Salary: $5,136.00 – $6,746.00 Monthly
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Job Number: 2022-17744
Description
Are you an experienced biologist specializing in species of greatest conservation need (SGCN)? Are you familiar with spotted owl conservation efforts?
In this role, you will be an expert level Biologist with statewide leadership responsibility within a natural resource assessment, conservation, and management program.
This Biologist demonstrates specialist expertise in applied conservation biology, management, policy interpretation, stakeholder perspective, and recovery of rare and listed Species of Greatest Conservation Need with a strong emphasis on Northern Spotted Owls.
A female northern spotted owl – Photo Credit: Mt Rainier National Park Service – Creative Commons
Picture yourself providing technical expertise for policy and management decisions.
This is an opportunity to act as a conservation specialist in native Washington Species of Greatest Conservation Need, conducting state-wide conservation and recovery.
Duties
Our Conservation Biologist will,
- Serve as the point of contact for Northern Spotted Owl work and coordination within the Department and with external partners, including state, federal, non-government, and other entities.
- Facilitate on-the-ground conservation and recovery actions including supporting and guiding work of regional biologists.
- Integrate federal and state priorities, management, and recovery actions to benefit Species of Greatest Conservation Need with emphasis on Northern Spotted Owls.
- Provide status assessment documents such as: status reports, periodic status reviews, and candidate assessments.
- Produce foundational documents such as:
- recovery plans (threatened and endangered species).
- conservation strategies (sensitive species).
- conservation, management, and action plans.
- reintroduction feasibility documents and plans.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work Setting, including hazards:
- Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with occasional outdoor/field work during species and habitat-specific field seasons.
- The working environment is fast paced with changing priorities and conflicting deadlines.
- Navigating on foot to/from/within remote environments, over rough terrain, for long days (8 to 12 hours a day) and several days in a row, in highly variable weather conditions, conducting surveys and other related tasks.
- Move, carry, or unload up to 50 pounds.
- Work may involve capturing and handling wildlife including bats and working around bat aggregations which will require appropriate PPE.
- Schedule:
- Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Biologist is expected to schedule their time within a typical 40-hour workweek.
- When field and/or grant seasons require extended hours, incumbent is expected to communicate with supervisor and team to address needs.
- Incumbent is expected to adjust schedule and work additional hours as needed to meet business demands and deadlines, in partnership with supervisor for support, prioritization and reasonable adjustments.
- Travel Requirements:
- Periodic Statewide or regional travel and occasional attendance at evening meetings required.
- Extended travel or overnight travel may occur.
- Tools and Equipment:
- Standard office equipment; field equipment, PPE, survey and telemetry equipment, vehicles, computers, tablets, GPS.
- Customer Interactions:
- Frequent effective information delivery for and negotiation with the public, project partners, local government officials, and special interest groups (e.g., conservation, agriculture, land use, forestry).
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, natural resources science (wildlife biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, landscape ecology).
-And-
- Five (5) years of professional experience in wildlife or habitat management or wildlife or habitat research related to species expertise.
- Master’s degree in the applicable science may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
- Ph.D. in the applicable science may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience).
-Or-
- Four (4) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.
License:
- Valid driver’s license.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience with:
- Northern Spotted Owl research, conservation, or management, or experience with conservation and recovery of similar species associated with forest management.
- Performing in a punctual and dependable manner
- Working long and irregular hours
- Using critical thinking in collecting, recording, compiling, and summarizing data, and information
- Following oral and written directions
- Safely operating motor vehicles
- Working independently and as a team member
- Completing required administrative paperwork in an accurate and timely manner
- Effectively organizing multiple assignments, sometimes of a complex nature or involving competing priorities, to produce work products that are accurate, thorough, and on time.
Knowledge of:
- Ecology and biology, species distributions, and habitat associations of Washington’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
- Population biology, wildlife habitat and ecological systems associations, conservation biology.
- Wildlife survey, monitoring, and research techniques.
- Wildlife disease monitoring and surveillance.
- Grant, contract, and project management.
- Data management, statistical analysis, spatial data analysis, information synthesis and delivery.
- Resource management agencies missions, approaches, and means of cooperating/collaborating.
- Conservation planning, endangered species recovery and management, game species management.
- Forest Management and Forest Practice Rules.
Ability to:
- Effectively communicate with agency representatives, colleagues, and the public to gain assistance and cooperation with Department conservation planning and species recovery programs.
- Conduct effective oral presentations at scientific conferences, agency meetings and public meetings.
- Write, edit, and publish professional documents and reports.
- Cooperate and participate with conservation planning teams.
- Lead and coordinate efforts of scientific expert teams in research and planning projects.
- Develop successful research designs and conservation and management approaches.
- Produce basic GIS products.
- Manage grants, contracts, budgets, and projects.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials – your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.
Supplemental Information
Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification. 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.
IMPORTANT NOTES: All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
JOIN THE WDFW TEAM: Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW! The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).
WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.
UNION – WAFWP: This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE: To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:
- Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE: To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:
- Notify us of your military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
