Wildlife Management Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Perform wildlife habitat management activities including: Wetland management, prairie management, native prairie seeding, food plot development, edge feathering, tree/brush removal, spraying, disking, mowing, etc. using large farm machinery, chainsaws, and other hand tools.
• Prescribed fire implementation for ecological purposes. This duty will require fire-line construction, fire-line holding, and mop-up activities.
• Performance of these tasks will require the employee to periodically work under physically stressful and adverse conditions.
• Proficiency in the use of basic wildland firefighting equipment will be needed.
• Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring including: Waterfowl banding, deer spotlight routes, August roadside surveys, chronic wasting disease sampling, etc.
• Collecting of biological data occasionally will require early or late in the day work scheduling.
• General area maintenance involving mowing, sign posting, fence building, fence removal, tree/brush control, noxious weed control etc.
• These activities require the ability to use simple power equipment; drills, saws, hand tools, chain saws, trimmers, small mowers etc.
• Special assignments may require some overnight travel as part of a crew, to accomplish large scale fence removal, fence building or tree removal projects outside of the assigned unit counties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in wildlife biology, animal ecology, or another closely related natural resource field.
• Passion for conservation and outdoor fieldwork.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating responsible behavior, attention to detail, and the capacity to work with minimal supervision.
• Display professionalism, integrity, and accountability, with strong initiative, effort, and commitment to completing assignments efficiently.
• Able to travel on overnight duties and work on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.
• Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Able to follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT BENEFITS

• Proven pathway to full-time careers — this position has a strong track record of placement into full-time permanent roles with DNR, Pheasants Forever, and other conservation organizations.
• Build valuable, hands-on technical skills while working alongside experienced DNR professionals.
• Grow your professional network and form lasting connections across the conservation field.
• Gain real-world, outdoor experience doing meaningful, on-the-ground conservation work.
• Experience a unique dual-agency role, with opportunities to engage in trainings, collaboration, and annual staff meetings with both DNR and Pheasants Forever.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Pheasants Forever offers a competitive benefits package.
• Employee Benefit Package information can be found here: Employee Benefit Summary pdf

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess or be able to acquire a pesticide applicator’s license and S130-190 basic firefighter training certification, special requirements shall be met within 90 days of hire if not currently possessed.
• Successful applicant will also be encouraged to obtain a Iowa DNR chainsaw safety certification and complete first aid & bloodborne pathogen training.