NE Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist I – Ainsworth

Duties:

Work in a joint capacity with Pheasants Forever, Inc. (PF), the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to promote, coordinate and implement the conservation provisions of the Federal Farm Bill and other wildlife conservation programs.  This position activity is primarily to work on National Fish and Wildlife Foundation priorities including Working Lands for Wildlife, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Great Plains Grassland Initiative, and Pathway for Wildlife. Activities include providing technical assistance to landowners regarding rangeland and wildlife management to decrease Eastern Red Cedar encroachment in the Nebraska Sandhills. Job duties include habitat planning, contract coordination, conservation plan modification, site assessment, landowner outreach, and minimal grant reporting. The individual will be expected to conduct and coordinate workshops and tours for landowners and resource professionals, provide technical assistance related to prescribed fire to private landowners and public organizations, and work with contractors to clear eastern red cedar. This position will be an employee of, and supervised by Pheasants Forever, Inc. & Quail Forever, and will also meet with local chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to help coordinate habitat and rangeland management efforts, participate in statewide habitat meetings and assist or coordinate activities and projects as assigned.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication as well as organizational skills.
• Must be comfortable with public speaking and cold calling and have excellent people skills.
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service, sales and promotion to producers interested in conservation program information and enrollment.
• Must be able to work effectively with private landowners, governmental agency staff and conservation organization representatives.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse personalities.
• Extensive knowledge of rangeland management, grassland restoration and wildlife habitat management techniques, principles, goals and objectives.
• Knowledge of conservation program offerings, including USDA Conservation Programs (CRP, CCRP, EQIP, CStP, etc.) as well as state (NGPC) and local (PF) programs.
• Sound working knowledge of wildlife ecology, habitat management and rangeland management including the ability to use various habitat management tools, such as fire or grazing, in the development of and implementation of a management plan.
• Prescribed fire and rangeland management experience is preferred.
• Ability to work under adverse weather conditions.
• Good computer skills including knowledge of: MS Word, MS Excel and Arc GIS.
• Valid driver’s license required with an acceptable driving record.

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 Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and 1-year related field experience.  Prescribed fire and rangeland management experience is preferred.