Wildlife Biology & Sustainability Associate at Tejas Ranch & Game Fence Athens, TX

Wildlife Biology & Sustainability Associate job at Tejas Ranch & Game Fence. Athens, TX.

Tejas Ranch & Game Fence is not your typical ranch contractor. Our reputation and years of experience have helped us evolve into a full-service ranch development contractor and fuel our explosive growth. Our clients trust us to produce excellent value in turning their properties into world-class ranches.

The Wildlife Biology & Sustainability Associate is an entry-level professional role at our ranch, designed for a recent wildlife biology graduate with a passion for hands‑on wildlife and habitat management. This position supports the health and sustainability of a large exotic wildlife herd (deer and antelope, 1,000+ animals) and the overall ranch ecosystem. The Associate will work under the Ranch Manager’s guidance to monitor animal health, assist with an extensive breeding program, maintain pastures and water systems, and utilize data (via proprietary Excel models) to inform management decisions.

This role offers an excellent foundation in wildlife ranch management with a clear path for career advancement in our organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Exotic Wildlife Care & Monitoring:
  Daily observe and monitor the health, behavior, and welfare of exotic deer and antelope herds (over 1,000 animals). Assist with veterinary care, vaccinations, and herd health programs to ensure high standards of animal welfare and early detection of any issues.

• Breeding Program Support:
  Support an extensive wildlife breeding program. Help track breeding cycles and animal lineage, record offspring survival rates, and implement breeding plans as directed to optimize genetics and herd productivity. Contribute to environment optimization for top breeding health (e.g. providing proper nutrition and low‑stress habitats).

• Habitat & Ranch Land Maintenance:
  Perform hands‑on maintenance of pastures, turf, and trees to promote a healthy ecosystem. This includes mowing, seeding, weed control (spraying), fertilization, and planting or pruning trees to enhance habitat quality. Ensure fencing and enclosures are secure and in good repair to protect wildlife.

• Water Systems Management:
  Oversee ranch water systems to guarantee reliable clean water for all wildlife. Maintain and repair water infrastructure such as ponds, troughs, wells, and irrigation lines. Monitor water quality and implement improvements (e.g. aeration, filtration) to support both animal hydration and habitat health.

• Data Tracking & Analysis:
  Utilize proprietary Excel‑based models and spreadsheets to accurately track animal metrics and ranch performance data. Record information on herd population counts, productivity rates, mortality, land use (e.g. grazing rotation schedules), feed consumption and costs, and breeding outcomes. Analyse trends in the data to inform management decisions (such as adjusting feed or identifying successful breeding practices).

• Conservation & Sustainability Projects:
  Contribute to the ranch’s conservation and sustainability goals. Assist in habitat enhancement projects like native plant restoration, erosion control, and implementing sustainable ranch practices (e.g. rotational grazing, soil regeneration, and water conservation initiatives). Help ensure the ranch operation meets environmental regulations and promotes biodiversity.

• General Ranch Operations:
  Support general ranch upkeep and projects as needed. This includes maintaining ranch infrastructure (roads, fences, barns, and equipment), keeping the workshop/compound clean and organized, and operating ranch vehicles or machinery (UTVs, tractors, skid steers, etc.) safely. Adhere to ranch safety protocols at all times and perform other duties as assigned to support the team.