Wildlife Program – Region 1
 Spokane Valley, Washington – Spokane County

Salary listed does not include the 15% immobilization and low-level flight pay. 

Are you ready to apply your biologically based skills to negotiate, prevent, and resolve conflicts between wildlife and landowners, all while promoting sustainable coexistence and recreational opportunities?

Join us in the front lines of conservation as we tackle wildlife conflict resolution head-on! The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a dedicated Conflict Specialist to preserve ecosystems while safeguarding private lands against wildlife damage in Lincoln, Spokane, and Whitman Counties. 

Black bear – Photo credit: Kim Chandler

The optimal applicants are those who thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, who are excited to negotiate, prevent, and resolve conflicts between wildlife and landowners. 

We are seeking a candidate who embraces the challenge of preserving ecosystems while finding sustainable solutions. 

If you’re passionate about leveraging your skills to perpetuate coexistence and recreational opportunities, this is your chance to shine.

White-tailed deer – Photo credit: WDFW

Key duties of this position include, 

Using biologically based skills, works with private landowners to prevent and/or control ungulate and/or turkey depredation on crops and property damage and coordinate with federal agencies for other wildlife species.

• Provides timely response and field investigations of crop depredation, primarily caused by ungulates and/or turkey.
• Using biologically based skills, conducts complex inspections and investigations to determine the nature and extent of damage to commercial crops.
• Identifies damage mitigation alternatives, and prioritizes efforts aimed at resolving wildlife damage. 
• Interacts and coordinates with producers and crop assessors during the damage claim process.
• Negotiates contracts and/or agreements and identifies settlement options with landowners and/or producers.
• Using biological knowledge, prepares final damage prevention strategy and associated landowner/producer agreement for agency approval.  
• Works with Hunt Coordinators, a variety of hunter types, landowners, and other agency staff to direct hunting pressure to help control damage.
• Provides timely response, field investigations, and technical advice regarding wildlife conflicts in urban and suburban settings.

Using biologically based skills, works with private landowners to prevent, reduce and/or control wildlife damage and livestock depredations by carnivores and addresses human safety concerns related to carnivores.

• Provides timely response for field investigations (such as necropsies) of livestock and other domestic animal mortality/injury purportedly caused by carnivores.
• Coordinates with WDFW and/or Federal, State and Local enforcement staff involved in investigations of wildlife conflict.
• Using biologically based skills, conducts complex inspections and investigations such as necropsies) to determine the cause of mortality for domestic livestock.
• Collects data, develops alternatives, and prioritizes efforts aimed at resolving wildlife    damage.
• Completes Depredation Investigation Reports, Deterrent Plans, Producers Checklists, and Chronologies in a timely manner.
• Negotiates contracts and/or agreements and identifies settlement options with landowners and/or producers.
• Using biological knowledge, prepares final damage prevention strategy and associated landowner/producer agreement for agency approval.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Office work includes work with personal computers.
  • Fieldwork includes travel to and from field sites and work in outdoor conditions often in extreme weather conditions.  Field surveys are conducted by airplane, helicopter, vehicle, and on foot. Fieldwork can vary depending upon season and requires working outdoors during inclement weather, walking over rough terrain while carrying a light load. Also includes work with dangerous wildlife; pyrotechnics, firearms, and scheduled/classified drugs. 
  • Handling of biological material with potential for hazardous exposure.  Use of needles and cutting instruments. 
  • Outdoors work settings include private land that may be in active crop production.
• Schedule:
  • Work schedule is 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, but often includes long and irregular hours to include evenings and weekends as determined by business needs and emergent issues.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Frequent travel to field sites. 
  • Occasional travel for out of local area meetings and/or conferences may be necessary as determined by business needs and emergent issues dictate.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Office equipment, personal computer/technology, mobile communication devices, field glasses, pyrotechnics, firearms, paintball guns, other hazing devices, electric fencing, GPS, cameras, 4×4 trucks (small/large), trailers, ATV’s, snowmobiles, chemical immobilization drugs and delivery devices, hand tools and power tools (electric & gas).
• Customer Interactions:
  • Frequent contact with the public, private landowners, hunters, Tribes, employees from within and out of agency to include Federal, State and Local municipalities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

AND 

• Three (3) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research. 
  1. Note: A master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute one (1) year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science may be substituted for two years of the required experience. 

OR 

OR

PLUS

Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of: 

• The principles, practices, and methods of environmental or resource management, 
• Methods and techniques of field sampling, testing, data gathering, basic research and field investigations. 
• Applicable state, federal and local environmental & wildlife regulations and policies.
• Technical report writing methods.

Certifications/Licenses: 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Ability to pass background checks, drug screening, and training to receive authorization to use a firearm and to be approved through the Criminal Justice Information Services.
  1. 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.

Required Training:

• Aircraft safety training must be taken before first flight.
• First Aid training (Obtain within 6 months of hire date)
• Firearms training and certification (Obtain within 6 months of hire date)
• Livestock depredation training (Obtain within 6 months of hire date)
• Wildlife handling (Obtain within 6 months of hire date)
• Chemical immobilization training (Obtain within 6 months of hire date)
• Wildlife Capture (Obtain within 6 months of hire date)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

• At least one year of experience working with carnivores.
• At least one year working with ungulate and carnivore conflict issues.
• At least one-year trapping/immobilizing wildlife.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles of wildlife damage management.
• Wildlife population relationship and ecology.
• Principles of wildlife harvest management.
• Wildlife management tools and field techniques.
    Wildlife-habitat relationships and habitat management requirements.
• General agriculture, silviculture, and range management principles.
• Plant and animal species identification including the basic anatomy and physiology.
• Field investigations and necropsies on domestic livestock animals.
• Environmental rules and regulations and local and state laws governing land use.
• Personal computer hardware and software (Microsoft Suite products, Geographic Information Systems, and Adobe).
• WDFW habitat and access programs.
• WDFW hunting and fishing regulations.
• Contract administration.
• Grant writing.

Ability to: 

• Conduct field surveys to collect data and perform complex field investigations and necropsies to identify the cause of depredation on domestic animals and livestock as associated with wild carnivores.
• Effectively and safely operate ATVs, 4-wheel drive vehicles, and standard highway vehicles and additional equipment and tools including radios and other mobile communication devices, laptop computers, digital cameras, spotting scopes/binoculars, global positioning systems, radio telemetry, motion activated cameras, tools associated with fencing, traps, guns, snares, pyrotechnics, and radio telemetry.
• Visually differentiate when identifying and distinguishing biological and physical features. 
• Recognize differentiating plant and animal characteristics to identify species.
• Safely and humanely dispatch animals. 

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 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

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.

Follow us on social media: 
 LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

dh