last updated October 25, 2006 -- Contact webmaster
In Reply
Refer To: FWS/R4/NWRS
To: All Refuge Employees, Southeast Region
From: Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, Southeast Region
Subject: Refuge Program Workforce Planning Efforts
As all of you are aware from the recent Project Leader meeting at Callaway Gardens and from my May 25, 2006, memo to you, the refuge program is embarking on a major workforce planning effort. I want this process to be as transparent as possible and keep all employees and our constituents informed as future plans are developed for each of our refuges. The three teams that have been established (Regional Office, Field, and Outreach) met in Atlanta throughout last week for their initial meetings. At this point, each team is developing working drafts with target dates for the Field, Regional Office, and Outreach Team reports to be completed around the first of July.
Concern may be growing over what all of this means. Already, we have conducted surveys for early outs, buy outs, and voluntary reassignments. Some rumors are beginning to circulate about refuge closures. I can assure you that refuge closures are not imminent and would only occur as a last resort. There is a great deal more planning and assessment that needs to take place and significant additional budget reductions would have to occur prior to closing a refuge. Though I do support a long-term strategy of increasing existing operational budget margins above 10 percent, I want to be clear that I have no plans to close any refuges to increase budget flexibility. I recognize that with tight budgets this may take several years, but increased flexibility to meet changing needs is a good goal for which to aim.
Now I would like to give you a general update of progress to date by each team:
Regional Office Team – This team has a specific task of cutting 10 percent of Regional Office FTEs as outlined by the Director in his charge to all Regions and the Washington Office. The team met on June 5-6 in Atlanta and reviewed all Regional Office organization charts and budget allocation sheets for every branch in refuges. Also, its members interviewed various staff to gain additional information as needed. At this time they are including Fire, Realty and Law Enforcement in their review. Some specific clarification on the 10 percent will be coming out soon from the Director, but the team is planning to identify more than 10 percent to allow management some discretion in its final decision making. The team will be meeting again in Atlanta on June 26-27 to finalize its work. Every program area in the Region will be going through the same exercise.
Field Team – The Field review team met from June 6-8 and plan to meet again June 20-22 due to the scope of the work involved. This team is charged with assessing how best to cope with flat or declining budgets by making recommendations on how to spread what will likely be a smaller number of refuge personnel. In short, the task is figure out how to manage through what will likely be a tough time for our budget. The team reviewed permanent, approved, and funded staffing for every refuge across the Region. The team agreed that Wildlife First should be the priority in making our recommendations. When this task is completed there likely will be positions targeted for phase out at some refuges. Also, the team will be looking at those priority refuges that may need additional staff if funding becomes available. The team is looking at recommendations for a five-year window so any changes will probably occur over an extended period of time. The three-tiered list (Very High, High, and Medium Priorities) was not approved by the team and they are working on a modified way of developing a prioritized list of refuges for the Region. This is a work in progress.
Outreach Team – The Outreach Team is charged with keeping all those affected informed as we develop and begin to implement recommendations. Some team members participated in the early hours of both the Regional and Field Teams to assist with their background knowledge development. The team then met as a group on June 7-8 and began to lay the ground work for an outreach plan. Obviously, no firm documents can be provided until the above two teams get more deeply into the process and develop recommendations, but the ground work needs to be laid for how we provide information to our employees, Members of Congress and their staffs, Friends groups, State fish and wildlife agencies, and other partners, as we try to manage our priority resources in an environment of stable or declining budgets.You will be getting regular updates from me as the refuge program works to develop plans to strategically manage it future workforce in tight budget times. I hope everyone will be patient and supportive as we work through this process.
Jon Andrew, Chief,
National Wildlife Refuge System
Southeast Region
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Suite 420
1875 Century Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30345
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