Habitat Restoration Specialist – Southwest Montana

Location: Dillon, MT

Anticipated Start Date: April/May 2024

Overview: This is a collaborative position serving the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV). The position responsibility will be to further the delivery and implementation of conservation efforts of Missouri Headwaters Restoration Landscape through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The historic Inflation Reduction Act directs $161 million of funding to BLM for once-in-a-generation investments to enhance the resilience of public lands selected for their unique mix of qualities to benefit lives and livelihoods today and for future generations. The BLM selected areas for their mix of intact, unfragmented ecosystems and lands where strategic and coordinated work is likely to accelerate ecological restoration. These areas also hold potential for cross-boundary partnerships for additional restoration at the broad, watershed-level scale. The areas represent coordinated BLM investments, including fuels management, range, wildlife, forestry, aquatics and recreation programs. Selected landscapes also hold potential for additional partner investments: private landowners, states, local governments, Tribes and other stakeholder groups.  

This is a full time, 3-year position with the incumbent being an employee of Pheasants Forever. Daily supervision, instruction and leadership will be provided by BLM Dillon Field Office (DFO) with additional supervision, support, and mentorship provided by Pheasants Forever and IWJV. This position will be located in the DFO and will require travel throughout the lands administered by the DFO. The incumbent is expected to work closely with several different agencies and organizations including, but not limited to the BLM, IWJV, Tribal Governments, MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, MT Fish Wildlife & Parks, US Forest Service, US Geological Survey, and Multiple non-governmental organizations.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicate clearly and effectively with land managers and partner agency staff.
• Assist with landscape-level conservation planning, project prioritization, and project management support to the BLM, Pheasants Forever, and IWJV.
• Provide natural resource expertise, range/soils technical assistance, coordination and support for collaborative conservation, management and restoration efforts.
• Facilitate information and awareness on conservation opportunities to all levels of each partner in the partnership including BLM, Pheasants Forever, and IWJV staff.
• Communicate program requirements, complete site visits for soils management (surveys, inventories, monitoring) on identified projects.
• Seek new partnerships, write and secure grants, and develop agreements as appropriate to build the partnership, and subsequent conservation efforts in the area.
• Serve as the resident expert advisor and consultant on soil productivity, quality, sustainability, and limitations for management, planning, for directing land use activities for the DFO.
• Participates as a member of an Interdisciplinary team to assess all planning actions for implementing new restoration and enhancement projects by interpreting the chemical and physical properties of soils and ecological site description information provided in soil surveys, and outline recommended design features based on soil map unit suitability/limitations for incorporation into environmental assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Categorical Exclusions (CX), Documentations of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Adequacy (DNA), and other planning documents.
• Provides soil and/or ecological site description data, information, and knowledge for assessing shifts and trends in vegetative communities that support activities such as land health evaluations, land use planning, restoration projects, and permitted actions. Ensure that soil quality standards are being met and soil functions are maintained or enhanced. Also, updates and revises portions of land use planning documents as additional inventories and assessments are completed to promote more landscape level projects.
• The incumbent collects, compiles and analyzes data and information to determine feasibility and impact of resource management programs, practices, and policies on multiple use resources. Duties include soil data acquisition, interpretation, and application of interpretations to projects proposed by other resource management programs; technical studies necessary for multiple use resources and interpretation of National and State regulations, laws and BLM policies concerning soil resources and ecosystem restoration.
• This position conducts research, interprets, and advises on ecosystem restoration. Directs, coordinates or conducts investigations of direct effects of restoration activities, to be used when developing restoration plans and/or standards. This includes identification, interpretation, and description of impacts, as a result of surface disturbing operations to initiate landscape level ecosystem restoration.
• This position prepares reports containing descriptions of impacts, interpretations, and recommendations for management activities using approved standards. Recommendations are developed that provide the basis for field office decision or position. Develops cost estimates and submits budget documents to implement ecosystem restoration, monitors and reports accomplishments of tasks associated with the restoration plans.
• Provide analysis of soil map unit suitability/limitations for the implementation and applications of wildlife habitat projects.
• Contribute to the strategic goals of Pheasants Forever to impact sagebrush landscapes and improve habitat for Sage Grouse and other upland wildlife species.
• Attend BLM, Pheasants Forever, IWJV and other partner meetings and training as assigned, which will include travel and overnight stays.
• Engage and help facilitate working groups and partner outreach between BLM, Pheasants Forever, and IWJV.
• Coordinate and report to BLM, Pheasants Forever, and IWJV accomplishments and ongoing efforts to broaden conservation on a landscape level.
• Assist with content-based outreach creation and delivery on social media, websites, blogs, magazines, and other avenues to increase story telling about the “Montana Upland Experience”.
• Assists Pheasants Forever State Coordinator in development of quarterly and annual reports.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele.
• Professional knowledge of principles, concepts, and practices of soil science including soil classification, soil mapping, soil correlation, soil interpretations, soil ecology, soil management principles, soil-plant and soil-water relationships, and ecological site classification sufficient to develop and execute soil management programs and activities within the DFO.
• Professional knowledge of standard methods for soil sampling and analysis techniques, including interpretations of laboratory analysis and field measurements through on-site investigations necessary to make sound resource management interpretations. Incumbent must be able to complete field work related to soil science investigations including digging test holes, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
• Knowledge of principles of soil chemistry, biology, and mineralogy pertinent to resolving resource issues, identifying management opportunities, mitigating impacts, and preparing prescriptions related to forest and rangeland management, wildfire and fuels management, and other soil disturbing activities.
• Strong organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of computer skills is required, and the applicant should be familiar with ARC GIS, Word and Excel.
• Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.
• Valid driver’s license and skillset to drive at high elevation, often remote locations, on a regular basis and occasionally during inclement weather.
• Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time over rough terrain; lift and move material weighing up to 50 pounds; work in all types of weather conditions.
• An understanding of the BLM agency, policy, planning, clearances, regulations, etc. is preferred.
• Able to obtain BLM Security Clearance.
• Basic understanding/knowledge of NEPA is required.

Training and Experience Guideline: Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities. A general qualification guideline for this position is a [undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in natural resources field [soil science, range, conservation, forestry, hydrology, environmental science, or related field experience] or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience. Any previous employment experience working in land or wildlife resource management for a State or Federal land or wildlife management agency or resource focused NGO.

Salary: Starting annually at $60,000 to $65,000 (based on experience) + benefits including 401k match and student loan allowance option up to $200/month. See our benefits summary on our Careers page www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs