Fish and Wildlife Technician (Elkhorn Wildlife Area Technician), Seasonal, 5 month duration UNDERFILL option

Make a Difference in Oregon’s Natural Resources! 

Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

This position is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) located at the Elkhorn Wildlife Area in North Powder, OR.

There is one full time, seasonal position from December 15, 2024 – May 15, 2025 (These are estimated dates. Length of season(s) may be shortened or extended depending on project needs, funding, or factors beyond the project’s control).

The goal of this recruitment is to fill the position at the Fish and Wildlife Technician (FWT) level. However, we encourage candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for the Fish and Wildlife Technician Entry (FWT Entry) ($3,218-$3,948/mo.) to apply, as the department may consider underfilling the position.

Are you interested in working outdoors and applying your skills in a variety of activities involving winter wildlife feeding, farming, wildlife habitat development, and maintaining facilities and equipment? Help ODFW protect and manage lands, wildlife, and public use at Elkhorn Wildlife Area!

If you enjoy the outdoors, Oregon is the place for you. We have glaciated mountain peaks to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the massive Columbia River Gorge to the north. You can fish 365 days a year, and there is hunting for big game, waterfowl and game birds. The Oregon coast attracts thousands of people who clam, crab and fish in the ocean for halibut, salmon and tuna. The outdoor opportunities are endless when it comes to fish and wildlife in Oregon! Oregon is known for their vineyards, breweries and adventures for the whole family to enjoy. To learn more about the department, the work we do, and see our beautiful state, view the following video at https://youtu.be/8CjDPiPMGAk

What you will do:

Wildlife Area Activities: Conduct wildlife management activities including providing supplemental feed for wintering deer and elk (loading, unloading, and hauling feed). Keep daily feed records. Operate trucks, pickups, tractor, cats, grader, backhoe, farm implements, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobiles etc.

Maintenance and Development: Conduct preventative and corrective maintenance on all equipment, farm implements and vehicles. Maintain and construct Area fences. Grade or plow Area roads and feed sites. Conduct maintenance and complete area irrigation of hay fields. Maintain Area buildings and public use facilities. Construct, install and repair informational and regulatory signs on the Area.

Information and Education: Provide information to the public, landowners, sportsman and other agencies in person and by phone. Conduct tours of Wildlife Area.

Wildlife Management: Conduct wildlife inventories on Area. Assist district in wildlife damage complaints. Assist district in fish and wildlife inventories. Use firearms to dispatch sick or injured wildlife. Monitor wildlife for injuries or disease.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

Working Conditions

• Frequently required to work outside, involving prolonged and strenuous field work, at times during inclement weather conditions.
• Requires lifting 50-pound fertilizer and feed sacks and 100-pound hay bales with assistance.
• Periodic encounters with angry landowners and the public.
• Requires operating farming equipment, tractors, plows, discs, and the use of hand and power hand tools.
• Requires a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day. This includes working at all hours and workdays in excess of eight hours.
• Weekend and holiday work required during the feed season (December thru March)
• This position requires an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Education Card for on the job use of quads and three-wheeled ATVs (Class 1 ATVs) obtained through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, accessible at the following website: www.rideatvoregon.org/. On your application, be sure to indicate in the Work Experience Description if you have a card or a copy of your card can be attached. If the selected applicant does not possess a card, they must obtain it within 60 days of employment.
• This position requires occasional use of a firearm to deliver immobilization drugs and projecting nets for wildlife capture, euthanizing injured or sick wildlife, killing or hazing nuisance animals or birds, collecting animals for research or other studies, and protection from dangerous animals in close quarters.
• Onsite housing is available (bunkhouse)

Criminal Records/DMV Check
Applicants are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Driving is required for all positions. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current certified driving record for review to be considered for the position. Be prepared to obtain as soon as possible. You are expected to provide the out-of-state certified driving record before an offer can be made unless extenuating circumstances exist. Adverse background and/or driving information may disqualify you from further consideration.

NOTE: Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

We are seeking applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and have the following skills and experience:

Minimum Qualifications:

• An Associate degree in Wildlife Technology or Agriculture; OR
• Eighteen months of experience in the care of livestock, agricultural research and experimentation, monitoring game or wildlife, or farming. (six months of fisheries, fish culture, fish screens, or related habitat work experience will count toward this experience).
• A higher level degree in Wildlife Science, Agriculture, or a closely-related degree with at least 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of biological/ecological coursework will substitute for the Associate’s degree.

Requested Skills:

• Assessing and maintaining wildlife habitat
• Implementing farming and irrigation practices 
• Using geographic information system (GIS) and ArcMap 
• Operating hand and power tools
• Maintaining facilities 
• Operating and maintaining heavy equipment and electronic or mechanical equipment
• Collecting and recording data
• Writing technical or summary reports
• Working with the public
• Conducting wildlife inventories
• Fencing, repair and maintenance
• Winter driving during severe conditions

Additional Information:

Your answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by your resume or the “Job History” section in your application or you may not be considered for this position. You may be disqualified if your experience listed in your resume or the “Job History” section does not include information used to: 1) meet the minimum qualifications of the job and 2) back up your answers to the supplemental questions. If any of the positions listed in your application are part time or seasonal, be sure to include the dates you worked (month and year) and the average amount of hours worked per week in the duties section. Only those individuals who most closely match the requested skills will be invited to an interview.

Note: You will be required to provide a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts (online transcripts are acceptable) during the selection process that show your name, the name/address of the institution, coursework with passing grades, and degree conferred (including date), if you are using education to qualify. Transcripts and cover letters can be attached to your application in the Resume/CV/Cover Letter attachments field when you apply. Cover letters may not be reviewed unless it is stated as a requirement in the job posting.

For helpful tips on filling out your job history, responding to the supplemental questions, and submitting your application, click here

Internal Applicants: The contact information that is prefilled on your application is typically your work email and work phone number. Be sure to check your state email and Workday notifications for your status regarding the recruitment process. If you are away from the office or unable to check your state email account for an extended period, contact the HR Recruitment Unit and the hiring manager to let them know your personal email and phone number where you can be contacted. This will help to ensure you do not miss out on any correspondence that may be related to an interview. If you apply for a position as an internal applicant and then terminate while the recruitment is still in process, contact the Recruitment Unit to have your contact information updated.

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please contact the ODFW Human Resources office at 503-947-6051.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.

The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.

Veterans – If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score.  For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.

More information about our agency can be found on our social media accounts and at myodfw.com and https://www.dfw.state.or.us/

If you are passionate about natural resources, we invite you to join our team and assist with furthering ODFW’s mission by partnering with communities and sharing how our work has a positive effect on Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats. ODFW is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve.  With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making. Consider joining our team as we lead ODFW into the future!

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer