Wildlife Area Technician - Natural Resource Tech ; in-training

Job Title

Wildlife Area Technician

Natural Resource Technician 3 (in-training option)

Full-Time / Permanent

Wildlife Program – Lands Division

Brewster, Washington – Okanogan County

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is committed to preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities for Washington residents. Under the direction of the Wildlife Area Manager and Assistant Wildlife Area Manager, the Natural Resource Technician 3 plays a key role in advancing this mission by implementing habitat, species, and recreation projects across the Wildlife Area.

This position provides hands‑on technical support to maintain wildlife area facilities, equipment, infrastructure, and public access areas; conducts integrated vegetation management, including herbicide application to control invasive species; and supports the planning and execution of wildlife area projects.

This role helps ensure healthy habitats, safe and accessible public use areas, and high‑quality fish and wildlife‑related opportunities.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Natural Resource Technician 3 will,

• Plan, coordinate and implement projects to protect, maintain, and improve habitats, species, and recreational opportunities on the Wildlife Area:
  • Implement Wildlife Area projects.
  • Restore/enhance/maintain wildlife habitats including shrub steppe, mesic and riparian habitats using beaver dam analogs, post‑assisted log structures, and Zeedyk structures.
  • Implement Integrated Pest Management plan and apply herbicides as needed.
  • Plan and manage establishment of annual crop systems using principles of crop rotation.
  • Conduct agricultural activities such as mowing, disking, seeding, and trimming trees.
  • Operate a variety of small and heavy equipment (brush cutters, chainsaws, ATVs, UTVs, tractors, excavators).
  • Inspect, manage, and maintain access areas and public use resources on the wildlife area to ensure the health, safety, compliance, and aesthetics of the wildlife area.
• Maintain capital facilities, wildlife area infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment:
  • Maintain irrigation systems.
  • Maintain roads, culverts, gates, fences, parking lots and other capital improvements.
  • Maintain wildlife area vehicles, equipment, and maintenance records.
  • Monitor/assess/ensure safety of Wildlife Area facilities and equipment.
  • Maintain Wildlife Area buildings, information kiosks, and signage.
  • Assist implementation of capital improvement projects.
• Coordinate and communicate within WDFW, with other agencies and with the public:
  • Attend agency meetings, meetings with external groups and constituents.
  • Provide relevant information to the public through office and field contacts.
  • Assist/manage activities with cooperative partners and adjacent landowners.
  • Report violations to the manager and/or enforcement.
  • Assist in public educational activities (hunter education classes, outreach programs, school groups, etc.).

Work setting primarily field work, exposing to inclement weather, difficult terrain, etc. Hazards include tripping/falling, etc. Work requires walking, lifting, bending, stooping, carrying up to 40 pounds, driving on primitive roads, handling vehicles and equipment. Some work in office or shop setting.

Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., with long irregular and occasional unscheduled hours.

Travel up to 15% of time.

Standard field tools such as shovels, herbicide application equipment, chain saws, other power tools, farm machinery, backhoes, excavators, dozers, ATVs, UTVs, trucks, trailers.

Communicate with the public during field work, via email, telephone, and at public meetings.

This In‑Training series provides mentoring and career development opportunities for candidates with limited experience. Candidates will be hired as a Natural Resource Technician 2 or Natural Resource Technician 3, depending on skills and experience. Advancement from Natural Resource Technician 2 to 3…