The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking an Area Wildlife Supervisor to plan, implement, promote, and direct wildlife management programs within the Grand Rapids Wildlife Work Area to benefit the citizens of Minnesota. The Grand Rapids Wildlife Work Area encompasses Itasca County and portions of Koochiching and Cass Counties.
Responsibilities include:
- Coordination: To promote and establish cooperation and partnerships with other DNR disciplines, government agencies, tribes, industry, organized groups, and citizens so that people work together to protect and manage wildlife populations and habitat.
- Supervision: To hire, supervise, train, motivate and evaluate staff so that they work safely, efficiently, and cooperatively to accomplish DNR objectives and policy.
- Operations: To develop and implement plans, budgets, cooperative agreements, and administrative operations so that wildlife management is accomplished in accordance with DNR goals and policies.
- Wildlife Protection: To protect wildlife and natural plant communities through habitat evaluation, land acquisition, private land initiatives, and environmental review so that healthy and diverse wildlife habitats will be maintained on the landscape.
- Public Land Management: To protect, maintain and improve wildlife habitat on public lands so that appropriate wildlife population levels and diversity goals are achieved, and recreational opportunities are provided.
- Population Management: To monitor and manage wildlife populations so that population levels are maintained that provide recreational enjoyment on a sustainable basis and human-wildlife conflicts are minimized.
- Information and Education: To provide information and education so that the public understands, appreciates, and supports wildlife management programs and ecosystem management goals.
This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement. This position will require reporting to the primary work location on a weekly basis for meetings, field work, training, etc.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology or a closely related natural resources field.
- Four (4) years of professional level experience with increasing responsibility in the areas of wildlife management, wildlife research, ecology, or a closely related field sufficient to plan, implement, promote, and direct wildlife management.
- Working knowledge of forest, brushland, and wetland ecology and respective wildlife population and habitat management techniques including the use of prescribed fire and water level management.
- Knowledge of wildlife damage management and hunting and trapping traditions, methods, and regulations.
- Demonstrated supervisory or lead worker experience that incorporates coaching and conflict resolution skills to effectively lead, train, educate, and set expectations for others.
- Ability to treat employees equitably and inclusively in the areas of accommodation, scheduling, expectations, individualized resource needs, training, and development.
- Experience successfully managing and prioritizing a large and multifaceted workload, planning and accomplishing projects, and evaluating accomplishments.
- Experience successfully building partnerships and working in collaboration with internal and external partners and agencies.
- Conflict resolution skills sufficient to resolve issues with individuals and groups.
- Communication skills including the ability to effectively communicate in public and through traditional and social media to reach the public with a conservation message.
- Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, electronic communications, presentation software, document management (electronic and paper), and geographic information systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in wildlife biology or a closely related natural resources field.
- Two (2) years of supervisory experience where duties include hiring, employee development, and performance management of diverse work teams.
- Experience developing and successfully implementing budgets and operational plans.
- Experience with land acquisition procedures and related state programs and laws.
- On-the-ground experience leading and planning prescribed burns for wildlife habitat management.
- Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations guiding hunting and management of wildlife populations and lands.
- Experience resolving conflicts with wildlife-related stakeholder groups, including but not limited to hunters, farmers, local government representatives, and conservation organizations.
- Experience in other natural resources disciplines such as fisheries, forestry, forest ecology, shallow lakes management, soil conservation, and hydrology to guide the development of partnerships and projects.