Wildlife Rehabilitation & Falconry Coordinator – Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 – Permanent – *05733-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION & FALCONRY COORDINATOR

FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 4 (BIO4)

Wildlife Program

Olympia, Washington – Thurston County 

Become our statewide expert on wildlife rehabilitation and falconry while providing technical assistance and advice on wildlife rehabilitation and falconry to external and internal audiences.

Work directly with wildlife rehabilitators, falconers, researchers, the public, enforcement, and other agency staff to provide reference and interpretation of rules, manage a grant program, and ensure lawful permitting and regulation to provide proper care of wildlife.

In this critical and unique role, you will direct, develop, and manage statewide Wildlife Rehabilitation and Falconry for the Wildlife Program. 

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself creating and issuing wildlife rehabilitation and falconry permits while ensuring compliance with permit conditions and that practitioners operate with valid permits. 

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, distributing and publicizing new scientific, regulatory, and medical information to all wildlife rehabilitators and falconers, and managing a grant program to support wildlife rehabilitation.

We are seeking a candidate, who models WDFW values: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Duties:

Our Wildlife Rehabilitation & Falconry Coordinator, 

Develops, directs, administers, and evaluates statewide wildlife rehabilitation and falconry programs: 

• Manage statewide permitting procedures – review and evaluate permit applications and the facilities for wildlife rehabilitators and falconers. Inform policies and regulations.
• Monitor compliance with standard operating procedures and animal welfare practices.
• Maintain database of wildlife rehabilitators and falconers.
• Manage annual wild take of peregrine falcons for falconry.
• Coordinate with the Migratory Birds office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other states’ agency rehabilitation and falconry leads.

Provides technical assistance to wildlife rehabilitators and falconers pertaining to regulations governing these programs, and day to day activities (e.g., wildlife handling and care, nutrition, enclosures): 

• Interpret and explain information and regulations, assist with implementing new regulations and procedures.
• Coordinate closely with WDFW veterinarians on wildlife health and safety.

Develops, directs, evaluates, and administers statewide Grants to Wildlife Rehabilitators: 

• Write call for applications and update the application and procedure to align with agency priorities.
• Create and facilitate the evaluation process for review.
• Determine final award amounts and notify recipients.
• Manage grant contracts, ensuring reporting requirements are met and reimbursements are processed.
• Manage the grant budget.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:  
  • The working environment is a fast-paced hybrid office environment with changing priorities and conflicting deadlines.
  • Regular site visits to rehabilitation facilities are required and requires following safety protocols for potential exposure to disease.
  • Engagement with members of the public and permittees around sensitive issues that sometimes requires use of conflict management skills.
• Schedule:
  • Expected to schedule time within a standard 40-hour work week – typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • May require schedule adjustments and additional work hours as needed to meet business demands and deadlines.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel occurs statewide – must have the ability to operate a vehicle. Travel is primarily for the purpose of site visits, with occasional conferences, workshops, and limited field activities.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Standard office equipment such as a smart phone, laptop computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
• Interactions with others:
  • Works directly with wildlife rehabilitators, including review and issuance of permits and grants; works directly with falconers.
  • Works closely with District Biologists and Enforcement, both providing customer service and requesting assistance from them, and helping to resolve wildlife conflict situations.
  • Works directly with Communications and Public Engagement staff to develop outreach materials and messaging to the public and the press.
  • Regular interactions with WDFW personnel, other local, state, and federal government personnel, consultants, contractors, private non-profit organization representatives, and tribal representatives.
  • Communicate with the public about wildlife rehabilitation and falconry while understanding the sensitivity of these topics.
  • Communicate with the federal government and other state governments regarding migratory birds and wildlife rehabilitation.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, wildlife biology, wildlife ecology, zoology, or a related field.

AND 

• Five (5) years of professional experience in wildlife management, wildlife research, or related field.

OR 

• Four (4) years as a permitted wildlife rehabilitator that includes raptor experience.

OR 

• Four (4) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

Please Note: 

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• A Master’s degree in the applicable study area will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• A Ph.D. in the applicable study area will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.

Competencies:

• Willingness to accept supervision.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to use critical thinking in collecting, recording, compiling, and summarizing data.
• Use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, in written and verbal communication.
• Effectively use standard software applications (Word, PowerPoint, Access and Excel).
• Plan and prioritize projects.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid driver’s license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• A Master’s degree with a major study in zoology, wildlife management, wildlife ecology, animal sciences, veterinary medicine, or related field.

AND 

• Five (5) years of professional experience in wildlife management or wildlife research.

AND 

• Professional experience working with wildlife rehabilitation and knowledge of falconry techniques.

Job Knowledge/Competencies:

• Understand wildlife ecology, raptor ecology, natural history, wildlife management and research, wildlife rehabilitation standards and techniques, current animal welfare standards, and animal physiology.
• Conflict resolution skills and the ability to communicate effectively about sensitive issues and manage complex situations, often collaborating with others.
• Understand and implement Washington State Administrative Codes and Regulations.
• Ability to review scientific literature and critically interpret and apply research findings related to wildlife ecology, wildlife rehabilitation, and applied veterinary science to inform program management.
• Ability to manage grant distribution and funding, including budgets, contracts, and processing reimbursements.

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 kaila.daudt@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 kaila.daudt@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.   

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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