District Wildlife Biologist (Supervising Fish and Wildlife Biologist)

Make a Difference in Oregon's Natural Resources! 

Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

 

Would you like to find a steady, rewarding career in wildlife management in a beautiful place to live?  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has an exciting opportunity to join a team of dedicated professionals in Enterprise, Oregon as a District Wildlife Biologist.

 

 

 

What you will do:

 

• Conduct biological surveys on various species including big game, and non-game species. Surveys may take place in helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, vehicle, foot, horseback, or ATV. Distinguish sex and age classification to assess population composition. Track locations and enter data on GIS devices and computer.

 

• Engage with hunters within the District. Maintain an ODFW presence during hunting seasons providing education and advice. Collect biological samples for aging, body condition, reproductive success, and disease detection. Work with OSP Fish and Wildlife Officers as needed on enforcement issues.

 

• Analyze available survey and harvest data along with public and agency input to determine hunting seasons, regulations, and area delineations. This may include arranging special controlled hunts, emergency hunts, hunt cancellations, or area closures. Present these determinations at internal and external meetings and to local media as necessary.

 

• Respond to sick, injured, or nuisance wildlife calls. This may require providing education and assistance to the public on applicable laws, guidance, and prevention or corrective measures. It may also include removal of the animal which often requires the assistance of USDA Wildlife Services agents, state agents, and local law enforcement.

 

• Assist landowners with wildlife damage, including evaluating type and severity of damage. Recommend preventive and corrective options to the landowner.

 

Conduct depredation investigations in a timely manner and consistent with agency protocols. Determine results of investigations. Recommend both short and long term solutions consistent with department Wildlife Plans and Policies.

 

• Cooperate with the Regional Habitat Biologist to implement habitat improvement actions throughout the District. Coordinate with private landowners by developing cooperative habitat improvement projects.

 

• Oversee wildlife capture and tracking operations. Utilize a variety of techniques and tools to immobilize wildlife, collect biological samples, administer medical treatments, and apply identification and tracking hardware. Compile capture information such as tag/band/frequency numbers, sampling data, and relevant notes. Be able to write a summary report and relocate animals from aircraft or ground following capture.

 

• Perform necropsies on multiple wildlife species for the purposes of research, population management, public health, domestic animal health, and disease detection and prevention.

 

• Maintain awareness and involvement in local land use initiatives. Read pertinent land use documents, bulletins, and updates from private, county, state, and federal constituents. Coordinate with the Regional Habitat Biologist on planned actions, responses, and future involvement.

 

• Provide a wide variety of information regarding wildlife management programs to professional colleagues and to the public. This comes in the form of conference and meeting attendance, telephone and videoconference conversations, participation in public events, and presentations delivered to multiple constituent groups.

 

• Supervise staff and serve as the Wildlife staff lead in the Wallowa Wildlife District. Maintain office facilities and field equipment, establish priorities, plan and assign work, and provide performance and hiring input in coordination with the Grande Ronde Watershed Manager.

 

 

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

 

Working Conditions
• This position requires physical abilities to perform instant or sustained arduous physical activity. Employee will travel by air, foot, vehicle and horseback through isolated, rugged terrain. Must be available to work all hours, in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week when necessary. Exposure to inclement weather during field operations is to be expected. 

 

• May periodically work with unfriendly individuals and groups of people. Required to wear a uniform consistent with the Department’s uniform policy.
• Works a professional workweek, with regular night and weekend work. Position is not eligible for overtime.

 

• This position requires an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Education Card for on the job use of quads (Class 1 ATVs) obtained through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, accessible at the following website: www.rideatvoregon.org/. On your application, be sure to indicate in the Work Experience Description if you have a card or a copy of your card can be attached. If the selected applicant does not possess this certification, s/he must obtain it within six months of hire as a condition of continued employment.

 

• This position requires occasional use of a firearm to deliver immobilization drugs and projecting nets for wildlife capture, euthanizing injured or sick wildlife, killing or hazing nuisance animals or birds, collecting animals for research or other studies, and protection from dangerous animals in close quarters.

 

 

 

Criminal Records/DMV Check
Applicants are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Driving is required for all positions. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current certified or uncertified driving record for review to be considered for the position. Be prepared to obtain as soon as possible. You are expected to provide the out-of-state driving record before an offer can be made unless extenuating circumstances exist. Adverse background and/or driving information may disqualify you from further consideration.

 

NOTE: Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

 

 

 

We are seeking applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and have the following skills and experience:

 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

 

• Three years of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fish or wildlife program. At least one year of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a fish or wildlife program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities; AND

• A Bachelor's degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a closely-related Bachelor's degree with at least 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of biological/ecological coursework, or three additional years of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fisheries or wildlife program.

• One year of experience must have included leadwork or supervisory duties.

A Master's degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a closely-related Master's degree in biological/ecological sciences will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.

A Doctorate degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a closely-related Doctorate degree in biological/ecological sciences will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

Applicants who have obtained a Master's degree or Doctorate that included work experience from an internship, work/study, thesis, or similar program may list this experience in their application to receive credit for the work experience. The Master's degree/Doctorate and applicable work experience will be considered separately and both the education and applicable experience may count toward minimum qualifications.

 

 

 

Requested Skills:
• Managing wildlife resources for a state, federal, or tribal agency
• Delivering immobilization drugs to capture and handle large ungulates and carnivores

 

• Conducting biological surveys on wildlife

 

• Working on damage or public safety complaints

 

• Creating and delivering presentations to the public

 

• Assessing the impact of proposed land/waterway development actions on wildlife habitat

 

• Developing recommendations for hunting regulations, seasons related to harvest or taking of wildlife species

 

• Summarizing and analyzing datasets pertaining to wildlife populations

 

 

 

Additional Information:

 

Your answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the "Job History" section in your application or you may not be considered for this position. Resumes will not replace the completed "Job History" section in your online application. You may be disqualified if your experience listed in the “Job History” section does not include information used to: 1) meet the minimum qualifications of the job and 2) back up your answers to the supplemental questions. If any of the positions listed in your application are part time or seasonal, be sure to include the dates you worked (month and year) and the average amount of hours worked per week in the duties section. Only those individuals who most closely match the requested skills will be invited to an interview.

 

 

 

Note: You will be required to provide a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts (online transcripts are acceptable) during the selection process that show your name, the name/address of the institution, coursework with passing grades, and degree conferred (including date), if you are using education to qualify. Transcripts and cover letters can be attached to your application in the Resume/CV/Cover Letter attachments field when you apply. Cover letters may not be reviewed unless it is stated as a requirement in the job posting.

 

 

 

For helpful tips on filling out your job history, responding to the supplemental questions, and submitting your application, click here

 

 

 

Internal Applicants: The contact information that is prefilled on your application is typically your work email and work phone number. Be sure to check your state email and Workday notifications for your status regarding the recruitment process. If you are away from the office or unable to check your state email account for an extended period, contact the HR Recruitment Unit and the hiring manager to let them know your personal email and phone number where you can be contacted. This will help to ensure you do not miss out on any correspondence that may be related to an interview. If you apply for a position as an internal applicant and then terminate while the recruitment is still in process, contact the Recruitment Unit to have your contact information updated.

 

 

 

External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting.

 

 

 

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

 

 

 

Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please contact the ODFW Human Resources office at 503-947-6051.

 

 

 

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.

 

If you are hired, you will become part of the State's management service. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.

 

 

 

Veterans - If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans' preference points will be added to your score.  For more information on veterans' preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.

 

 

 

Find information on State of Oregon benefits

 

 

 

More information about our agency can be found on our social media accounts and at myodfw.com and https://www.dfw.state.or.us/

 

 

 

If you are passionate about natural resources, we invite you to join our team and assist with furthering ODFW’s mission by partnering with communities and sharing how our work has a positive effect on Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats. ODFW is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve.  With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making. Consider joining our team as we lead ODFW into the future!

 

 

 

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer