Wildlife Technician 2

Job Duties

• Lead Habitat Management Projects
• Assist with planning and implementing wildlife habitat improvement projects, including prescribed fire, tree and shrub planting, wetland restoration, vegetation management, mowing, and herbicide applications.
• Administer cooperative habitat lease agreements and ensure compliance with conservation program requirements.
• Monitor and coordinate noxious weed control efforts with local partners.
• Operate a variety of equipment to complete habitat management activities.

Supervise Field Operations

• Provide daily leadership and direction to Natural Resources Technician 1 staff, temporary employees, volunteers, and contractors.
• Develop and communicate daily and weekly work plans.
• Promote a safe work environment by ensuring compliance with DNR and OSHA safety standards and providing appropriate safety training and equipment.

Maintain Public Lands and Facilities

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee maintenance of wildlife management areas, including buildings, roads, bridges, culverts, parking lots, boat ramps, fences, dikes, signs, and water control structures.
• Inspect public lands and facilities for safety hazards and coordinate necessary repairs.
• Work with contractors, engineers, and local government agencies to complete facility improvement projects efficiently and cost-effectively.

Manage Equipment and Resources

• Maintain, inspect, and repair a wide range of vehicles, heavy equipment, tractors, implements, boats, and power equipment.
• Maintain inventories of tools, equipment, and assets.
• Keep accurate maintenance records and equipment operating logs.

Support Wildlife Management and Research

• Conduct wildlife population surveys and monitoring activities, including deer counts, waterfowl surveys, game bird surveys, and other wildlife inventories.
• Affiliate with trapping, banding, research, and biological data collection for a variety of wildlife species.
• Humanely dispatch injured, diseased, or dangerous animals when necessary and in accordance with department policies.
• Cook/Coordinate Projects and Administration
• Prepare project requests, purchase supplies, manage budgets, maintain inventories, process payments, and complete required reports.
• Maintain accurate records related to project accomplishments, equipment, safety, property inspections, and operational activities.
• Ensure compliance with departmental policies and operating procedures.

Serve the Public

• Provide technical assistance and information to landowners, partner agencies, and the public.
• Respond professionally to questions regarding wildlife management and public lands.
• Represent the Department through presentations to schools, community organizations, sportsmen's groups, and media outlets as opportunities arise.

Essential Functions

• Accomplish needed land management activities and function within a small field work team.
• Perform strenuous work and work under inclement conditions at times.
• Apply knowledge of wildlife management techniques, must perform techniques used to conduct basic wildlife management projects.
• Knowledge of basic state and federal laws, rules, and regulations as they relate to wildlife resources.
• Must have, or be able to obtain, the following certifications and licensure:
• S-130/S-190 Firefighter Training Qualification
• S-212 Chainsaw Safety Training Qualification
• Pesticide applicator certifications
• Driver's License (must be able to operate a motor vehicle)
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• CPR/First Aid Certification

Critical Job Competencies

• Accountability
• Integrity (ethical conduct)
• High Productivity
• Customer Focus
• Team Player
• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication Skills
• Self-Management
• Technical Skills (wildlife management)

What You Get From Us

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
• (Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).
• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling).
• The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation.
• For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.
• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).

Comments

• The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range.
• Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable).
• The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation.
• Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Selectives

• 901 Wildlife Biology
• 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• The equivalent of three years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program;
• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for each year of the required experience;
• OR employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.

Additional Qualification Requirements

• Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.