Workforce Planning in The Southeast
last updated October 25, 2006 -- Contact webmaster
last updated October 25, 2006 -- Contact webmaster
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Workforce Management October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2009 “Where Wildlife Comes First” |
The nationwide budget decline in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the ever rising cost to conduct business, continue to erode Southeast Region Refuges’ management capability, affecting the ability of our 128 refuges to complete mission critical functions and achieve purposes for which they were established. The continued projection of flat or declining budgets requires a strategic financial and human resource plan that does not compromise the Service’s core mission. |
Southeast Regional Director Sam Hamilton and Regional Refuge Chief Jon Andrew established three Teams to address these issues for refuges in the Southeast. The teams established were: (1) Field Review Team, (2) Regional Office Review Team, and (3) Outreach Team The Field Team developed a three year plan that will strategically guide the Region through a period of flat or declining budgets. The Regional Office Team addressed the Director’s charge to reduce the Regional Office by 10% within two years and move those dollar savings to the field. The Outreach Team will provide information to our employees; Friend’s Groups; State, Federal, and non-government partners; Congressional; and other interested parties; as we implement these plans. |
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The draft reports for the Field Team and the Regional Office Team were written separately to avoid confusion and provide as clear an understanding of the information as possible. The draft reports were reviewed by the Regional Office Management Team and sent out to all Refuge Managers for review and comment. Each of the four geographic Areas held field meetings with their Refuge Supervisor to discuss the draft field plan. Every refuge manager was asked to attend. Chief Jon Andrew and others provided overall information and guidance through a conference call to each of the four sites. Everyone given copies of the plan was asked to review and provide comments. All of the comments received from the field were summarized and provided to the Regional Chief to consider for final decisions. Additional changes to the Plan were made to align with national guidance provided in the August 25, 2006, memorandum from the Director. Some of the key national decisions were to have only three tiers of refuges, whereas our Regional draft plan had four tiers. The definitions of the tiers were changed. This forced the Chief to adjust refuges within tiers based on the new definitions. This guidance clearly directed the Regions to use a three-year window as the time frame for their plans. The two draft plans are now combined into one final Southeast Region Workforce Management Plan for Refuges. This plan will strive to increase management efficiency by doing fewer things better while ensuring management capability on refuges and manager control of budgets. The plan strives to meet Director Dale Hall’s challenge to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees (May 4, 2006) to develop a vision for the future that is “focused, efficient, integrated, and united.” |
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