Regional Wildlife Biologist - Habitat

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is currently recruiting for Regional Wildlife Habitat Biologist. This announcement will be used to fill the Hagerman Habitat District Biologist opening at the Magic Valley Regional office in Jerome and it may be used to fill future openings statewide.

Regional Wildlife Habitat Biologists are responsible for management of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and working with other habitat based initiatives with federal, state, local, NGO, and private landowners that promote wildlife habitat in a habitat district. Main accountabilities for WMAs include: Implementing WMA management plans, day-to-day operational needs, supervision of seasonal employees, budget management, and managing unplanned events as they arise. This position assists the region’s wildlife population, diversity, research, landowner-sportsmen and environmental staff programs. The successful candidate will have the essential skills to work effectively with volunteers, agencies and staff; apply for and administer grants; monitor wildlife habitat; survey wildlife populations; and provide technical assistance. An ideal candidate will have multiple years of experience as a professional biologist or equivalent level position within a state agency, federal agency or non-governmental organization. This position will require a competent individual who is comfortable working independently and engaging in complex issues.

Current Opening:

The Hagerman Habitat District Biologist position will focus on landscapes and interact frequently with private landowners and land management partners to implement department priorities. Duties include:

• Review NEPA documents and develop comments on land management agency proposals and projects.
• Develop partnerships with private landowners, land management agencies, and others in the Hagerman HD to restore, enhance, and conserve fish and wildlife habitats and provide IDFG cost-share opportunities.
• Coordinate with the Landowner Sportsman Coordinator and regional habitat biologists to implement habitat components of the depredations program throughout the region.
• Manage the Hagerman and Billingsley Creek Wildlife Management Areas.
• Work with land management agencies and private landowners to address hunting and fishing access in HD.
• Work with other regional staff to integrate and maximize regional resources.

General Information:

• This announcement will be used to fill the current Regional Wildlife Biologist - Habitat opening and may be used to fill future statewide openings. If you have applied for a previously posted announcement for Regional Wildlife Habitat Biologist and wish to be considered for the current opening or future statewide openings, you will need to apply under this announcement. Previous exam scores will not be used.
• These positions may involve walking and backpacking for several hours, operating trail bikes, riding horses in rugged terrain, handling unsedated wild animals, working in extreme weather conditions, and lifting and carrying up to 65 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations.

Responsibilities:

• Designs, implements, and monitors wildlife habitat projects on department and/or private lands.
• Designs and implements wildlife data collection programs.
• Monitors wildlife movements and activities.
• Prepares management work plans and annual reports for projects within assigned habitat district.
• Evaluates and reports on land and water acquisitions for use as wildlife habitat or public access areas.
• Reviews environmental assessment reports and impact statements affecting area wildlife populations.
• Supervises and trains employees involved in habitat management activities; such as, operation and maintenance of department facilities, vegetation restoration, weed control, water level control, prescribed burning, and habitat inventory.
• Participates in conducting public meetings and hearings on habitat projects and wildlife regulations.
• Develops and maintains cooperative and successful relationships to effect habitat management within your region/district.
• Participates in other regional wildlife management activities as requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

Note: To minimally qualify for these positions, a candidate must have completed a master degree in wildlife management or closely related field OR completion of upper division coursework that resulted in a bachelor degree in wildlife management or a closely related field that includes courses in zoology, wildlife management techniques, wildlife habitat relationships, population dynamics and wildlife behavior AND professional field work equivalent to that received in a master degree program in wildlife management (typically two years).

• Incumbents must be willing to participate and to instruct in hunting activities.
• Experience demonstrating good knowledge of the ecology, habitat requirements, taxonomy, and population dynamics of wildlife.
• Some knowledge of: forest, range management or agricultural wildlife habitat.
• Experience: developing, evaluating or implementing management plans or development plans, hunting regulations or species management plans; conducting wildlife field research to include the design, collection and analysis of wildlife data, writing reports, and giving an oral presentation of project results.
• A valid driver's license.