Habitat Connectivity Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Title:

Habitat Connectivity Biologist Classification:
Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 Job Status:
Full-Time / Permanent WDFW Program:
Habitat Program – Ecosystem Services Division – Priority Habitats and Species Section Duty Station:
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County Hybrid/Telework:
While this position may offer a telework option, the successful candidate must be available to report to the duty station as needed.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Harbor seal hanging out on the pier – Photo Credit:
Todd Tallman

Be our expert-level Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) Habitat Connectivity Biologist! In this role, your work will make lasting contributions to the department’s goals to conserve and protect a resilient network of native fish and wildlife habitat in Washington state.

As the technical lead for habitat connectivity mapping and planning, you’ll apply your expertise in wildlife habitat connectivity science to identify priority areas for connectivity conservation and translate that science into practical tools, guidance, and land-use planning strategies. You’ll work across urban and rural landscapes to help protect and restore wildlife movement and build climate-resilient habitat networks.

What to Expect:
Incorporate spatial data identifying priority habitat connectivity locations in Washington state into the Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) framework:

• Translate new and existing habitat connectivity data into a format appropriate to PHS applications.
• Develop technical documentation of methods used to create spatial data.
• Develop user guides for application of habitat connectivity data.
• Develop management recommendations for protecting wildlife habitat connectivity priorities within land use and transportation planning context.

Identify spatial data identifying priority habitat connectivity locations in Washington state:

• Identify appropriate existing spatial data to locate areas important to landscape connectivity and barriers to wildlife movement.
• Evaluate and make recommendations about existing spatial data relative to the best available science standard defined in Washington state code (WAC ).

Provide technical assistance for the development and application of wildlife habitat connectivity data in the context of land use planning and land management:

• Provide technical assistance on the applications of PHS habitat connectivity data to internal and external users in the context of local land use planning, transportation planning, growth management, and shoreline management.

Represent the agency in a technical capacity in efforts to create new wildlife habitat connectivity data products and strategies:

• Participate in research activities including data collection, evaluation, and analysis, to identify priority locations for connectivity protection, restoration, and enhancement.
• Participate in working groups developing wildlife habitat connectivity data products, priorities, and implementation strategies.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:

Primarily an office setting, with partial remote work options available. A minimum of 20% of work time is expected to be in person.

Schedule:

Typically Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., or an equivalent schedule. Flexible schedule options may be available after successful completion of the probationary/trial service period.

Travel Requirements:

Approximately 5–10% travel is expected for meetings and field visits to review connectivity project proposals and implementation. May include required travel to locations throughout the state for which carpooling or public transit options are not available.

Tools and Equipment:

Standard desktop or laptop computer workstation and specialized software, such as ArGIS.

Customer Interactions:

Regularly…