Access Technician

State of Montana•Circle, MT

19h•Onsite

About The Position

This is a seasonal field position in Region 7, approximately from mid-July through mid-January. The role involves assisting with the implementation of regional hunting access programs, coordinating with landowners and department personnel, and disseminating information about public hunting opportunities. The technician will implement department hunting access programs, assist landowners, and help develop and implement processes for area use rules and hunter activities. Responsibilities include posting site rules, setting up and maintaining public hunting access sites, locating and marking boundaries, establishing parking areas, and maintaining information or permission stations. The role also involves collecting and maintaining access use data, acting as a resource for landowners and the public, resolving conflicts, developing programmatic materials, and communicating program information. Some positions will manage specialized permission systems. The position requires extensive driving in remote southeast Montana, often in inclement weather, and involves working outdoors in all seasons. Overnight travel may be required. The role demands good physical condition, outdoor skills, and the ability to handle potential risks associated with handling dead animals. Mental stress may arise from prolonged or irregular hours, physical discomfort, frequent travel, competing priorities, and challenging interpersonal relationships.

Requirements

Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with diverse groups of people and personalities.
Aptitude for building and maintaining interpersonal relationships, preferably with private landowners, the public and partner agencies.
Ability to learn and explain basic department principles and concepts in a simple, clear and effective way to members of the public.
Ability to work independently with little to no daily supervision in remote locations.
Ability to learn basic situational awareness, perceive personal safety and safety of others.
A positive outlook and demeanor are required.
Frequent travel and working conditions in a field setting, typically in remote southeast Montana.
Overnight travel is also required and may entail using FWP facilities in remote locations.
Working conditions may include use of motorized vehicles, hiking, transporting equipment by foot or motorized vehicle over rugged terrain, working outdoors in all seasons and in unpredictable and inclement weather.
Good overall physical condition and sufficient outdoor skills to withstand the rigors and demands of outdoor work and to carry out duties effectively and safely.
Lifting 30 - 50 pounds is commonly required.
Ability to handle dead animals with potential risks from disease, parasites, and infections as well as injury during handling.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a remote location.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work closely with the public.
Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally with a wide variety of people and personalities including ranchers, farmers, biologists, game wardens and hunters.
Public speaking abilities and the skills necessary to efficiently communicate and/or manage large groups of people.
Ability to work with a minimum amount of supervision in remote settings.
Ability to navigate the landscape and administrative boundaries by using a GPS and maps depicting private and public landownership.
Ability to interpret administrative travel routes, public recreation rules, and hunting regulations.
Must have a driver's license and be able to operate a 4x4 truck both standard and automatic transmissions in all types of weather and road conditions.
Basic knowledge and understanding of Montana’s hunting heritage, hunting principles, rules and regulations.
Ability to build necessary skills to maintain partnerships between hunting access, wildlife habitat conservation and agricultural values.
Ability to demonstrate the ability to work in a team atmosphere, with regional hunting access personnel, biologists and game wardens.
Aptitude for building and maintaining interpersonal relationships with FWP staff, private landowners, the public and partner agencies.
Ability to follow verbal and written assignments, to prioritize and manage a range of tasks.
Willingness to learn basic situational awareness; perception of personal safety and safety of others is expected.
Ability to operate a 4x4 pickup truck with both standard and automatic transmissions.
Education and experience equivalent to a High School Diploma.

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge and understanding of Montana’s hunting heritage, hunting principles, rules and regulations is advantageous.
A basic understanding of ranching practices and agricultural communities is preferred.
A positive outlook and demeanor are preferred.
Knowledge of Eastern Montana and understanding of agricultural practices is advantageous.
Preference will be given to applicants with strong interpersonal communication skills and college coursework in Criminal Justice, Wildlife Management or closely related fields or at least 2 years of experience relatable to this position.

Responsibilities

Assist with the implementation of regional hunting access programs.
Coordinate with area landowners and department personnel to address recreational use compliance and information dissemination for public hunting opportunities.
Implement department hunting access programs and assist landowners to provide public hunting opportunities.
Assist to develop and implement necessary processes and changes to adapt area use rules and hunter activities during hunting seasons.
Work with landowners, partners and department personnel to post on site area rules and regulations to ensure hunter awareness and compliance.
Assist with setting up and maintaining public hunting access sites.
Locate and mark boundaries and access points, establish parking areas, maintain information or permission stations.
Collect and maintain access use data and information.
Document daily and seasonal use of hunting areas.
Act as a resource for landowners and the public by responding to inquiries, providing information and direction.
Assist in the resolution of conflicts which involve hunters and landowners.
Aid with the development and dissemination of programmatic materials.
Communicate program information to hunters, landowners, and department personnel.
Manage specialized permission systems, issue permission and provide information pertaining to specialized permission systems.
Provide general information to hunters regarding department rules and regulations, access opportunities, and state and local land management agency rules.
Ensure Region 7 Hunting Access Areas are adequately maintained.
Represent the agency in the field during fall hunting seasons to maintain private landowner and public relationships.