Regional Office Questions and Answers

1. Why did Refuges establish a Regional Office reorganization team ?

At the May meeting of the Directorate, Director Hall charged the Regional Directors to achieve a 10% reduction in Regional Office (RO) positions (FTEs) in all programs over the next two years (end of FY 2008). These savings are to be transferred directly to the field. This is intended to offset some of the reductions occurring at field stations.

2. How did Regional Office Division of Refuges identify the 10% reduction?

The Division of Refuges is the first division in the Southeast Region to begin this process. A team of five refuge managers and one Regional Office representative performed a comprehensive , across the board review of Regional Office programs and positions to find cost savings looked at a 10% reduction in Regional Office FTEs, additional FTE reductions to achieve a more efficient organization, a review of the 1260 accounts, and GSA space costs . Their goal was to recommend steps that would continue the highest possible level of service to the field and achieve a more efficient organization . This meant recommending abolishing positions that provide lower priority services to field stations, and keeping positions that are critical to effectively servicing the field.

3. What was the team's recommendation?

To achieve the 10% savings, T t he team recommended six positions which could be eliminated to achieve the 10% savings . These positions, in priority order, are:

1. 1.  Landscape Architect, Division of Visitor Services & Outreach*
2. • Aviation Manager / Pilot, Refuges
3. • Computer Specialist, Division of Information Management*
4. • Secretary, Division of Planning & Resource Management
5. • Program Operations Assistant, Area II, Refuges*
6. • RMIS Coordinator, Division of Information Management

Three of these positions (noted with a *) are currently vacant. This would save $504,200.

An additional three positions were identified for elimination, increasing the amount of savings to go to the field to 15%. In priority order, they are:

7. Budget Analyst, Division of Information Management,

8. Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Division of Planning & Resource Mgmt

9. MOCC Instructor, Division of Planning & Resource Management

Elimination of these three positions would save an additional $236,000.

4. What about refuge-funded positions in other divisions?

In tight budget times, working collaboratively across programs to leverage our resources is more important than ever. However, the team did identify three positions which are partially funded by refuges' 1260 accounts that do not appear to be providing high priority services to the field. The team recommended that the Regional Directorate further evaluate the services provided by the Carbon Sequestration Coordinator, Ecologist (Environmental Contaminants Coordinator), and Regional Ecosystem Grants and Partnerships Coordinator to determine if they are commensurate with the amount of funding provided. Refuges may identify additional cost savings here.

5. When will the field see the savings?

As Regional office positions are abolished through FY2008, the savings realized will offset field positions. The Field Team's recommendations to abolish 83 positions already takes into consideration an additional 10% to the field over the next 2 years.