Natural Resource Specialist ; Sagebrush Mitigation Coordinator

Initial Posting Date: 01/05/2026

Final date to receive applications: 01/20/2026

Agency: Department of Fish and Wildlife

Salary Range: $6,123 - $9,409

Position Type: Employee

Position Title: Natural Resource Specialist 4 (Sagebrush Mitigation Coordinator)

Make a difference in Oregon sagebrush habitat!

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

We are hiring for a full‑time, permanent position leading mitigation strategies for sagebrush habitat for ODFW. This position can be located in one of multiple ODFW offices, depending on availability:
Bend, Hines, Ontario, LaGrande, Klamath Falls or Salem, Oregon.

NOTE:

This position requires a cover letter to be attached to your application. See additional details under the “Desired Skills” section.

The Sagebrush Mitigation Coordinator serves as the agency’s expert in fish and wildlife habitat mitigation in sagebrush habitat, playing a lead statewide role in development, revision, interpretation and implementation of the Greater Sage‑Grouse Conservation Strategy. This position coordinates with field staff and serves within the Land Resources Program on development and implementation of policy, plans, and programs necessary to maintain ecosystems consistent with the State’s and ODFW’s conservation, recovery, and management goals.

There are three primary roles for the Sagebrush Mitigation Coordinator:

• Lead development of mitigation solutions in sagebrush habitat

  • plays a lead statewide role for ODFW providing technical and policy expertise in ensuring consistent implementation of the Fish and Wildlife Habitat Mitigation Policy for all fish and wildlife species in sagebrush, working as part of a team within the Land Resources Program

  • leads development and implementation of mitigation funding solutions, including mitigation banks credit generation projects, in‑lieu fee payments, and other options

  • serve as ODFW’s lead representative and subject matter expert on state and national sage‑grouse mitigation related working groups

• Lead policy development, review and implementation of ODFW’s statewide sage‑grouse mitigation program

  • leads implementation of the Greater Sage‑Grouse Habitat Mitigation Program Operations and Administration Manual (Mitigation Manual)

  • regularly acts as lead representative for ODFW in controversial mitigation negotiations in sagebrush habitat with land use developers and regulatory agencies where the outcomes have economic impacts

  • provide technical review of and formal testimony on state legislative bills related to sage‑grouse habitat mitigation

• Lead development, review and implementation of sage‑grouse mitigation field methods and program tools

  • identify research and technical needs for the program

  • develop, maintain and implement tools to support the program

  • develop, maintain, and update program documentation

  • lead training on program tools

For a full review of the position details, duties, and working conditions, please review the position description located here.

To meet the qualifications, candidates must meet at least one of the following options:

• Option 1: Eight years of experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a biological or ecological program. At least three years of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities.
• Option 2: 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 related coursework and five years of experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a biological or ecological program. At least three years of the experience must be at a technical or professional level…