Idaho Natural Resources Specialist

This is a full-time position working directly with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV) and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PFQF). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Natural Resources Specialist provides project management support to the BLM Idaho’s implementation efforts specific to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (BIL/IRA) restoration program. This full-time position will work as part of the restoration team within Idaho’s Restoration Landscapes assisting with tracking treatment/restoration success, partnerships, and outreach, and assisting project implementation and monitoring. The position will work in consultation with the BLM Idaho statewide BIL/IRA restoration coordinator and field coordinators located in district and field offices across southern Idaho, and other key partners. 

The BLM Idaho Natural Resource Specialists are hosted by Pheasants Forever, with day-to-day supervision and guidance from the local Deputy District Managers of the Boise and Idaho Falls offices. Additional mentoring and oversight to support these positions will be provided by the BLM/IWJV/PF BOSH Coordinator (located in Boise, ID). 

These positions require mission critical travel with the flexibility to address annual work plan priorities, which can be up to one week per month. The locations of the positions are in Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Applicants are encouraged to explore these resources to learn more about the BLM-IWJV partnership’s work:

• Inflation Reduction Act Will Fund Landscape Restoration
• Annual report for Partnering to Conser ve Sagebrush Rangelands

MAJOR DUTIES of Position:

Effectiveness Tracking and Outreach

• Work with Program Managers to assist with outreach describing landscape scale changes in resource conditions as a result of restoration projects.
• Documents projects throughout the restoration process gathering qualitative and quantitative information.
• Analyze and summarize data in coordination with partners and Program Managers to share changes in resource conditions at the landscape/watershed scale.
• Work with partners to incorporate their contributions in restoration efforts into the overall documented resource change.

Partnerships and Capacity-Building

• BIL/IRA Partnerships: Galvanize new relationships, advance existing partnerships, bolster trust, and support outreach in local conservation communities.
• Outreach/Partnerships: Develop and strengthen relationships with partners, state and federal agencies, and other BIL/IRA programs that add value and build capacity by addressing identified needs.
• Coordination, Support, and Special Assignments: Provide miscellaneous coordination and/or support to meet the goals of the program, as needed or requested by BLM district and/or Idaho State Office leadership.

Project Implementation

• Assist BLM staff with implementation of restoration activities such as: Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs), low tech mesic restoration, fencing, seeding, upland restoration.
• Install and maintain project signage.
• Assist with updating project implementation information in databases and SharePoint site.

Project Effectiveness Monitoring

• As requested, assist with the collection of quantitative and qualitative information to determine the effectiveness of treatments.
• As requested, assist with the implementation of Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocols.
• Analyze and interpret monitoring data for use in communicating the effectiveness of treatments within restoration landscapes.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES FOR THE POSITION, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:

• Knowledge of natural resources management and conservation.
• Experience or education in implementing aquatic and/or upland restoration.
• Experience in treatment effectiveness monitoring.
• Demonstrated skills in popular and technical writing, with a high level of attention to detail to proof completed work to ensure accuracy.
• Passion for conservation, working lands, and natural resources.
• Demonstrated skills in developing partnerships and outreach and developing materials to support outreach activities.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently, take initiative and innovate, and support a team environment, especially to meet deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to a week per month, at times.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in, natural resources, or a related field.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with land managers and partner agency staff.
• Able to undergo a BLM background investigation with a favorable adjudication.
• Ability to pass a drug screen and meet the agency drug-free policy.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Work involves both office and field work. Field work involves driving highway and off-road vehicles and traversing rugged terrain on foot.
• Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.