Wildlife Program – Lands Division
 312 Mt. Vale Rd., Selah, Washington – Yakima County 

Salary listed does not include spray operator pay – spray operator pay is base pay plus 10% while performing designated spray operation duties. 

This recruitment is posted until October 25, 2022 – first review of applications will take place on October 11, 2022.  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.

Assist with planning, developing, and implementing habitat maintenance and enhancement projects and management of recreational use on the Wenas WLA, which includes more than 110,000 acres of WDFW owned and managed lands within Yakima and Kittitas Counties!

Independently conduct studies on habitats, plants, animals, and recreational use on wildlife areas – the primary management objectives on the Wenas Wildlife Area are protection and enhancement of shrub-steppe, forest, and riparian habitats.

If you are passionate and dedicated to promoting the WDFW conservation mission on Wenas Wildlife Area, then this is the perfect opportunity for you! 

Wenas Wildlife Area Rainbow – Photo Credit: Justin Haug 

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself assisting the Wildlife Area (WLA) Manager with administration, planning, developing priorities, and implementing Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) contract requirements and the Wenas WLA Management Plan.

This is an opportunity to maintain facilities and structures, utilize and maintain equipment, and implement projects to maintain or improve habitats, species, or recreation on the wildlife area.

The optimal applicant is a hard-working team player who takes pride in their work, is motivated, result oriented, dependable, respectful, and able to easily establish rapport. 

We are seeking a candidate with demonstrated values matching those of WDFW: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Yakima River from Wenas Wildlife Area– Photo Credit: Justin Haug 

Our Wenas Wildlife Area Lands and Habitat Specialist, 

Based on the Goals and Objectives from the Wildlife Area Plan(s), implements activities to maintain/improve habitat, species, and/or recreational opportunities compatible with fish and wildlife and their habitats.

• Assists with implementation of habitat, fish, wildlife, and recreational use management activities on the Wenas Wildlife Area.  
• Develops and implements habitat projects to benefit critical wildlife species. 
• Implements adaptive management plans for restoring, enhancing, and maintenance of forest, riparian, and shrub steppe habitats.
• Controls weeds using integrated pest management, applying herbicides as needed. 
• Projects often include activities such as mowing, disking, seeding, limbing trees, installing gates, spreading gravel, and herbicide application.
• Utilizes heavy equipment such as tractors, skid steers, mowers, disks, seeders, herbicide sprayers, pumps, the use of hand tools and power tools such as brush cutters and chainsaws.

Collects and analyzes data on habitat improvement projects and recreational use of Wildlife Areas, including hunting, fishing, and non-consumptive recreation. 

• Maps and/or analyzes data to determine status of plant, animal, and habitats on the Wildlife Area – assists in formulating changes in regulations, analyzes and interprets impacts on wildlife.
• Leads the effort in a shrub steppe habitat survey to determine if current habitat management practices are successful.  
• Conducts field reviews of restored sites, recommends, and implements future management activities.

Maintain tools, equipment, vehicles, facilities, and infrastructure to ensure safe and effective operation and conditions for both staff and the public. 

• Assists WLA Manager with planning, coordinating, implementing, and monitoring habitat enhancement and maintenance projects on the WLA to benefit fish, wildlife, and recreation. 
• Inspects, repairs, installs, and maintains the physical facilities of the wildlife area, including signs, reader boards, and kiosks, and maintenance and repair of 46 miles of elk fence. 
• Maintains and utilizes a variety of small and large equipment such as chainsaws, drills, pumps, grinders, welders, ATV’s, trucks, tractors, skid steers, trailers, spray systems, backhoes, and dozers.
• Assists in development of capital improvement projects and applies for grants to maintain/improve Wildlife Area. 

Work plans, administration, and required reports.

Provides information to the public regarding fish/wildlife, WDFW lands, and recreation on the WLA, and promotes agency values. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work Setting, including hazards: 
  1. 65% fieldwork – 35% office work.  
  2. Position functions primarily in the field, but also in shop and
  3. office settings. Fieldwork includes exposure to inclement weather and difficult terrain, working with power equipment, tripping/falling, and other things consistent with working with tractors and other equipment in an outdoor setting.
  4. Safely drive a vehicle on primitive roads during all weather conditions, utilizing 4×4 trucks and ATV’s, walking, lifting, bending, and stooping sometimes on uneven terrain, while occasionally carrying up to 40 pounds of tools, signs, fencing, and other equipment.
• Schedule: 
  • Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 
  • At times work may be off-schedule due to seasonal demands, emergencies, and time critical assignments. 4/10 schedule may be available based on business need.
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Overnight travel is very seldomly required.
• Tools and Equipment:
  1. Standard field tools, such as shovels, fence post drivers, spray equipment, etc. and standard office equipment (computer, copier, scanner). 
  2. Work also requires use of chain saws, other power tools, ATVs, tractors, mowers, skid steers, backhoes, dozer, large trucks, attachments, agency vehicle, GPS, ArcGIS, smartphones, and digital camera. 
• Customer Interactions: 
  1. Regularly communicate with public during field work, via e-mail and telephone, and at public meetings. 
  2. Develop professional level working relationships with neighboring landowners, different user groups and throughout the extended community. Regular interaction with customers who may be frustrated.

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis – examples of related natural resource experience includes working on a farm/ranch, conducting agricultural enhancement/farming practices, operating heavy equipment, conducting wildlife habitat enhancement practices.

     AND

Certifications/Licenses: 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Washington State Pesticide Applicators License – required within the six (6) months of employment.
• First Aid Training – provided by WDFW when available.
• ATV Certification – provided by WDFW when available.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). 
• Firefighter Type 2 (Training provided).

Experience with: 

• Biological data collection.
• Identifying Eastern Washington native plant species.
• Driving, operating, and hauling ATVs, manual trucks, tractors, trailers, backhoes, and farm equipment.
• Repairing and maintaining buildings, fences, facilities, and equipment.
• Safely applying pesticides. 
• Overseeing volunteers.

Job Knowledge

• A strong working knowledge and experience working with forest management, shrub steppe habitat enhancement and restoration for big game species is highly desirable.
• Wildlife agricultural enhancement programs/farming practices.
• Wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration. 

• Understanding and experience using integrated pest management practices while managing habitat. 
• Strong understanding and experience working with different forms of recreational users such as hunting, fishing, mountain biking, birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, and more. 
• Heavy equipment operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Small engine tools such as pumps, chainsaws, brush cutters. 
• Operating small hand and power tools (drills, hammer, etc.).
• Basics of carpentry, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and facility repair. 
• Small and large equipment troubleshooting, repair and maintenance. 
• Welding and fabrication. 
• Computer software (Microsoft Office/GIS) and GPS.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a result of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14 (Download PDF reader) issued on August 9, 2021, all Washington State Agencies are requiring employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of your employment. Pursuant to this mandate, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination as a 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 prior to your first day of work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.

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: 

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions. We have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

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:

• 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.

*Images shown are Pre-COVID, WDFW Staff follow current COVID Safety Protocol including the use of face masks. 

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