Salary: $4,892.00 – $6,575.00 Monthly
Location: Grant County – Ephrata, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-03667
Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Opening Date: 05/05/2023
Closing Date: 7/5/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Please note: This recruitment is posted until July 5, 2023, with a first review of applications to take place on May 22, 2023.  Application review will be ongoing, and therefore, we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible.  The hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a selection has been made. 

This position enables senior land managers and biologists to implement scientifically informed management of fish and wildlife resources by providing complex technical support on the topic of agricultural and rangeland management issues. Help design and conduct land and habitat monitoring in multiple areas of the state, interpret study and research findings for the benefit of internal and external stakeholders, and develop planning and permitting documents in fulfillment of funding and policy requirements.

This is an opportunity to provide assistance completing grazing permit and agricultural lease materials.

With your experience you will perform resource assessment and monitoring.

In this dynamic role, you will represent the Statewide Range Ecologist as needed in various meetings potentially involving public and private stakeholders, coordinated resource management agreements, the department’s activities on the Teanaway Community Forest, wildlife area plans, and/or similar scenarios.

We are seeking a candidate to provide technical assistance regarding department standards and range management.

Duties
Our Lands Ecologist

• Performs a variety of resource assessments, monitoring surveys, vegetation inventories, and research investigations addressing rangeland ecology and management.
• Recommends additional/alternative techniques as appropriate to improve confidence and effectiveness of assessments.
• Assists wildlife area managers to complete required elements of grazing permits and agricultural leases, including grazing management plans, HB 1309 Ecosystem Standards, maps, summaries, and checklists.
• Reviews and evaluates the timing, intensity, and location of land management actions, and recommend changes as appropriate to ensure benefits to fish, wildlife, and the department.
• Provides technical assistance and training that is based on scientific literature and understanding to department staff, including wildlife area managers and inter-program district and regional staff.
• Evaluates forage production and availability.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and interprets results to determine effects of rangeland and agricultural land management practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  1. Duties include a blend of work indoors and outdoors. Indoor work involves extensive computer use, attending virtual and in-person meetings with WDFW staff and public/private stakeholders, and sitting or standing for long periods of time.
  2. Outdoor work may be under adverse weather conditions, including extreme temperatures or precipitation. Work may include exposure to risk of injury, such as those associated with heavy lifting, unstable footing, possible interactions with wildlife, and hazards inherent to remote wildland locations.  Work in riparian areas could occur in proximity to flowing water, and occasional wading may be required.
  3. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  1. Typically, five 8-hour days.
  2. Work schedules may vary, especially during critical periods, and may include evening and weekend work.
• Travel Requirements:
  1. Seasonal field work may require regular travel, sometimes overnight.
  2. Off-season travel is only occasional.
• Tools and Equipment:
  1. Computers and associated equipment and software, general office equipment, cellular phones, hand tools, and large equipment.
• Customer Interactions:
  1. Work with public and occasionally private landowners.

Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

And

• Three (3) years of professional experience in wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research.
  1. Please note:  A Master’s degree in the applicable science may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science substitute for two (2) years of the required experience. 

Or

License:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of vegetation and plant-herbivore interactions of Washington ecosystems, especially semi-arid ecosystems.
• Ability to design and conduct scientifically sound vegetation monitoring/sampling, and to evaluate and recommend grazing and other agricultural practices in a way that benefits habitat for wildlife.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with people holding disparate opinions on public land management are essential.

Note: These skills are typically attained by completing rangeland science/management course work (approximately 12 semester hours), at least one statistics course, and at least three years of experience performing rangeland vegetation surveys, rangeland restoration, and rangeland management work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Ecology of Washington ecosystems.
• Range management policies and principles.
• Plant identification and taxonomy, soil conservation.
• Techniques for monitoring grazing and vegetation.
• Experimental design and statistical methods for analysis of ecological data.
• Software including GIS and statistical resources.

Ability to:

• Develop management plans that include appropriate and effective objectives and timelines.
• Discern internal and external land management stakeholders and stakeholder values.
• Effectively work with multiple individuals and organizations towards a common goal.
• Communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects in separate locations and with competing deadlines.

To Apply
In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3956894/lands-ecologist-fish-wildlife-biologist-3-permanent-03667-23