Biologist I Wildlife Resource Section

North Dakota Game and Fish Department; Riverdale Township (ND); On-site; USD 56,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Holiday pay

Job summary

North Dakota Game and Fish Department seeks a wildlife professional to support the Wildlife Resource Section in managing District Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and overseeing field operations. You will coordinate habitat projects, lease agreements, and annual plans while working with private landowners and federal/state programs.

The role requires a BS in wildlife biology/management and 1 year of experience, with a Master’s degree substituting for experience.

Qualifications

• BS in wildlife biology/management or related field and 1 year wildlife experience.
• Master's may substitute for 1 year of experience.
• Working knowledge of wildlife management concepts, habitat and land practices, GIS.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development, operation, and management of District WMAs.
• Coordinate field work such as habitat planting, weed control, and sign installation.
• Manage WMA leases, budgets, and annual management plans.
• Supervise seasonal employees and coordinate with private landowners.

Skills

Wildlife biology

Fieldwork

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Driving license

Travel readiness

Equipment operation

Education

BS in wildlife biology/management

Master's substitution for experience

Tools

GIS

Tractor/field equipment

Job description

Location: Riverdale

Salary Range: $4,976 - $5,359 hiring range

Closing Date: November 8, 2026

Type of Recruitment: Internal/External

Wildlife Opportunity

This position offers a rewarding opportunity to work with a stellar team of wildlife professionals to conserve wildlife and habitat resources and to provide public access to enjoy those resources in central North Dakota. Your responsibilities will take you across the diverse terrain and beautiful landscapes the state offers. From the rolling prairie pothole region to river bottom woodlands. If you love the outdoors this is the place for you!

We are looking for a candidate with a passion to help protect, conserve, and enhance the sustainable use of North Dakota's wildlife resources for the benefit of the public now and in the future.

ND Game and Fish Department offers a challenging and rewarding career. It also includes a full range of employee benefits, including 100% employer paid family health insurance, a comprehensive retirement plan, vacation, sick leave (including family sick leave), holiday pay and other great benefits. For more information visit Team ND Benefits.

The Community

Riverdale is a small, close-knit community where nature, recreation and history come together - and the next adventure is never far away. Located along the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea, Riverdale puts world-class fishing, hunting, boating, hiking and wildlife viewing within easy reach. The Garrison Dam area offers access to walleye, salmon trout, pike and bass fishing, while nearby public lands provide opportunities to hunt deer, pheasants, grouse, waterfowl and more. For a wildlife biologist, it's more than just a great place to work - it's a place where your profession and passion can naturally overlap. You can step out your door and be surrounded by landscapes, wildlife and outdoor recreation that make North Dakota special.

To learn more about living in North Dakota, visit https://findthegoodlife.com

Summary Of Work

The individual selected for this position will work in the Wildlife Resource Section of the Department's Wildlife Division and be responsible for assisting the District Wildlife Resource Supervisor with the development, operation, maintenance and overall management of District Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). This includes coordinating and managing new developments and routine maintenance work projects in the field like tree plantings, establishment of herbaceous cover and food plots, noxious weed control, prescribed burning, fence construction and maintenance, water level management and sign installation. Office responsibilities will include managing WMA lease agreements with local farmers and ranchers, assisting with federal aid work plans and budget planning, annual management plans and other daily administrative duties. This position shall perform hiring and supervising of seasonal employees, assist with supervision of wildlife technicians, assist with the coordination and response to wildlife depredation issues in the district; and assist the Game Management Section in game surveys (possibly including aerial surveys), management, research actives and disease monitoring. This position will also assist the Private Lands Section, as necessary, with implementation and delivery of private land habitat and access components of the Department's Private Land Initiative (PLI). This position will provide public educational services as needed and technical assistance with wildlife management principles and practices based on sound biological knowledge and data. Accomplishment of all these work objectives will require extensive coordination and collaboration with private landowners, contractors, energy developers, other federal, state and private agricultural and wildlife conservation agencies. Other wildlife management and public information duties may also be assigned as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology or wildlife management, or closely related natural resource science degree and one year of professional work experience with wildlife or natural resource management agency. A Master's degree in a closely related field can substitute for one year of work experience.

This position requires a working knowledge and experience in the following areas: wildlife management concepts, wildlife habitat and land management practices, habitat requirements for Northern Great Plains resident and migratory wildlife, federal and state agricultural conservation programs and production agriculture practices.

The individual must possess well-developed communication skills, both oral and written, be highly responsible, be well organized and have attention to detail. Must have the ability to work with private landowners, farmers/ranchers, other wildlife management professionals, wildlife groups and the general public in a professional manner as a representative of the agency. Must be self-motivated and adaptable to a fast-paced work environment with the ability to multi-task and balance many work responsibilities at once. Must have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word and Excel).

The individual must have the ability to operate and maintain many different types of farm equipment, grass drills, trucks/trailers, ATVs/UTVs and other equipment. The individual must have a valid driver's license, be able to lift at least 50 pounds and be willing to travel. In addition, the applicant must be capable of obtaining S-130/S-190 basic wildland firefighter certification, a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a commercial pesticide applicators license within the first 6 months of employment.

Requires satisfactory completion of a background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in wildlife depredation programs
• Knowledge and experience in the control of noxious and invasive weeds and experience in use of sprayers and data logging systems.
• Knowledge and experience operating and maintaining farm style machinery (tractors, tillage equipment, seed drills, skid steer, etc.)
• Experience operating and maintaining various styles of fire pumper units (dedicated fire engines, slide in units, UTV pumpers, etc.)
• Experience towing large trailers with heavy equipment
• Experience in the operation and basic maintenance of UTV/ATVs
• Experience in geographic information systems (GIS)
• Experience in grazing management systems
• Experience in wildlife surveys and/or experience in aerial surveys using low flying aircraft
• Active participation in hunting, fishing, and trapping

About Team ND

"Far and away the best prize life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt

More than 7,500 talented, hard-working people across sixty-three agencies have come together as Team North Dakota. At Team ND, we are driven to succeed through gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage. Our purpose is to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success. Join us in being legendary.

Total Rewards

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Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. Sect. 23-12-10.