Habitat Specialist (Tuttle Creek)

About the role

This position is part of a partnership between the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PFQF). The incumbent will conduct habitat management work on the Tuttle Creek Wildlife Management Area and other wildlife areas. They are full-time, permanent employees of PFQF and will receive daily leadership from KDWP Wildlife Area Managers.

Responsibilities

• Assist with all aspects of managing the assigned wildlife management areas.
• Supervise and implement habitat management work on public lands which will include but is not limited to prescribed burning, mechanical tree removal with skid steer, food plot establishment, brome conversion, native grass establishment, dove field management, and herbicide application.
• Participate in scientific field studies and surveys which will include spotlight deer surveys, pheasant crow counts, quail whistle counts, pheasant and turkey brood surveys, fall covey counts, and waterfowl surveys.
• Coordinate agricultural permits and habitat plans using GIS.
• Participate in habitat management of intensely managed wetlands with a focus on moist soil management, including wetland draw downs, water pumping, use of a variety of water control structures, wetland design, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, soil disturbance techniques, flood response, row crop production, and use of large array of tools and equipment to meet management objectives.
• Procure supplies and equipment.
• Supervise and participate in the construction, maintenance and repair of area buildings, equipment, and roads.
• Provide public outreach.
• Participate in training and evaluation of seasonal employees.

Requirements

The incumbent must have a basic understanding of environmental, agricultural and/or natural resource science. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the partners. Preference will be given to candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on wildlife management.

Skills

Strongly preferred qualifications include a basic understanding of upland habitat management, prescribed burning, tractor and implement operation, equipment transportation, hand and power tools, noxious weed identification and management, wildlife and grassland ecology, and GIS, especially ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro. Proper training will be provided as necessary for the successful candidate.

Benefits

Starting salary information: $19.00/hour starting salary, benefits, and modest performance-based yearly increases (view benefit summary on our recruitment website: www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs).

Qualifications

A basic understanding of environmental, agricultural and/or natural resource science. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the partners. Preference will be given to candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on wildlife management.

Pay

Starting salary information: $19.00/hour starting salary, benefits, and modest performance-based yearly increases (view benefit summary on our recruitment website: www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs).

Schedule

Starting salary information: $19.00/hour starting salary, benefits, and modest performance-based yearly increases (view benefit summary on our recruitment website: www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs).

Location

Tuttle Creek Wildlife Management Area (near Olsburg, Kansas)

Application Deadline

July 30, 2026

Anticipated Start Date

August 30, 2026

Contact Information

To Apply: Please combine your cover letter, resume, and 3 references into a single Word Document or PDF File before uploading as part of your application on our Recruitment website at: www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs . If you have additional questions, please contact Kent Hensley, PF/QF Kansas Habitat Specialist Manager, at 785-639-8481 or khensley@pheasantsforever.org.

Description of Area

Tuttle Creek WMA is situated in the beautiful Flint Hills region of Kansas. The lake is the second largest in the state offering 12,000 acres of water and 100 miles of irregular wooded shoreline. Tuttle Creek Lake, being the key unit of flood control projects within the Kansas River Basin, may swell to 54,000 acres. KDWP also manages 17,800 acres of land on the north end of the lake for wildlife benefit. In addition to permanent habitat enhancement, KDWP provides 3,220 acres of cropland for winter food. Because of the flooding, area management will focus on enhancing wetland habitat. 480 acres of constructed wetlands provide food and shelter to migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Other species managed for include white-tailed deer, turkey, quail, pheasants, squirrels and doves. Also tied in with the Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area is Blue Valley Wildlife Area that is owned by KDWP. With a total of 492 acres of woodlands, native grass and pasture. In conjunction with Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks, the Corps of Engineers, Lake Nemaha Improvement Association, Ducks Unlimited and Nemaha County, a $1.2 million dollar project was completed in 2002 to restore a fishery in a portion of the dry lakebed and create a new wetland. The result was 125-acre wetlands and an 18-acre fishpond created from a borrow area for construction of the wetland berm.