Assistant Wildlife Area Manager - Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2

Title- Assistant Wildlife Area Manager
Classification- Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2
Job Status- Full-Time - Permanent
WDFW Program- Wildlife Program
Duty Station- Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County - Shillapoo Wildlife Area

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Wildlife Area Manager will,  

Monitor, restore, and manage habitat on the Wildlife Areas and perform habitat management work through weed control, forestry, and farming activities:

• Lead, manage, and provide technical input to update and develop projects.
• Stabilize and revegetate disturbed sites.
• Implement Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) on Wildlife Areas.
• Perform habitat maintenance activities.
• Cultivate native vegetation and food plots for benefit of wildlife using predefined methodologies.
• Conduct field reviews of restored sites and recommend future management activities.
• Conduct or oversee wildlife/habitat surveys, data collection, and habitat improvement.
• Assess and evaluate fish and wildlife habitat management programs.
• Perform weed control utilizing mechanical, cultural, or chemical means and maintain records to meet Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) standards.
• Cut trees and brush, and prunes limbs from trees according to project prescription.

Conduct studies, field reviews, and surveys on habitat, wildlife, and recreation activities on the Wildlife Area:

• Review and/or study fish, wildlife, plants, habitats, and recreational use on Wildlife Areas. Implement Wildlife Area plan activities, including habitat and recreation management as well as plan, coordinate, and monitor ecosystem/habitat enhancement projects.
• Monitor gazing and agricultural leases and other land-use permits and keeps appropriate records.
• Survey Wildlife Areas for invasive vegetation, native threatened and endangered (T&E) plants, and general habitat conditions using predefined methodologies to implement appropriate management.
• Survey Wildlife Areas for priority wildlife species.
• Recover injured wildlife and collects and submits specimens.

Conduct outreach and communicate with neighbors, stakeholders, land-use permit holders, and public regarding Wildlife Area activities, permits, and plans:

• Contribute to the development, updating, and implementing of Wildlife Area Plans.
• Provide information to public, either written or via presentation, regarding wildlife species, habitat enhancement and management, and recreational opportunities.
• Coordinate management activities with adjacent land owners.

Maintain facilities, infrastructure, and equipment operation and maintenance and public trust responsibilities:

• Assist in development of capital improvement projects.
• Maintain and repair equipment inventory (vehicles, farm equipment, UTV’s, and other tools) used for program activities.
• Construct and/or assists with repair and maintenance of Wildlife Area infrastructure, including buildings, grounds, roads and culverts, diking systems, fences, wildlife water structures, public use facilities, etc.

Principal assistant to Wildlife Area Manager:

• Serve as a secondary contact (primary is the Wildlife Area Manager) for emergencies, issues, and questions and is primary contact when Wildlife Area Manager is on leave.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: 

• This position involves a combination of office (20%) and fieldwork (80%).
• Office-related hazards include prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting, repetitive data entry, extended periods of looking at a computer monitor, and sitting or standing for long durations.
• Travel to and from field sites (may include private lands) and work in outdoor conditions including extreme hot and cold temperatures and difficult terrain such as deep snow, slippery rocks, steep banks, and sticky mud.
• This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
• Field surveys are conducted using various modes of transportation, including, helicopters, vehicles, and on foot.
• May be exposed to hazardous wildlife, and firearms.
• Will handle potentially hazardous materials, using needles, cutting instruments, and other sharp tools, increasing the risk of exposure to pathogens or injury.
• Frequently lift and load equipment weighing 50lbs. or more.
• Operate and maintain farm tractors and implements and utility terrain vehicles (UTV). Operate 4x4 trucks and towing equipment in offroad settings.

Schedule: Typically, Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. with availability for a non-scheduled work week, travel and long irregular hours. At times work may be off-schedule due to seasonal demands, emergencies, and time critical assignments. 

Travel Requirements: Approximately5% - 10% of the time for occasional travel required for training or meetings. Travel in the duty area occasionally requires use of small boats such as canoes or a drift boat, hiking, or flight (as a passenger) in a motor aircraft.

Tools and Equipment: Personal computer hardware and software (Microsoft Office and Outlook), GPS and software, radio telemetry equipment (transmitters and attachment, receivers, antennas, tracking methods), binoculars and spotting scopes, radios, pickup truck, flatbed truck, utility trailer, utility terrain vehicle (UTV), wheeled tractors, implements used with a tractor, boat, boat trailer, sprayers, clinometer, and digital camera, shovels, jacks, bow saws, pruning saws, backpack sprayer, fence post drivers, wire stretchers, carpentry tools, power and hand tools used include chain saws, brush cutters, mowers, electric and gas-powered herbicide sprayers, and standard shop tools such as grinders, drills, table saw, handheld circular saw and reciprocating saws.

Customer Interactions: Regular interactions with WDFW personnel, other local, state, and federal government personnel, consultants, contractors, private non-profit agency representatives, tribal representatives, project applicants. Public interaction includes with recreationists in the field and routine public response via phone and e-mail.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

A Bachelor's degree in wildlife management, wildlife biology, wildlife ecology, natural resource science, or environmental science.

And

One (1) year of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research or habitat management or research.

Please Note:

• A Master’s or Ph.D. in the applicable science may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• Professional equivalent experience may substitute, year for year, for education requirement.

In addition to the requirements above, the incumbent must have experience in/with the following: 

• Weed/noxious plant identification and plant management using pesticides.
• Operating motorized and non-motorized equipment and tools.
• Driving a 4-wheel drive pick-up truck, towing a trailer, and operating UTV’s.
• Farm equipment, such as tractors, along with a variety of implements.

Certifications/Licenses:
Valid Driver’s License

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• First Aid Training (must be obtained within 6 months of hire)
• Pesticide license (must be obtained within 6 months of hire)
• Wild Land Firefighter Red Card is desired (must be obtained within 1 year of hire)
• This position has been designated as one for which possession and use of a department-issued firearm is beneficial to performing job duties. Must successfully meet all requirements of agency firearm policy (Policy 7011) and maintain eligibility to possess and use agency-issued firearm(s) at all times while in this position.
  • Firearms or air rifle training/certification (May be obtained within 1 year of hire)

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

Experience in/with:

• Fish and wildlife habitat relationships and management requirements
• Wildlife population relationships and ecology
• Training and supervising temporary and volunteer staff
• Biological data collection
• Identifying Eastern Washington native plant species
• Diagnosing and correcting basic issues with equipment performance
• Identifying nongame species, big and small game species, waterfowl, songbirds, birds of prey, and shorebirds in the field
• Working with forest management, as well as habitat enhancement and restoration for big and small game and listed species
• Prescribed fire or fire management of forests or habitats
• Performing basic carpentry
• Implementation of Wildlife Area Plan activities
• Agricultural and grazing practices, such as spraying, soil cultivation, crop types, planting methods, grazing methods and monitoring  
• Management of plant communities
• General state procedural policies and rules governing work activities
• Operating backpack and UTV mounted sprayer used in herbicide application
• Operating chainsaws and other equipment used in forest habitat management
• Performing proper care and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized equipment
• Coordinating and organizing activities
• Managing projects and workloads
• Conducting data analyses and making inferences from data for management recommendations

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.