TPWD - Natural Resources Specialist I - II - III (

About the role

This position is responsible for performing the professional planning and implementation of natural resource management, monitoring, and research duties associated with wildlife and habitat resources in Collingsworth, Donley, Gray, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts, and Wheeler counties within the Rolling Plains ecological region of the Panhandle Wildlife District.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical assistance and public outreach programs to the general public, private landowners/land managers, sportsmen, and new constituencies.
• Develops comprehensive wildlife management plans for private landowners upon request.
• Disseminates information to the general public through news releases, radio/TV interviews, program presentations, and other public outreach and educational opportunities.
• Performs administrative duties and prepares technical reports, popular articles, and professional journal publications.
• Responsible in assigned area for public relations and educational/extension efforts to involve private citizens and organizations in support of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) programs.
• Identifies public hunting and non-consumptive use opportunities on public and private lands.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Ecology, Range and Wildlife Management, or closely related field in Natural Resources Management.
• Major coursework from Bachelor's or post-Bachelor's degree programs must include a minimum of 24 hours in Wildlife/Habitat Conservation, Wildlife/Natural Resources Management, Wildlife Biology, and/or Research Methods.
• Experience: NRS I: No experience required. NRS II: Two years of relevant experience. NRS III: Six years of relevant experience.
• Licensure: Must possess or be able to obtain, within 30 days of employment, a valid state driver's license. Must possess or be able to obtain, within one year of employment, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's (NWCG) Fire Fighter Type II (FFT II) certification.
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to pass, within one year of employment, the FFT II moderate duty physical fitness standard (walk 2 miles with a 25 lb. pack in 30 minutes or less) OR the arduous duty physical fitness standard (walk 3 miles with 45 lb. pack in 45 minutes or less).
• Acceptable Substitutions: NRS I-II-III: Current Associate Wildlife Biologist certification OR current Certified Wildlife Biologist certification issued by the Wildlife Society may substitute for the required minimum of 24 hours in Wildlife/Habitat Conservation, Wildlife/Natural Resources Management, Wildlife Biology, and/or Research Methods from Bachelor's or post-Bachelor's degree program. NRS II and III ONLY: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Ecology, Range and Wildlife Management, or closely related field in Natural Resource Management may substitute for one year of the required experience. NRS II and III ONLY: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Ecology, Range and Wildlife Management, or closely related field in Natural Resource Management may substitute for two years of the required experience.

Qualifications

• Knowledge: Knowledge of the basic life history, ecology and management needs of wildlife species and their habitats indigenous to the ecological region with particular emphasis relating to private lands.
• Skills: Ability to develop comprehensive wildlife management plans for private landowners, disseminate information to the general public, prepare technical reports, popular articles, and professional journal publications, perform administrative duties, identify public hunting and non-consumptive use opportunities on public and private lands, and perform additional duties as assigned.
• Abilities: Ability to work with native warm season grass restoration, grazing regimes utilized for domestic livestock, rural landowners, upland game birds, big game management, nongame, threatened, and/or endangered species, waterfowl and other migratory game birds, and to conduct low-level aerial fixed wing aircraft and helicopter surveys.