Wildlife Resources Specialist 3

State of West Virginia; Point Pleasant (WV); On-site; USD 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of West Virginia invites applications for a full-time wildlife management role on the West Virginia Wildlife Management Area. The position entails advanced plan development, field equipment operation, and supervision of seasonal staff, with potential on-site residency and outdoor work in varied conditions.

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field and have four years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fish/wildlife management or related field.
• Four years of full-time wildlife management experience or equivalent.
• Preference for SNRPO certification for Classified position.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement wildlife management plans for the WMA.
• Maintain facilities and equipment including vehicles and signs; operate chainsaws, firearms, and other tools.
• Oversee habitat management, timber sales, and vegetation treatments.
• Recruit and supervise seasonal labor staff; train lower-level Wildlife Resource Specialists.
• Conduct wildlife surveys and assist with research and monitoring projects, including disease sampling and tagging.
• Investigate nuisance and diseased wildlife complaints.
• Lead preparation and operation of controlled hunts as needed.
• Communicate technical information effectively to agency staff, regulators, and the public.

Skills

Wildlife management

Project supervision

Field survey

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in fish/wildlife management

Related natural resources degree

Tools

Chainsaws

Tractors

Boats

ATVs

Job description

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement wildlife management plans for the WMA. The employee is expected to conduct advanced level development work on these plans with limited supervision.
• Maintain a headquarters building, storage buildings, shooting range, and earthen dams as well as boundary markings and signs for the WMA. Maintain and inventory equipment including tractors, brush hugs, UTVs, trucks, and trailers. They must be able to safely and competently operate this equipment as well as chainsaws, firearms, trapping equipment, and other tools as needed. Must be able to operate boats, UTVs/ATVs, and standard 4-wheel drive vehicles.
• Oversee intensive land management operations including planning and leading prescribed burning, preparing and monitoring timber sales, using herbicides and mechanical treatments to manage vegetative communities, establishing and maintaining wildlife openings including planting and maintaining crops and native species, and overseeing Special Land Use Permissions. This will require that the employee possess a strong working knowledge of common game management, silvicultural, and agricultural practices.
• Recruit and supervise seasonal labor staff to conduct habitat improvements and maintain facilities. The employee may also be asked to train lower-level Wildlife Resource Specialists.
• Conduct wildlife surveys and assist with research and monitoring projects including vegetative surveys (e.g., mast surveys), wildlife surveys (e.g., distance sampling, hunter check station), and wildlife capture and handling that requires independently trapping and chemically immobilizing wildlife, taking biometric data and biological samples from wildlife, and tagging and radio collaring wildlife including deer, bear, turkeys, and migratory birds. Lead District-level dove banding efforts. Conduct wildlife disease and other biological sampling as needed, including sampling for chronic wasting disease (CWD), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
• Independently investigate and address nuisance and diseased wildlife complaints.
• Lead preparation and operation of controlled waterfowl hunts and other controlled hunts as needed.
• Communicate effectively - both written and orally - about highly technical topics with other agency staff, federal regulators and partners, and public resource users.

Note that this work is often performed outside, in varying weather conditions, over difficult terrain and/or state waters. Employee must possess a valid driver's license. Work is completed independently; therefore, the employee must be self-motivated and resourceful. The employee will perform other duties as assigned. Employee may be required to reside in an on-site residence. Regular attendance is required.

Nature of Work

• Classified/Classified-Exempt Position**

If, at time of hire, the candidate possesses SNRPO certification, the candidate will be placed in a Classified position. If the candidate does not possess SNRPO certification, the candidate will be placed in a Classified-exempt position.

Minimum Qualifications

Training: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in fish/wildlife management and biology, natural resources management, fish culture, agriculture, environmental sciences, conservation biology, or a related field.

AND

Experience: Four (4) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in the field of wildlife management or related field.

Other Information

Preference will be given to applicants with a B.S. degree in wildlife management, wildlife biology, or natural resources management; experience with prescribed fire, food plot management, and early successional habitat management; experience working with and handling game species (i.e., conducting necropsies, field research); and experience with chain saws, farm tractor and implement operation and maintenance through temporary, seasonal, full-time or other background experience.

State employment offers a variety of benefits.