Biologist I Wildlife Resource Section

Summary of Work

The individual selected for this position will work in the Wildlife Resource Section of the Department's Wildlife Division and be responsible for assisting the District Wildlife Resource Supervisor with the development, operation, maintenance and overall management of District Wildlife Management Areas (WMA).

This includes coordinating and managing new developments and routine maintenance work projects in the field like tree plantings, herbaceous cover of food plot establishment, noxious weed control, prescribed burning, fence construction and maintenance, water level management and sign installation.

Office responsibilities will include managing WMA lease agreements with local farmers and ranchers, assisting with federal aid work plans and budget planning, annual management plans and other daily administrative duties.

This position shall perform hiring and supervising of seasonal employees, assist with supervision of wildlife technicians, assist with the coordination and response to wildlife depredation issues in the district; and assist the Game Management Section in game surveys (possibly including aerial surveys), management, research actives and disease monitoring.

This position will also assist the Private Lands Section, as necessary, with implementation and delivery of private land habitat and access components of the Department's Private Land Initiative (PLI).

This position will provide public educational services as needed and technical assistance with wildlife management principles and practices based on sound biological knowledge and data. Accomplishment of all these work objectives will require extensive coordination and collaboration with private landowners, contractors, energy developers, other federal, state and private agricultural and wildlife conservation agencies.

Other wildlife management and public information duties may also be assigned as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology or wildlife management, or closely related natural resource science degree and one year of professional work experience with wildlife or natural resource management agency.
• A Master's degree in a closely related field can substitute for one year of work experience.
• This position requires a working knowledge and experience in the following areas: wildlife management concepts, wildlife habitat and land management practices, habitat requirements for Northern Great Plains resident and migratory wildlife, federal and state agricultural conservation programs and production agriculture practices.
• The individual must possess well-developed communication skills, both oral and written, be highly responsible, be well organized and have attention to detail.
• The individual must have the ability to work with private landowners, farmers/ranchers, other wildlife management professionals, wildlife groups and the general public in a professional manner as a representative of the agency.
• The individual must be self-motivated and adaptable to a fast-paced work environment with the ability to multi-task and balance many work responsibilities at once.
• The individual must have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word and Excel).
• The individual must have the ability to operate and maintain many different types of farm equipment, grass drills, trucks/trailers, ATVs/UTVs and other equipment.
• The individual must have a valid driver's license, be able to lift at least 50 pounds and be willing to travel.
• In addition, the applicant must be capable of obtaining S-130/S-190 basic wildland firefighter certification, a Class A commercial driver's license (CDL) and a commercial pesticide applicators license within the first 6 months of employment.
• Requires satisfactory completion of a background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in wildlife depredation programs
• Knowledge and experience in the control of noxious and invasive weeds and experience in use of sprayers
• Experience using fire pumpers and towing trailers with heavy equipment
• Experience in the operation and basic maintenance of UTV/ATVs
• Experience in geographic information systems (GIS)
• Experience in wildlife surveys and/or experience in aerial surveys using low flying aircraft
• Active participation in hunting, fishing, and trapping