Wildlife Management Specialist

pheasantsforever; Panora (IA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Pheasants Forever is seeking a Wildlife Management Specialist at the Iowa DNR Saylorville Wildlife Unit. The role provides foundational experience in habitat management, maintenance, and wildlife surveys, working with field staff under the Natural Resource Biologist.

Expect occasional overnight travel and a one-year engagement with an opportunity for extension based on performance. Primary duties include habitat work (wetland and prairie management, seeding, mowing), prescribed fire activities,

Qualifications

• Degree in wildlife biology, animal ecology, or another closely related natural resource field.
• Passion for conservation and outdoor fieldwork.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating responsible behavior, attention to detail, and the capacity to work with minimal supervision.
• Display professionalism, integrity, and accountability, with strong initiative, effort, and commitment to completing assignments efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Perform wildlife habitat management activities including wetlands and prairie management, native seeding, food plot development, edge feathering, tree removal, spraying, disking, mowing, and operating large farm machinery and hand tools.
• Implement prescribed fire, including fire-line construction and mop-up, under potentially stressful conditions.
• Conduct wildlife surveys and monitoring such as waterfowl banding and deer routes, with occasional early/late scheduling.
• Maintain the general area with mowing, signage, fence work, weed control, and use of power tools and hand tools.
• Complete special projects that may require overnight travel and teamwork in challenging outdoor environments.

Skills

Independent work

Team player

Attention to detail

Professionalism

Initiative

Education

Bachelor-level degree in wildlife biology/animal ecology

Tools

Chainsaw safety certification

Pesticide applicator license

First aid & bloodborne pathogen training

Job description

Work Location: Iowa DNR Saylorville Wildlife Unit – Bays Branch Office (Guthrie County) 3123220th St, Panora, IA 50216

Application deadline: September 30, 2026

Salary: $17.00 per hour

Typical Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – 40 hours per week

Anticipated Start Date: 2-4 weeks post successful job offer

End Date: One year from start date

Job Description

This role is designed to provide foundational experience in habitat management, maintenance and technical skills, and wildlife surveys. The PF Wildlife Management Specialist will work with other wildlife unit personnel and be under the general direction of the Natural Resource Biologist. This position will assist with performing a variety of maintenance and technical tasks at the wildlife management unit. The employee is expected to efficiently display a high level of initiative and commitment towards completing assignments. Overnight travel will occasionally be required on special projects outside of the assigned unit counties. Watch this video to see a day in the role of a Wildlife Management Specialist.

• Perform wildlife habitat management activities including: Wetland management, prairie management, native prairie seeding, food plot development, edge feathering, tree/brush removal, spraying, disking, mowing, etc. using large farm machinery, chainsaws, and other hand tools.
• Prescribed fire implementation for ecological purposes. This duty will require fire-line construction, fire-line holding, and mop-up activities. Performance of these tasks will require the employee to periodically work under physically stressful and adverse conditions. Proficiency in the use of basic wildland firefighting equipment will be needed.
• Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring including: Waterfowl banding, deer spotlight routes, august roadside surveys, chronic wasting disease sampling, etc. Collecting of biological data occasionally will require early or late in the day work scheduling.
• General area maintenance involving mowing, sign posting, fence building, fence removal, tree/brush control, noxious weed control etc. These activities require the ability to use simple power equipment; drills, saws, hand tools, chain saws, trimmers, small mowers etc.
• Special assignments may require some overnight travel as part of a crew, to accomplish large scale fence removal, fence building or tree removal projects outside of the assigned unit counties. These assignments will require the ability to work well with others, work out of doors under all types of weather conditions, and to withstand physically demanding work, i.e., lifting, bending and hauling.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in wildlife biology, animal ecology, or another closely related natural resource field.
• Passion for conservation and outdoor fieldwork.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating responsible behavior, attention to detail, and the capacity to work with minimal supervision.
• Display professionalism, integrity, and accountability, with strong initiative, effort, and commitment to completing assignments efficiently.
• Able to travel on overnight duties and work on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.
• Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Able to follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers.

Career Advancement Benefits

• Proven pathway to full-time careers — this position has a strong track record of placement into full-time permanent roles with DNR, Pheasants Forever, and other conservation organizations.
• Build valuable, hands-on technical skills while working alongside experienced DNR professionals.
• Grow your professional network and form lasting connections across the conservation field.
• Gain real-world, outdoor experience doing meaningful, on-the-ground conservation work.
• Experience a unique dual-agency role, with opportunities to engage in trainings, collaboration, and annual staff meetings with both DNR and Pheasants Forever.

Employee Benefits Package

Pheasants Forever offers a competitive benefits package. Employee Benefit Package information can be found here.

Special Requirements

Must possess or be able to acquire a pesticide applicator’s license and S130-190 basic firefighter training certification, special requirements shall be met within 90 days of hire if not currently possessed. Successful applicant will also be encouraged to obtain a commercial driver’s license, Iowa DNR chainsaw safety certification, and first aid & bloodborne pathogen training.

If you have additional questions, please contact Rodney Ellingson, Central District Supervisor, at 641-751-9767, or [e-mail].

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.