Wildlife Technician - NR Technician Wildlife

About the role

This position is an integral part of the DNR Cloquet Wildlife Work Area. The primary duties of this position are to execute wildlife management plans, conduct supporting field work, and protect and manage northern forest wildlife populations and plant communities for their intrinsic values and long-term benefits to the people of Minnesota. Work occurs primarily in the Cloquet Wildlife Work Area (Pine, Carlton & southern St. Louis Counties), but technician will also be expected to be part of a regional work pool with planned work and travel outside of the home area, as needed. The nature of the work may require a high degree of flexibility in hours and days worked on a seasonal basis. Extensive day and occasional overnight may be required. During the prescribed burn season, crew members will be conducting burns on a weather dependent basis, which means possible weekends and extended/long hours.

Responsibilities

• Operate, maintain, clean and repair, or arrange repair of, heavy equipment, vehicles, other equipment and tools in order to implement approved area wildlife habitat maintenance and development activities on WMAs, State Forests, County Forests, and other public lands so that wildlife resources and public use are enhanced.
• Plan and implement the maintenance and development of public user and DNR management facilities including but not limited to roads, hunter walking trails, parking lots, boat landings, gates, kiosks, docks, signs, boundary lines, culverts, dikes, water control structures, firebreaks and emergency spillways.
• Monitor and manage wildlife populations so that population levels are maintained to provide recreational enjoyment on a sustainable basis, and so that human-wildlife conflicts are minimized.
• Document and submit required administrative forms, summaries, inventories and collected information timely and follow department procedures and fiscal responsibilities.
• Complete and maintain all required training and certifications required of the position.
• Effectively communicate wildlife management work and needs at the Area and Regional Wildlife levels in order to garner public understanding and support for wildlife management programs.
• Perform strenuous physical labor, work in hot, smoky conditions, walk long distances transporting up to 50 pounds of fire gear, and periodically work long days while performing prescribed burn operations, often in adverse weather and environmental conditions.
• Pass a moderate fitness test based on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Work Capacity within 6 months of start date and then on an annual basis (walking 2 miles with a 25-pound pack within 30 minutes).

Requirements

• One (1) year experience performing similar work which will include skills and applied knowledge of habitat management techniques; prescribed fire or wildfire suppression techniques and methods; construction techniques and materials; landscaping methods and materials; safe equipment operation; and directing the work of others.
• Position requires a Class A Driver's License (CDL), passing a pre-employment drug screen and participation in the DNR ongoing random screening program. Otherwise qualified applicants who do not have a valid Class A will be allowed up to six (6) months to acquire one, as a condition of employment.
• Knowledge of botany, forestry, prairie, wetland and forest ecology, zoology, biology and soils, inventory and assessment, and ability to identify native and exotic species.
• Experience with prescribed burning or wildfire suppression and the ability to annually complete the moderate level work capacity test.
• Knowledge and applied skills in the safe operation, transportation, maintenance and minor repair of equipment and tools that include but are not limited to common types of agricultural, construction and vehicular equipment (tractors with loaders, skid steers, tracked vehicles, on highway vehicles, ATV/UTVs, pumps, trailers, fire equipment, tillage, planting and harvesting equipment).
• Knowledge and applied skills in basic equipment operation, maintenance and repair of power tools (chainsaws, brush saws, ATV's, sprayers, seeding drills, construction power tools).
• Working knowledge of computers, email, word processing, and spreadsheet software applications.
• Ability to navigate with map, compass, and GPS.
• Communication and comprehension skills sufficient to understand and carry out oral and written directions, accurately compile survey data, produce reports, and develop management and project plans.
• Ability to work and communicate accurately, honestly, and respectfully with diverse communities.
• Leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills to direct, develop, and engage staff, address complex and confidential issues, and work as a productive member of teams.
• Current possession of a valid Class A license or the ability to obtain one in the first 6 months of employment.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).
• Must submit to a background check prior to employment (may include Conflict of Interest Review, Criminal History Check, Education Verification, Employment Reference / Records Check, License / Certification Verification).

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of land protection methods and conservation strategies.
• Experience in planning, preparation, and conducting prescribed burns.
• Certified as a firing boss or prescribed fire burn boss.
• Basic wildland firefighter training (S-130 Firefighter Training, S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, L-180 Human Factors on the Fireline, IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System, IS-700 An Introduction to the National Incident Management System).
• Certified pesticide applicator.
• Possession of a current Class A – Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• Two (2) years' experience safely operating, maintaining, repairing, and transporting equipment, such as (but not limited to) heavy trucks, dump trucks, trailers, skid steers, tractors with attachments, tracked vehicles, dozer/crawlers, backhoes, boats, snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs, chainsaws, brush saws, and hand/power tools.
• Demonstrated skills in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), particularly ArcMap/ArcPro, sufficient to perform spatial analysis, create map products, and maintain data on work accomplishments.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• Diabetes care.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years).
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care.
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
• Support to help you reach your career goals: Training, classes, and professional development.

Pay

$24.02 - $33.86 / hourly; $50,154 - $70,700 / annually

Schedule

Day Shift, Monday - Friday. Travel required occasionally. Extensive day and occasional overnight may be required. During prescribed burn season, possible weekends and extended/long hours based on weather conditions.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.