CPW Area Wildlife Game Biologist (WILDLIFE MANAGER III) - Areas 1 and 5 - NE Colo, Denver.

This posting is open to current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado. If selected and you accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado.

About the role

This position serves within CPW’s NE Terrestrial Section as a wildlife game biologist. The role formulates recommendations and management options for the management of wildlife game species and habitats through the collection and analysis of pertinent wildlife data and observations as required by operational and annual work plans. The position designs, implements, and evaluates wildlife population inventories in the assigned area.

Responsibilities

• Wildlife Management Recommendations: Formulates and presents wildlife management recommendations to CPW staff and external partners by collecting, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting biological data using structured discussions, meetings, and written reports. Provides support in the form of data, reports, and comments to other CPW employees. Offers biological expertise through review of internal and external plans, environmental statements, and other decision documents. Recognized as a wildlife expert for the local area, both within and outside CPW.
• Wildlife and Habitat Inventories: Develop, plan, and conduct wildlife and habitat inventories to guide local wildlife and habitat management decisions. Collect and analyze data to compile reports on wildlife abundance, demographics, distribution, and/or habitat quantity and quality.
• Maintain Wildlife Populations by Minimizing or Mitigating Impacts: Minimizes or mitigates impacts on wildlife and their habitats by providing biological expertise in the review and analysis of environmental statements, natural resource plans, and other decision documents proposed by state, federal, or local agencies, municipalities, private companies, and landowners. Collaborates with other CPW work units to accomplish agency goals and objectives.
• Wildlife Management and Habitat Studies: Conducts or participates in wildlife and habitat management studies to gather biological data by planning studies, capturing, marking, monitoring wildlife populations and habitat, analyzing and interpreting results, completing reports, and delivering presentations.
• Wildlife Habitat Management: Works with CPW Habitat Unit staff, Field Operations staff, and other CPW work units to develop habitat management programs and plans. Collaborates with CPW procurement staff on contracts to implement habitat management plans on State Wildlife Areas, other public lands, and private lands.
• Wildlife Population Management: Employs computer-based wildlife population models by interpreting and manipulating data obtained from wildlife inventories, hunter harvest data, field observations, and research results.
• Develop and Implement Wildlife and Habitat Management Plans: Formulates management plans by compiling data, soliciting public and agency comments, negotiating options, analyzing results, and writing final plans. Implements or adapts existing plans or programs to meet wildlife and habitat conservation objectives.
• Educate and Inform the Public: Educates and informs the public on all facets of wildlife and habitat management through dissemination of wildlife information to hunters, wildlife constituents, schools, and public media including newspapers and radio/television.
• Other Duties As Assigned.

Requirements

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in wildlife game and harvest management, wildlife population management, wildlife ecology and biology, and wildlife management, or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.
• OR a combination of related education in wildlife game management, wildlife game biology, wildlife population dynamics/ecology, or another closely related science-based or biology-based degree and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years.
• Ability to conduct sustained aerial surveys (>3-hour fuel loads) in small aircraft, including fixed-wing and rotor craft, with low/no sensitivity to motion sickness.
• Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.
• Knowledge of wildlife and game management theories, applications, and techniques.
• Knowledge of experimental designs and analyses used in wildlife biology and ecology.
• Knowledge of the biology and ecology of wildlife game species that occur in Colorado.
• Proficiency in data collection, summary, and analyses.
• Able to work independently and in team settings.
• Strong writing skills with an understanding of legal and regulatory concepts and language.
• Ability to collaborate with various and diverse individuals, interest groups, and members of the public.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite Apps, R Software, and GIS Software.
• This role requires conducting surveys that involve transportation in helicopters and fixed-winged aircraft; low sensitivity to motion sickness is mandatory. The ability for sustained flight time (10 hours with refueling breaks) in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft on wildlife surveys, which are low-level and involve banked turns and turbulence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or former Colorado Parks and Wildlife work or volunteer experience.
• Expertise in wildlife game management.
• Experience managing wildlife programs and/or projects.
• Experience modeling wildlife population parameters.
• Experience analyzing wildlife space use.
• Knowledge of the theory and application of game inventory and monitoring techniques.
• A Master's degree in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Management, or closely related field.
• Professional-level writing and verbal communication skills.

Conditions of Employment

• The selected candidate must relocate and reside in Colorado on the first day of their new position. A reasonable timeframe for relocation will be established on an individual basis.
• Travel required approximately 12 nights per year for meetings and work site locations.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation.
• Pre-employment background and driving record check may be required as a condition of offer.
• Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will drive a State-owned vehicle must maintain a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.