Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist I or II

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever; Marysville (OH); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Student loan assistance

Vehicle stipend

Paid time off

13 paid holidays

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever seek a Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist to advance habitat restoration and conservation education in Ohio. The role involves collaborating with NRCS, ODOW, and PF/QF partners to promote CRP and related programs.

The position requires knowledge of wildlife ecology, strong communication, and willingness to travel, with the primary workstation in Marysville, OH. Starting salary ranges and benefits reflect a comprehensive wildlife conservation role.

Qualifications

• Degree in wildlife management, natural resources, or related field; OR any combination of education, training, licenses, certifications, and/or experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication with diverse landowners and partner staff.
• Ability to work independently with minimal and/or remote supervision.
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, grassland habitat management, agricultural landscapes, common farming and land use practices.
• Familiarity with conservation programs (e.g., Farm Bill) at federal, state, and local levels.
• Knowledge of Ohio grassland plant species (native, non-native, invasive, noxious).
• Good planning and organizational skills to manage demanding workloads.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Comfort working in an office and outdoors on uneven terrain; ability to travel 5–15 nights/year.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle with IRS mileage reimbursement.
• Must have or obtain a USDA Federal Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical wildlife habitat assistance to farmers, landowners, and agencies by phone, in-office, and on-site.
• Conduct on-site visits to advise habitat restoration, assess eligibility and feasibility of programs, and prepare documentation.
• Prepare WHEG, program applications, feasibility worksheets, and other required conservation planning documents.
• Promote conservation programs through workshops, field days, and habitat tours.
• Support enrollment in programs that allow public land access for wildlife recreation.
• Collaborate with PF & QF chapters to assist with wildlife education and habitat projects.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Wildlife or natural resources degree

Tools

ArcGIS

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Location: Union, Madison, Clark, Champaign, and Logan Counties, with primary workstation at the USDA Service Center in Marysville, OH (18000 State Route 4, Marysville, OH 43040).

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Anticipated Start Date: Winter 2026/2027

Overview

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PF & QF), in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW), are seeking a Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist to support the organization’s mission through habitat improvement and conservation education. The position is an employee of and supervised by PF & QF, and may receive training, daily instruction, workload prioritization, and more from both PF & QF and partner agencies. The biologist will work in joint capacity with NRCS, ODOW, and other partners to promote and implement the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and other wildlife conservation programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance (wildlife habitat focus) to farmers, private landowners, government agencies, non-government organizations and others by phone, in office, and through on-site field visits
• Conduct on-site field visits to provide habitat restoration and management recommendations, determine conservation program and/or practice eligibility and feasibility, evaluate conservation practices, complete vegetation assessments, and more
• Prepare wildlife habitat evaluation guides (WHEG), program applications, suitability and feasibility worksheets, practice assessment worksheets, practice certification, implementation requirements, prescribed burn plans, maps, soils maps, status reviews, and other technical documentation required of conservation plans and programs
• Promote conservation programs and/or practices by conducting outreach such as workshops, field days, demonstration events, and habitat tours
• Promote and accelerate enrollment in programs that allow public access to private land for wildlife-dependent recreation (Such As VPA-HIP).
• Work with local PF & QF chapters to assist with wildlife education and outreach and provide technical assistance for habitat projects
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Degree in wildlife management, natural resources, or related field of study appropriate to the position; OR any combination of education, training, licenses, certifications, and/or experience that demonstrates that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to do the job
• Great interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse landowners and partner agency staff.
• Ability to work independently with minimal and/or remote supervision
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, grassland habitat management, agricultural landscapes, common farming and land use practices
• Knowledge of conservation and wildlife habitat programs provided by federal (i.e. Farm Bill), state, and local entities.
• Knowledge of plant species common to Ohio’s grasslands and agricultural lands and ability to identify them (Including native, non-native, invasive, and noxious species)
• Effective planning and organizational skills with ability to manage demanding workloads
• Proficiency with ArcGIS and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.).
• Ability to work in an office setting, and to walk/hike outside across uneven terrain in varying weather conditions
• Ability to take overnight travel for conferences, trainings, staff meetings, and other events ranging from 5-15 nights/year.
• Valid driver’s license and daily work use of personal vehicle is required with a mileage reimbursement provided at the current IRS rate. Work related travel can range from 6,000-10,000 miles/year.
• Must have or be able to obtain a personal cell phone to be used for business purposes, including communication and navigation.
• Must be able to obtain USDA Federal Security Clearance

Salary and Benefits

• Starting salary of $40,000 to $56,000 (Commensurate with qualifications).
• Health, vision, dental and more insurance coverage plans available
• 401(k) Retirement plan with an employer match of up to 5%
• Student Loan Assistance program of up to $200/month for eligible employees
• Vehicle Stipend of up to $300/month for eligible employees
• Paid Time Off accrued at 15 days (120 hours) per year for new employees (increasing after 3 years)
• Bereavement/Family/Sick Leave of 6 days (48 hours) per year.
• 13 Paid holidays
• An Employee Benefit Summary can be found on our Careers page.

Contact

Cody Grasser, PF/QF Ohio State Coordinator, [e-mail] or 419-551-3875.

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever, Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to wildlife habitat conservation. We are a team, working to ensure that we build an environment that has a long-lasting positive impact on pheasants, quails, and other wildlife.

Pheasants Forever is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, age, disability status, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including but not limited to selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.