Assistant Wildlife Area Manager - Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Assistant Wildlife Area Manager - Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2 - Permanent -

Title: Assistant Wildlife Area Manager
Classification: Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2
Job Status: Full-Time / Permanent
WDFW Program: Wildlife Program – Lands Division – Region 2
Wildlife Areas: Big Bend, Sagebrush Flat, and Wells Wildlife Areas
Duty Station: Brewster, Washington – Okanogan County

As a leader in your field, you’ll guide field staff and oversee land management operations, carrying out Wildlife Area Plans across the Big Bend, Sagebrush Flat, and Wells Wildlife Areas, totaling 48,160 acres. The role requires a passion for field work and ecological restoration, focusing on habitat restoration, annual food plots, weed control, and monitoring priority habitats. You will build and maintain relationships with the public and stakeholders, proactively addressing emerging issues and challenges on the landscape.

• Serve as the senior planner and field lead for shrub steppe restoration and coordination; develop, implement, and monitor projects.
• Implement habitat management and restoration to benefit species of greatest conservation need, priority species, and priority habitats.
• Use farm methods and heavy equipment (tractors, UTVs, harrows, sprayers, mowers, seeders, cultipackers, skid steers) for habitat management.
• Inventory and manage habitat for SGCN species and riparian health.
• Lead, manage, and provide technical input for restoration and habitat enhancement projects; identify tools, budgets, and processes.
• Develop grants to maintain and improve wildlife areas.
• Lead the Integrated Pest Management Program on wildlife areas.
• Troubleshoot field and equipment problems to meet deadlines.
• Purchase native seed, plant plugs, fertilizer, and herbicides.
• Plan, assign, and review staff work; adjust assignments to respond to changing workloads.
• Coordinate and oversee projects.
• Serve as point of contact for emergent issues at Big Bend WLA.
• Plan, negotiate, and administer leases and grazing agreements; monitor compliance.
• Survey wildlife areas for invasive vegetation, endangered plants, and habitat conditions; apply appropriate control methods.
• Maintain records according to WSDA standards.
• Identify, write, acquire, and manage grants.
• Provide consultation to the public and agency staff on natural resource management, fish, wildlife, habitat, and recreation.
• Maintain facilities, infrastructure, and equipment; repair and keep them operational.
• Track work progress; compile and coordinate annual reports.

• Combination of office and field work with frequent travel to field sites.
• Outdoor work in inclement weather and challenging terrain; carrying light loads up to 40 lbs.
• Field surveys may involve travel by vehicle or on foot and exposure to hazardous wildlife.
• Biological sampling involves handling hazardous materials, needles, and sharp tools.
• Work may occur on private agricultural lands with uneven ground and equipment hazards.
• Proper training and PPE are essential.
• Tasks may involve working near water, navigating, and performing water-related duties.

Full‑time, 40 hours per week. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required. Schedules may fluctuate based on business needs and weather.

Daily travel within Douglas and Okanogan Counties, up to 170 miles. Occasional travel (5–10%) for training or meetings.

Computer, mobile phone, Microsoft Office/Outlook, GPS units and mapping software, trucks and pickups, ATVs/UTVs, boats, trailers, tractors with implements, heavy equipment, sprayers, power and hand tools.

Routine public interaction via phone and e‑mail; interact with tribes, county/state workers, and the public.

• Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Science, Environmental Science, or closely related field.
• One (1) year of professional experience in habitat and/or wildlife management or research.
• Experience includes: habitat management activities; shrub steppe and riparian restoration; wildlife and habitat survey methods; weed control and plant management using pesticides; operating…