Hunting and Wildlife-Biologist

Puyallup Tribe of Indians•Tacoma, WA

13d

About The Position

The Biologist advises Tribal Council, the Hunting and Wildlife Director, and the Hunting Committee on wildlife-resource issues. The role serves as a policy liaison and spokesperson for Tribal wildlife priorities, with a focus on sustainable wildlife population management. It collects and analyzes harvest data, conducts wildlife surveys, and collaborates on multi-agency wildlife monitoring within the Medicine Creek Treaty Area. The position supports development of annual hunting regulations and the Hunting Ordinance; coordinates committee and intertribal activities; prepares and presents harvest and survey findings; and provides technical wildlife advice to Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes. It plans, seeks funding for, and carries out wildlife research, habitat connectivity and improvement projects, surveys, and large field projects such as elk captures. The Biologist also operates a UAS to collect wildlife data, participates in disease-monitoring and forest-carnivore efforts, recruits and trains tribal interns, and presents program activities and submits research for publication. The position reports to the Director, works 40 hours per week, and has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA) or equivalent in Biology, Natural or Environmental Resources, or a related field; or four years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Intermediate computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications for reporting duties.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to write speeches and articles for publication in a prescribed style and format, and effectively present information to management, public groups, and boards.
Ability to work with probability, statistical inference, geometry, and trigonometry, and apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, interpret technical instructions, and work with abstract and concrete variables.
Valid Washington State driver’s license and ability to be insured.
Drug Enforcement Administration Certification.
UAS Pilot License.
Experience flying in various non-pressurized aircraft.
Ability to identify most locally occurring animals and read and interpret a map.
Ability to travel on behalf of the employer.
Ability to hike long distances over rough and steep terrain and meet the listed physical demands, including lifting and moving heavy loads.

Responsibilities

Assist in drafting the Annual Hunting Regulations and Hunting Ordinance, and print the annual regulations pamphlet.
Help Tribal hunters locate Hunter Safety Training classes.
Collect and evaluate harvest data and maintain the harvest database accurately and promptly.
Attend Inter-Tribal Wildlife Committee meetings and advise on wildlife technical and policy issues.
Represent the Tribe at intertribal and multi-agency meetings addressing recreational impacts to treaty Tribal resources.
Draft wildlife survey proposals for funding agencies, coordinating with other tribes and governmental agencies as needed.
Organize Hunting Committee meetings and prepare and present annual harvest and wildlife survey data to the Hunting Commission.
Improve harvest data collection techniques and provide technical wildlife advice to other Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes.
Survey wildlife species within the Puyallup Tribe’s reservation boundary.
Organize and route paperwork for Ceremonial and Designated Hunts.
Plan wildlife research projects, review research literature and methods, identify equipment needs, and prepare grant proposals to seek funding.
Plan and implement large projects such as elk captures, including coordinating, managing, and training volunteers and contractors for capture projects and elk surveys.
Obtain a UAS (drone) pilot license and operate a UAS to collect wildlife data.
Coordinate and plan habitat improvement projects and wildlife surveys with governmental agencies.
Participate in multi-agency forest-carnivore monitoring for rare and endangered species.
Recruit and train tribal interns to assist with wildlife projects.
Research, develop, and implement scientific methods for surveying deer and elk populations.
Compile annual elk population and herd mortality estimates and make research-based regulation recommendations to Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes and WDFW.
Plan and seek funding for wildlife habitat-connectivity projects in the Medicine Creek Treaty area.
Participate in outreach, education, and sample collection to monitor wildlife diseases.
Present program activities at annual regional meetings, including Native American Fish and Wildlife Society meetings.
Submit research papers to scientific journals.
Perform other duties as assigned.