Assistant Wildlife Area Manager - Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Title - Assistant Wildlife Area Manager

Classification - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2

Job Status - Full-Time/Permanent

WDFW Program - Wildlife Program – Lands Division

Duty Station - Kettle Falls, Washington – Stevens County

As the Assistant Wildlife Area Manager, you will help plan and implement the SCWA Management Plan, overseeing habitat, fish and wildlife, and recreational use activities including managing the agricultural lease, lowland trail system, and weed control program.

This is an opportunity to supervise seasonal staff, conduct habitat and wildlife surveys, and monitor public use of the wildlife area.

Implement the written management plan for Sherman Creek, Rustler’s Gulch, and LeClerc Creek Wildlife Areas:

• Perform habitat maintenance, habitat enhancement, habitat restoration, and recreational management on land owned by WDFW.
• Assist with planning and developing priorities, developing and implementing projects, developing and managing the operating budget, and updating the management plan.
• Facilitate, manage, and monitor public, employee, volunteer, and researchers’ use on the wildlife areas.
• Conduct wildlife and habitat surveys.

Manage fleet operations, infrastructure, and facilities maintenance:

• Manage fleet of vehicles and equipment, ensuring safe operation and completion of maintenance and repairs.
• Ensure maintenance of roads, parking areas, signage, irrigation system, and other infrastructure needs.

Manage the noxious weed control program:

• Prioritize treatment areas and implement annual weed control.
  
  Maintain required records of weed control activities.

Manage agricultural lease activities and trail system maintenance:

• Coordinate with the agricultural lessee to ensure the lease agreement is followed.
• Coordinate with the agricultural lessee to ensure the wildlife food plots are planted and maintained annually.
• Recruit and coordinate the hiring of one (1) direct report.
• Train, mentor, and direct the work of staff, and evaluate staff performance.

Work Setting, including hazards: This position involves a combination of office and fieldwork.

• When in the field, work in inclement weather over difficult terrain including slippery rocks, steep banks, and sticky mud up to 75% of the time. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments. Frequently load and transport equipment weighing up to 45 pounds. May walk, stoop, and bend while carrying up to 45 pounds.
• The office is the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area headquarters, a small building five (5) miles from Kettle Falls, shared with the Wildlife Area Manager and a Natural Resources Technician 3.

Typically, Monday–Thursday, 6:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The schedule may vary to meet business needs due to seasonal demands, emergencies, and time critical assignments, such as working on a controlled burn through the evening.

Some travel is required (typically local or regional) to meet with stakeholders, conduct business, or attend/provide training. Occasional overnight travel is required for out-of-town training and agency meetings.

Pickup trucks, trailers, mini-excavator, tractors, tillage and seeding implements, sprayers, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), mowers, chainsaws, power and hand tools, fire-fighting hand tools, welders and torches, GPS devices, cell phones, and laptops.

Frequently interact with the public and other stakeholders, including hunters, hikers, neighboring farmers and ranchers, volunteer groups, and other governmental entities.

Required Qualifications:

• Option 1: A bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, wildlife management, environmental science, or a related specialty area and one (1) year of professional-level experience in a natural resource specialty such as natural resource engineering, land management, land technician, natural resource technician, forest cruiser, or engineering aide.
• Option 2:
  Three (3) years of professional-level experience in a natural resource specialty such…