DNR director’s letter about staffing

Here’s a letter from Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller that went out to DNR employees.

As expected, the letter includes news of five job postings for staff to work on Asian carp in Lake Michigan. Sigh.

More commentary to come, no doubt.

But first, here’s the letter.

Marc Miller’s letter to DNR staff

Dear employees:

Since my first day as Director, I have been looking to identify, fund, and fill critical positions to perform the mission of this agency and begin the rebuilding process. 
Given the challenges facing the state, we all understood that change would not happen overnight or appear miraculous. 

I thank you for your patience, as well as your continued dedication to your work. 

I am pleased to tell you all about another round of progress.  DNR has been approved to fill the following positions:

o Office Associate Option 2 (4 positions) – Boating-Ofc of Strategic Services
o Conservation Police Sergeant – Homeland Security
o Natural Resources Advance Specialist, Option 3 – Forestry, ORC
o Site Technician II – Kankakee SP, Lands
o Account Technician II – Lands, Region V
o Site Superintendent II – Apple River SP
o Site Superintendent III – Mississippi River WMA
o Conservation Police Officer II – Duty Officer
o Technical Advisor II (2 positions) – Office of Legal Counsel

There will also be changes in two management positions. 

Travis Loyd will be promoted to Deputy Director to address procurement, contracts, and other internal responsibilities.  To begin, Travis will focus on implementation of SB51 and to ensure that the new law on procurement is implemented in a seamless fashion.  He will also take on responsibilities gradually to assume a chief-of-staff role to Assistant Director Rogner and myself.  Our state purchasing officer (CMS), Norm Dixon, will report to Travis.

Kristin DiCenso Vacek will assume leadership of the Office of Strategic Services.  This office, which we combined last year from the Offices of Administration, Special Events and Public Services, will continue to report to AD John Rogner.

We have made earlier progress on a wild turkey specialist, grassland wildlife specialist, a position at Sparta and various positions within Mines and Minerals. 

Also reported in an earlier message, we will have five fisheries positions that will focus on invasive species.  The Asian carp situation in the Chicago Area Waterway
System has been a significant human resource challenge, but one we are addressing by taking advantage of federal funding and creating positions to deal with this challenge in the field.

There is more progress to come on front line positions, and there will be other announcements in the near future. 

Yours in conservation,

Marc