Private Lands Conservationist II

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever; Clarkston (WA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision, dental and more

401(k) Retirement plan with employer 5

Student Loan Assistance up to $200/mo

Paid Time Off 15 days/yr

Bereavement/Family/Sick Leave 6 days

13 paid holidays

Job summary

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Clarkston, Washington, seeks a Private Lands Conservationist II to support wildlife habitat conservation. You will work with NRCS and local partners to promote enrollment in Farm Bill programs and coordinate conservation projects on private lands.

The role delivers technical wildlife guidance, develops conservation plans, completes documentation for NRCS programs, and helps landowners access funding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field or related field experience.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele.
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, wetlands and grassland management and habitat management tools.
• Knowledge of conservation and wildlife programs provided through USDA, state agencies and partners.
• Ability to apply GIS tools and other technologies (GPS, ARC Map, MS Office).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance (wildlife habitat focus) and guidance to landowners and partners.
• Coordinate implementation and application of wildlife habitat within conservation programs with NRCS and others.
• Develop conservation plans, complete job sheets, evaluation guides and contracts for NRCS programs and others.
• Communicate program requirements and conduct site visits to determine eligibility and develop plans and contracts.
• Monitor wildlife habitats, conduct site visits, determine management needs, and coordinate with landowners and programs.
• Seek funding opportunities from partners to leverage NRCS funds.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Independent worker

Organizational skills

GIS proficiency

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management

Tools

GIS tools

GPS

ARC Map

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Onsite in Clarkston, Washington

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Anticipated Start Date: November 2026

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are seeking a Private Lands Conservationist II in Clarkston, Washington, to support the organization’s mission of enhancing wildlife habitat through conservation. This position will work in joint capacity with the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and other local partners to promote, implement, and coordinate enrollment in conservation provisions of the Federal Farm Bill and related programs.

This position will be an employee of and be supervised by Pheasants Forever, Inc. with daily instruction and leadership provided by Pheasants Forever & the local NRCS District Conservationist in the Clarkston USDA Field Office. The incumbent is expected to work closely with NRCS as well as other conservation partners in the region to develop projects with private landowners and direct funding through USDA and other partners’ habitat restoration programs towards wildlife habitat improvement projects on private lands. This position will primarily be focused on wildlife-related conservation contracts and applications within the counties serviced through the Clarkston Field Office and provide assistance with wildlife and conservation programs to landowners.

The incumbent will serve as a Private Lands Conservationist providing biological/wildlife technical assistance for USDA-NRCS, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Inc., and other local partners. The successful applicant will deliver conservation programs like CRP, CSP, EQIP, and other Farm Bill conservation programs to farmers, ranchers and other landowners to provide recommendations that benefit both wildlife conservation and agriculture operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance (wildlife habitat focus) and guidance to landowners, government agencies, non-government organizations, and others (training will be provided by the NRCS, PF/QF, and other organizations)
• Coordinate the implementation and application of wildlife habitat within conservation programs in cooperation with NRCS District Conservationist, and others
• Develop conservation plans, complete job sheets, wildlife habitat evaluation guides, environmental evaluations, complete contracts, applications and other required documentation for conservation programs offered through the NRCS Conservation Programs, and other conservation programs
• Communicate program requirements, complete site visits to determine eligibility, and develop plans and contracts for applicants enrolling in NRCS Conservation Programs or other state and local conservation programs
• Monitor wildlife habitats, complete status reviews, conduct site visits to determine establishment or stand health, determine management needs, and coordinate activities with landowners and program needs
• Seek funding opportunities from other partners to leverage NRCS financial assistance programs
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, wetland and grassland management including the ability to utilize various habitat management tools and techniques in the development of management plans.
• Knowledge of conservation and wildlife programs provided through USDA Conservation Programs, Washington state agencies, and other conservation partners. In addition, knowledge of how these programs are implemented in an agricultural and range landscape is desired
• Knowledge of conservation and wildlife habitat restoration programs provided by Federal (i.e. Farm Bill, US Fish and Wildlife Service), State agencies, and PF. In addition, knowledge of how these programs are implemented in an agricultural landscape is desired
• Ability to apply and use GIS tools and other technologies (i.e. GPS, ARC Map, Microsoft Office etc.)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Valid driver’s license required; work vehicle provided; some use of personal vehicle may be required (mileage reimbursement provided)
• Able to obtain USDA Federal Security Clearance

Salary Range

Salary Range: $50,000 with annual performance-based raises and the following benefits:

• Health, vision, dental and more insurance coverage plans are 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
• Paid Time Off accrued at 15 days (120 hours) per year for new employees
• Bereavement/Family/Sick Leave of 6 days (48 hours) per year.
• 13 paid holidays

Contact

If you have further questions about Pheasants Forever, the application process, or this position, please contact Erik Lewis, PF/QF Washington State Wildlife Operations Manager, via email at [e-mail].

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.