Biologist 3

State of Montana; Missoula (MT); On-site; USD 45,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Montana, Department of Natural Resources & Conservation in Missoula, MT seeks a Biologist 3 to coordinate statewide wildlife management for forested state trust lands. The role advises DNRC personnel on Threatened and Endangered species, habitat, forest ecology, and climate-related policy development.

The incumbent drafts policies, represents the department on interagency groups, and conducts habitat analyses for land management projects.

Qualifications

• Four years of professional-level experience with wildlife management in forested ecosystems.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Extensive knowledge of wildlife biology, habitat management, forest ecology and related data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Drafts and implements wildlife-related management policy for state forest land management.
• Represents the Department with other state and federal agencies, industry and the public in coordinating wildlife research and management.
• Designs, conducts, and implements wildlife habitat analysis for land management activities on state-owned land.

Skills

Wildlife management

Data analysis

Report writing

Job description

Job Description - Biologist 3 (26142770)

Position Title: Biologist 3 - ( 26142770 )

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking a Biologist for the Forestry/Trust Lands division.

Job Overview

The incumbent organizes, coordinates and implements a statewide wildlife management program for forested state trust lands, under general supervision. Advises DNRC personnel, including three Area biologists, in matters related to management of federally listed Threatened and Endangered species, wildlife habitat, forest ecology, and forest management. Recommends statewide policy, programs, habitat models and actions that develop, preserve, or maintain wildlife habitats and associated populations. Represents the Department and Division on state and federal interagency committees and working groups such as the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Subcommittee and Montana Natural Heritage Program Partners group. Forms, coordinates, and serves on internal DNRC working groups formed to facilitate development of state forest management policy and procedures. Selects from a variety of established scientific research methods and techniques appropriate to specific data collection, modeling, and analysis needs to perform a wide variety of tasks. Coordinates project activities, analyzes data, integrates natural resource policy and research through scientific literature review, and provides recommendations through oral and written technical reports. Considerable professional judgment, data management, and writing skills are needed to recognize, interpret, and correlate a diverse and ever-expanding body of information on many aspects of wildlife habitat management, conservation biology, forestry, and climate change. The position is solely responsible for the technical accuracy of work.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities)

Drafts and implements wildlife-related management policy and ARMs for state forest land management. Serves as terrestrial wildlife lead to facilitate implementation with DNRC Trust Lands staff to ensure compliance with the 50-year Forest Management HCP and other state and federal laws, regulations, and management plan commitments that apply statewide to forest management activities.

Represents the Department with other state and federal agencies, industry and the public in coordinating wildlife research and management.

Designs, conducts, and implements wildlife habitat analysis for land management activities proposed and implemented on state-owned land on four east side Land Offices.

This position does not supervise.

Benefits

• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays). Vacation leave increases with years of service.
• Longevity pay with continued state service.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
• Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.
• Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Benefits Package Eligibility : Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Telework Eligibility

Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.)

Minimum Qualifications

Four years of professional-level experience with wildlife management in forested ecosystems.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Knowledge

Extensive knowledge of, and considerable experience in, applying principles of wildlife biology, habitat management, landscape ecology, forest ecology, range management and silviculture; monitoring principles and techniques; gathering, analyzing, interpreting and synthesizing data; principles and techniques of computer modeling. Extensive knowledge of terrestrial vertebrate animal species, their life history requirements and ecological relationships is required. Familiarity with and use of ever-expanding technical wildlife-related literature and federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to habitat management and land use practices is required. Requires considerable knowledge of forest management practices, logging systems and other resource programs, practices and problems. Considerable knowledge of administrative practices, policy, procedures, and local politics is required. Incumbent must have considerable knowledge of training plan development and techniques.

Skills

Requires extensive skill in oral and written communication, quantitative analysis, and applying analytical and research concepts, principles, and techniques of investigating plant and animal communities. Requires considerable ability to process data and to statistically analyze data using digital technology. Requires considerable skill in organization, interpretation, evaluation and reporting of results and findings. Incumbent must be highly skilled in applying wildlife biology concepts and principles for identification and delineation of diverse habitat features, integration of habitat needs for many species with conflicting needs, analyzing for environmental effects, writing EA's and EIS's, defending conclusions to the public, managers and in court, recommending and developing environmental protection measures including (SFLMP) Standards and ARMs, and developing innovative recommendations where no Standards or ARMs exist.

Abilities

Requires a high degree of technical judgment, initiative, creativity, imagination, and originality to develop statewide agency policy, rules, and recommendations; to implement specific management plans that are integrated with multiple objectives; to recognize and evaluate new approaches or techniques in problem-solving; to communicate and cooperate effectively on teams with individuals possessing varying viewpoints and diverse personalities; and to overcome difficult on-the-ground situations that may require deviations from established practices. Requires ability to integrate multidisciplinary resource concerns with wildlife issues and formulate management alternatives that address multiple issues. Incumbent must be able to evaluate technical scientific publications and communicate findings effectively, both in writing and orally. Also required is the ability to work independently and prioritize complex workloads with explicit deadlines; the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the agency, with professionals from other state and federal agencies and industry, and with the general public to address controversial matters; the ability to negotiate effectively, and to exchange technical information; the ability to exercise sound professional judgment and maintain professional objectivity in evaluating and addressing contentious issues; the ability to establish and maintain effective communications with the public and other professionals, both verbally and in writing; and the ability to successfully interact with members of the public, a wide range of interest groups, other land management agencies, corporations, and private landowners.

Special Information

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

Eligibility to Work

Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the selected person must produce, within three days of hire, documents showing authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver's license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card". The State of Montana does not sponsor.

Agency E-Verify Participation

This agency participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After you accept a job offer and complete Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration for verification.

Applicant Pool Statement

Applicant Pool Statement : If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment : This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary

39.70 - 39.70 Hourly

Number of Openings

1

Employee Status

Regular

Schedule

Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Travel

Yes, 20 % of the Time

Primary Location

Missoula

Agency : Department of Natural Resources & Conservation

Union : 000 - None

Posting Date

Oct 30, 2026, 7:53:33 PM

Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone) : Dec 1, 2026, 6:59:00 AM

EEO Statement

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.