Coordinating Wildlife Biologist

Application deadline: Open until filled. Anticipated start date: September 2026. Location: Craig, Colorado.

About the role

Pheasants Forever (PF) and partners are seeking a passionate and skilled individual for an innovative conservation effort. This role is designed for someone to forge strong, productive relationships built on trust and respect with a diversity of partners, explore innovative ways to deliver conservation, and produce tangible on-the-ground results for working landscapes and the people, communities, and wildlife that depend on them.

This position will deliver these core principles by implementing conservation efforts in Northwest Colorado. The role provides technical assistance to agricultural producers, landowners, managers, the community, and state and federal partners on range, forest, wet meadow, and upland restoration projects. The position is an employee of Pheasants Forever Inc. with daily supervision, instruction, and leadership provided by PF and local partners. The incumbent will work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program, US Forest Service (FS), Intermountain West Joint Venture, state fish and game agencies, private landowners, and other regional stakeholders.

A strong candidate will inspire the community, landowners, and partners to participate in process-based restoration aimed at developing and enhancing resilient watersheds on both private and public lands.

Responsibilities

• Desire to learn and explore innovative and creative ways to support working landscapes with agricultural producers, NGOs, and government agencies.
• Coordinate conservation efforts to use Farm Bill, BLM, and other funding avenues to ensure “seamless” and integrated implementation across the landscape.
• Help NRCS implement the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Frameworks for Conservation Action (Sagebrush Biome and Migratory Big Game) and related initiatives (Sage Grouse Initiative and Migratory Big Game Initiative).
• Outreach, coordination, and relationship-building with area ranchers, private landowners, local business-economic interests, non-governmental organizations, and local community groups (e.g., soil and water conservation districts, local area working groups, coordinated resource management groups, etc.). May include workshops, field tours, group presentations, and conferences.
• Promote conservation programs and practices to stakeholders to increase the pace and scale of conservation delivery.
• Work with agricultural producers and private landowners to provide technical assistance for resource conservation.
• Facilitate application development and contract management with agricultural producers and private landowners for conservation projects funded through Farm Bill Program opportunities like Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), or the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP).
• Coordinate integration and application of biological sciences within conservation programs in cooperation with local partners.
• Provide coordination assistance with state and federal agencies and local governments.
• Communicate program requirements, complete site visits, and develop contracts/plans for projects and participants.
• Work with agencies and partners to develop, facilitate, and coordinate local contracts and agreements.
• Complete project management through data creation, gathering, tracking, and dissemination via frequent updates and reporting.
• Facilitate information and awareness on conservation opportunities to partners.
• Communicate program requirements and complete site visits for wildlife field clearances (surveys, inventories, monitoring) on identified fuels projects.
• Provide landscape-level conservation planning, technical assistance, and project prioritization support to agricultural producers, NRCS, FS, BLM, and partners.
• Coordinate and work directly with the WLFW team to identify landowner success stories, support outcome evaluations and reports, and assist with technical transfer to support delivery of NRCS Frameworks for Conservation Action.
• Coordinate and work directly with the IWJV/BLM Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands partnership and integrate with the Sage Capacity Team.
• Serve on field-level interdisciplinary teams.
• Work with various agricultural producers, state, and local agencies to coordinate success stories and leverage support for future years of partnership projects.
• Showcase information from past and current projects to the public (e.g., presentations showing pre- and post-data for vegetation and wildlife populations, kiosk displays, social media posts, etc.).
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Rangeland Science, Wildlife Biology/Management, Forest Ecology, Agriculture, Social Dynamics, or Restoration Ecology from an accredited university (or equivalent combination of training and experience).
• Experience or knowledge of collaborative conservation and management and/or integrated wildlife management is preferred.
• Experience working with agricultural producers regarding collaborative lands management projects.
• Understanding of habitat management at various scales.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new ideas, technologies, and local cultural values.
• Experience in knowledge and principles of project management, concepts of project constraints, and ability to manage and apply those principles.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, habitat management, grazing lands management, wetland restoration, forestry management practices, botany/plant identification, grasslands ecology, conservation economics, and resource inventory.
• Excellent verbal/written communication, coordination, and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive at high elevation, often in remote locations, and occasionally during inclement weather.
• Familiarity with ARC GIS, Word, and Excel.
• Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods over rough terrain; lift and move material weighing up to 50 pounds; work in all types of weather conditions.
• Basic understanding/knowledge of BLM and/or NRCS policy, planning, clearances, and regulations is preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a federal background check are conditions of employment.

Pay

Up to $65,000 (based on experience) + benefits.