Wildlife Biologist 1

Fish & Game; Palmer (AK); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, seeks a Wildlife Biologist 1 in Palmer. You will manage daily care for captive caribou, lead two technicians, and perform welfare checks, feeding, and pen maintenance. The role requires outdoor work in challenging conditions and some weekend coverage.

A biology-related degree is required. You will contribute to science-based ungulate management, collect data for research, and collaborate with a small lab team in a field

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, wildlife, or natural resource management is required.
• Experience supervising field crews or technicians is preferred.
• Familiarity with the use of power tools and basic construction helps daily tasks.
• Experience with livestock or wildlife projects requiring manual labor is valued.
• Ability to follow checklists precisely and document activities.

Responsibilities

• Daily care of captive caribou and welfare checks.
• Lead two technicians in daily duties and data collection.
• Outdoor duties in snow, wind, and cold; occasional weekend coverage.
• Procure feed, manage pens, and assist with facility maintenance.
• Support data collection, fecal sampling, and behavioral observations.

Skills

Supervising technicians

Field work

Livestock or wildlife handling

Use of power tools

Attention to detail / checklists

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology or Natural Resource Management

Tools

Power tools

Job description

Job Description

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation is recruiting for a Wildlife Biologist 1 located in Palmer, Alaska!

What you will be doing:

The Wildlife Biologist 1 will be responsible for daily care of captive caribou. The incumbent will lead 2 technicians in daily duties that include: daily welfare and health checks, provisioning food and water to captive caribou, maintaining and cleaning animal pens, facility maintenance and improvements, ordering animal feed, collecting fecal samples from animals, collecting behavioral observations of caribou, snow removal, and purchasing. Other duties may be assigned intermittently as needed to ensure high levels of animal care and welfare.

Our mission, values, and culture:

The mission of the Division of Wildlife Conservation is to conserve and enhance Alaska’s wildlife and habitats and provide for a wide range of public uses and benefits. Much of our work focuses on research to inform conservation and management of large game species in an effort to support subsistence and recreational harvest opportunities.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and respectfully.

The benefits of joining our team:

The incumbent will have opportunities to support science-based management of ungulates and gain experience collecting data and samples for ungulate research.

The working environment you can expect:

The position is based in Palmer, AK. The Wildlife Biologist 1 will work as part of a team of staff, including a Wildlife Physiologist and seasonal fish and wildlife technicians, at the ADFG Foraging and Wildlife Nutritional Analysis Lab. The incumbent will be on site daily for work, which will primarily occur outdoors with animals in their enclosures. Outdoor winter work will occur in snow, wind, and cold temperatures. Hours can be irregular and will include some weekends (1-2 per month depending on seasonal staffing levels), evenings, and holidays to cover animal care needs. Incumbents are expected to be willing to work as needed to meet animal care needs.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for a candidate who possesses some or all of the skills listed below.

Experience supervising or leading technicians in field or trail crews.

Experience with light construction activities, including familiarity with a variety of power tools.

Experience with livestock or wildlife projects requiring manual labor (e.g., fence building, fence repair).

Veterinary technician experience or experience with chemical immobilization of ungulates.

Experience successfully following checklists and procedures that require attention to detail.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Wildlife Biologist 1 please go to the following link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management.

Substitution:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:

• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.

Special Note:

"Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.

Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.

An individual who will complete the educational requirements and obtain the required bachelor's degree within six months may apply and be considered for a vacancy. Such applicants may be given a conditional job offer but may not be appointed until receipt of the required degree has been documented.

Additional Required Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

If selected, required at time of the interview:

A list of three (3) professional references with current contact information, with at least one being a current or previous supervisor.

Transcripts, if using to meet minimum qualifications (unofficial copies are accepted).

COVER LETTER

A cover letter is NOT required for this position.

Your complete application will be used to determine who proceeds to the interview stage.

FIREARMS

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required.

Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at time of application and if not then must be provided at time of interview.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence.

WORK EXPERIENCE

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and min