Title- Private Lands Supervisor

Classification- Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3

Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
 WDFW Program- Wildlife Program – Game Division
 Duty Station- Clarkston, Washington – Asotin County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Hunting in Region 1 – Photo Credit: Matthew Wicks

In this working supervisor position, you will lead a team of Private Lands Biologists who work directly with private landowners to improve, protect, and restore wildlife habitats. Represent the agency in collaborations with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Conservation Districts, and NGOs.  Work with various agencies to integrate fish and wildlife values into conservation programs. Facilitate public access on private lands and design hunter access programs on private timberlands. 

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Private Lands Supervisor will,

Work with landowners to facilitate fish and wildlife related recreational activity access and habitat enhancement on private lands throughout Region One:

• Assesses public access opportunities on private lands.

• Develop tools and strategies to encourage private landowners to allow hunting access and other fish and wildlife related recreational activities on their land.
• Develop habitat enhancement projects on private property.
• Meet with landowners and establish partnerships with private industrial timber companies by serving as a primary contact to assist with issues caused by public hunting access on private timberlands.
• Facilitate/develop/manage long-term access arrangements/contracts with private forest landowners to enhance hunting access on their lands and work cooperatively to develop signs, gates, maps, etc., and assist with posting access signs on private lands
• Develop and implement hunter access programs on private timberlands in Region One and enroll private landowners in WDFW access programs.
• Develop outreach materials and represents WDFW at meetings to present the Private Lands Program to the public.

Supervise, manage, assign, direct and evaluate the work of Private Lands Biologist staff:

• Supervises and mentors technical and professional level staff in order to support an effective, motivated team.
• Sets goals and objectives, develops strategies to implement, and develops performance measurements and standards for the purpose of ensuring individual and program performance objectives are met.
• Monitors and inspects work in progress to ensure continuity and timely completion of work.
• Develops the Performance Development Plan (PDP) for each assigned employee within unit; creates or updates position descriptions; monitors and documents employee performance; provides on-going feedback regarding levels of performance and conducts timely and meaningful employee performance evaluations.
• Manage assigned budget.

Working Conditions: 

Work Setting, including hazards: Primarily office setting, with periodic fieldwork which may take place sometimes in remote locations with difficult terrain and during inclement weather.

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with irregular workweek and travel during certain seasons. 

Tools and Equipment: Vehicles, small tools associated with limited maintenance activities. Firearm, Vehicles, ATV.

Customer Interactions: Effective negotiation with clients, local government officials, agriculture, forest, and special interest groups. Numerous interactions with the public, elected officials, and other government and non-government employees.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

A Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and three (3) years of professional experience in wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research. 

Or

A Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and two (2) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2.

Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis. A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute one year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: This position has been designated as one for which possession and use of a department-issued firearm is required and essential to performing job duties. Must successfully meet all requirements of agency firearm policy (Policy 7011) and maintain eligibility to possess and use agency-issued firearm(s) at all times while in this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

Two (2) years of supervisory experience 

Knowledge of:

• Principles of wildlife harvest management.
• Principles of wildlife damage management.
• Wildlife Population relationship and ecology.
• Environmental rules and regulations.
• Wildlife and habitat survey techniques.
• Wildlife management tools and field techniques.
• WDFW hunting and fishing regulations.
• WDFW habitat and access programs.
• Federal, state, and local rules and regulations concerning wildlife management.
• Fish and wildlife habitat requirements, in particular knowledge specific to eastern Washington dry forest, agriculture, and shrub-steppe habitats.
• Fire ecology in general and fire ecology of dry forest and shrub-steppe in particular
• In-depth knowledge of at least one or more of the following resource and land management disciplines with general knowledge of the rest: livestock management, agricultural techniques, irrigation techniques, water rights, forest management techniques, prescribed fire, logging techniques, weed control

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application.
• An up-to-date resume (chronological preferred) showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note: 

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

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.

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: 

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and spouses of active-duty military personnel who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following: 

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

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.   

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: 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. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov and reference the job number in the subject line.

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