Assistant Wildlife Area Manager – Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2 – Permanent – *08073-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
ASSISTANT MANAGER – KLICKITAT WILDLIFE AREA
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 2 (BIO2)

Wildlife Program – Region 5
Goldendale, Washington – Klickitat County

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking an Assistant Wildlife Area Manager to support the implementation of Wildlife Program goals, objectives, and assignments on the Klickitat Wildlife Area (KWA) in Klickitat County. This role involves managing approximately 25,000 acres of diverse habitats, including pine and pine-oak woodlands, steppe habitats, wetlands, and riparian zones.

The position supports WDFW’s mission by protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitats, and providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities. The primary management objectives focus on the protection and enhancement of habitats for western gray squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, western pond turtles, and riparian habitats.

Duties:

Our Assistant Wildlife Area Manager will, 

Be responsible for monitoring, restoring, and/or managing habitat on Wildlife Areas. Performs habitat management work through weed control, forestry, and farming activities: 

• Lead, manage, and provide technical input to update and develop projects.
• Stabilizes and revegetates disturbed sites.
• Implements Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) on Wildlife Areas.
• Performs habitat maintenance activities.
• Cultivates native vegetation and food plots for benefit of wildlife using predefined methodologies.
• Conducts field reviews of restored sites and recommends future management activities.
• Conducts or oversees wildlife/habitat surveys, data collection, and habitat improvement.
• Assesses and evaluates fish and wildlife habitat management programs.
• Provides prescriptions and conducts or organizes work to enhance habitats on public or private land.

Conducts studies, field reviews, and surveys on habitat, wildlife, and recreation on Wildlife Area: 

• Reviews and/or studies fish, wildlife, plants, habitats, and recreational use on Wildlife Areas. Implements Wildlife Area plan activities, including habitat and recreation management. Plans, coordinates, and monitors ecosystem/habitat enhancement projects on Wildlife Area to benefit fish and wildlife.
• Monitors gazing and agricultural leases and other land-use permits and keeps appropriate records.
• Participate in interagency projects that contribute to the restoration and conservation of fish and wildlife habitat via Wildlife Area use plans, regulations, and actions.
• Surveys Wildlife Areas for invasive vegetation, native T&E plants, and general habitat conditions; and uses predefined methodologies to implement appropriate management.

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

• Works with other WDFW staff, Federal, State and/or local agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the public to develop and implement ecosystem/habitat management and public access projects on Wildlife Area lands.
• Provides information to public, either written or via presentation, regarding wildlife species, habitat enhancement and management, and recreational opportunities.
• Provides consultation to neighboring landowners and agricultural businesses on grazing and agricultural land-use permits, and to the public and other agency staff on fish, wildlife, habitat, and recreation on WDFW lands.

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

• Assists in development of capital improvement projects.
• Evaluates and assures safety of facilities.
• Monitors public use on the Wildlife Area and, , ensuring access and recreational uses of the Wildlife Areas are consistent with wildlife and habitat goals.
• Maintains and repairs equipment inventory (e.g., vehicles, farm equipment, ATVs, and other tools) used for program activities, and constructs 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.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work is performed on sometimes difficult terrain, including slippery rocks, steep banks, water, and sticky mud up to 60-70% of the time.
  • Work is often performed independently and without supervision. Employee may encounter inclement weather, including extreme heat or snow.
  • 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.
  • Employee will be required to walk, bend, and stoop while carrying up to 50lbs of gear over uneven terrain.
  • Must be able to negotiate snow, ice, and water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Overtime Eligible; Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm; at times work may be off-schedule due to seasonal demands, emergencies, and time critical assignments.
  • Work hours may be long and irregular.
• Travel Requirements:
  • 5% to 10% Occasional travel required for training or meetings.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Personal computer hardware and software (MS/Office/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, ATV, chipper, fire suppression equipment, wheeled tractors, implements used with a tractor, boat, boat trailer, sprayers. Fieldwork also requires the operation of a GPS, clinometer, and digital camera.
  • Work also requires standard hand tools such as shovels, jacks, bow saws, pruning saws, backpack sprayer, fence post drivers, wire stretchers, and tools used in carpentry. Power and hand tools used include chain saws, brush cutters, mowers, electric herbicide sprayer, and standard shop tools such as grinders, drills, table saw and bandsaw, and handheld circular saw and saber saws. Work includes use of implements mounted on tractors, small boats, lawnmowers, and drills.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacts with recreationists in the field. Routine public response via phone and e- mail.
  • Reports and interacts with agencies and NGOs. Position has regular interactions with WDFW personnel, other local, state, and federal government personnel, consultants, contractors, private non-profit agency representatives, tribal representatives, project applicants.

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/wildlife/habitat management or research.

Note: A master’s or Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute the required experience. Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Job Knowledge:

• Fish and wildlife habitat relationships and management requirements.
• Habitat management activities.
• Wildlife management tools and field techniques
• Wildlife and habitat survey methods and techniques (e.g., conduct field surveys to collect data, identify wildlife and plants species
• Wildlife population relationships and ecology.
• Principles of wildlife harvest management.
• Weed/Noxious plant identification.
• Operate motorized and non-motorized equipment and tools, such as agricultural and construction equipment.
• Train and supervise temporary and volunteer staff.
• Computer with Microsoft software (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet creation, and other applications; use web-based tools, e-mail, and calendar clients)

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 1 year of hire).
• Obtain and maintain Wild Land Firefighter Red Card (Must be obtained within 18 months of hire)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

Experience:

• With biological data collection is highly desired.
• In identifying Eastern Washington native plant species is highly desirable.
• In diagnosing and correcting basic issues with equipment performance, as well as facilities and building systems such as plumbing.
• Identifying nongame species; big and small game species; waterfowl, songbirds, birds of prey, and shorebirds, etc., in the field.
• Working with forest management, as well as habitat enhancement and restoration for big and small game and listed species is highly desirable.
• Performing basic carpentry

Knowledge of:

• Implementation of Wildlife Area Plan activities.
• Agricultural practices and equipment is highly desirable.
• Weed/Noxious plant management using pesticides and integrated pest management.
• Management of plant communities
• General state procedural policies and rules governing work activities.

Ability to:

• Tow a trailer.
• Operate backpack and ATV mounted sprayer used in herbicide application,
• Operate saws and other equipment used in forest habitat management.
• Perform proper care and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized equipment.
• Conduct data analyses and make inferences from data for management recommendations.
• Use critical thinking in collecting, recording, compiling, and summarizing data.

Supplemental Information:

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume.
• Three professional references.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field.  We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types. 

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA),  and an Employee Assistance Program.

UNION – WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE: 

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. 

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.  All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.  

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

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