Natural Resource Specialist

The Department of Natural Resources, Office of the Commissioner – Public Information Center is recruiting for a Natural Resource Specialist 1.

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check residency definition to determine if you qualify.

The small, friendly Public Information Center (PIC) team provides guidance and support to customers as they navigate the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) programs.

Daily tasks include:

• Providing excellent customer service while responding to general inquiries about DNR and its functions.
• Receipting payments, processing fees, and balancing cash drawers.
• Utilizing and teaching DNR online research tools.
• Leading a team of one in the day‑to‑day operations with support from the PIC Manager.

The PIC serves as the first point of contact and ensures excellent customer service to support the DNR mission.

We are looking for an energetic individual who loves working with the public, is willing to learn, and can work independently and as part of a small team.

• Entry‑level into DNR and the State of Alaska employment.
• Ongoing training and exposure to other DNR divisions and programs for career advancement.
• Biweekly paycheck, 12 paid holidays, paid vacation days, and consistent weekday schedule.
• Health insurance and retirement benefits.
• Friendly, cooperative, and encouraging atmosphere.

Located at the front entrance of the DNR building at 3700 Airport Way, within walking distance to bus stops, grocery stores, and restaurants. A typical day includes heavy use of phones and computers at individual workstations and at the front counter to provide customer service. The three‑person team at the Fairbanks PIC works closely with the Anchorage PIC and has daily contact with DNR staff from all the department’s divisions and offices, as well as other agencies and organizations.

• Customer Service:
  Works with clients and customers... to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Interpersonal
  
  Skills:
  
  Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Attention to Detail:
  Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Minimum qualifications are competency‑based. Please ensure your application supports how you have gained the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (competencies) needed for this position.

• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information ... effectively, takes into account the audience and nature… Makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Reading: Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
• Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

"Competencies" means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

"Qualified" means…