation, recreation, natural resource management, forestry, park management or closely related field may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of three semester units or equivalent equaling 3 months of experience, for a maximum substitution of up to one year.

Experience in managing volunteer stewardship projects is highly desirable.

Experience and skills in the arts (photography, painting, drawing, sculpting, music, dance, graphic design, creative writing, etc.), specifically in nature or natural settings, is highly desirable.

Technical Experience | Education & Interpretive Programs

• Knowledge designing/implementing environmental, cultural, and historical education/interpretive programs in informal settings
• Knowledge of the native flora and fauna of Southern California
• Experience creating interpretive and educational media/exhibits
• Experience researching, managing, and designing natural resource restoration projects
• Knowledge of habitat restoration methodologies

Organizational & Analytical Skills

• Ability to coordinate and plan outreach events with OC Parks staff and vendors
• Identify creative ways to engage with new and underserved audiences
• Ability to work with subject matter experts on distilling complex scientific and historical information into engaging formats for the general public

Interpersonal Communication | Relationship Building

• Demonstrate skill and ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Negotiate and collaborate with diverse populations and different constituency groups with diverging interests to achieve a shared understanding and unified mission
• Ability to actively engage and communicate with people of all ages in recreational and educational environments
• Identify creative approaches to working with the community, internal partners, and other stakeholders to meet program objectives
• Coordinate with others in response to multiple, competing demands to ensure work is completed in a timely manner
• Liaise with organizations and individuals to achieve common goal

Leadership | Teamwork

• Supervise and train volunteer stewardship groups and ensure quality control of public outreach and education programs
• Develop and implement short and long-range project goals and objectives
• Analyze situations accurately, develop reasonable alternatives and take effective action
• Use creativity and innovation to achieve program objectives
• Provide team with tools and procedures to achieve best practices
• Work as a team member with a positive, forward focused attitude

Oral & Written Communication

• Prepare and conduct public presentations using excellent public speaking skills.
• Prepare and present written reports and recommendations concisely, logically, and convincingly
• Ensure timely, appropriate communication with stakeholders
• Communicate professionally in confrontational situations

OC Parks will provide the following training upon successful appointment:

• Title-22, CPR, First Aid, AED certification for Professional Responders
• OC Parks Wildland Fire Training
• The National Association for interpretation’s Certificate of Interpretive Guiding Course
• Resource Specialist Operations training
• OC Parks Volunteer Program training and orientation
• Calflora EDRR training

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the Staff Specialist classification, including the physical and mental requirements as well as environmental conditions.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for desirable qualifications. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview | SOI - (Weighted 100%)
Applicants will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the department's needs, the recruitment procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of changes in the selection process.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in your application and use only one email account.

Note: User accounts are established for one person only and should be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidate will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the governmentjobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com". If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jenny Kim at (714) 480-2861 or jenny.kim@occr.ocgov.com .

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 7/14/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Orange

• 714.834.5315

Show more