Nongame and Wetlands Habitat Biologist

State of Montana•Helena, MT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position works under the leadership of the Habitat Bureau Chief and Wildlife Division Administrator on nongame habitat conservation for species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) with an emphasis on conserving wetland and riparian habitats. This is a statewide position based in Helena involving regular office work, conducting and overseeing administrative tasks, regular overnight travel to state, regional, and national meetings, balancing work of multiple projects with time-sensitive demands, and regular communication with an array of state, federal, non-government organization, private individuals, and partnership groups that are engaged in similar work. This position serves as the department’s expert on management and conservation of habitat for nongame species of greatest conservation need with a primary focus on wetland and riparian habitats that support a high percentage of Montana’s SGCN, and serves as a program coordinator for two habitat conservation programs. This position coordinates and collaborates with FWP staff, conservation groups, and land managers to prioritize, strategize, and conserve habitats for nongame SGCN. This position will have a primary emphasis on conserving and managing wetland and riparian habitats and secondary emphasis on forest habitats that support SGCN. This position will manage and administer both the Migratory Bird Wetlands Program and the Nongame Habitat Program. Program management will include managing applications and proposals, ranking projects for funding, establishing contracts and agreements, mapping and geospatial data management, maintaining program databases, managing program budgets, and writing reports summarizing accomplishments. The position is the primary liaison between the Wildlife Division’s Habitat and Nongame Bureaus, with the Wetland Protection Advisory Committee, and with regional FWP staff and partners implementing habitat projects to benefit nongame. As an agency expert in wetland-riparian habitat types and the habitat needs of nongame SGCN, the position may serve as the state’s wildlife representative on a variety of Montana, regional, or national advisory capacities.

Requirements

A thorough knowledge of biology, wildlife management, wildlife habitat principles, and both public and private land conservation is required.
Prior experience and interest in nongame wildlife management, and in habitat management, conservation, and enhancement is required.
An understanding of habitat ecology and wildlife habitat needs is required.
Four years of progressively responsible experience in wildlife management or research, all of which must have been equivalent to a Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist is required.
Must have strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with FWP coworkers, landowners, and the public, and be able to handle difficult conversations and meetings in a collaborative manner.
Must be able to conduct meetings, prepare reports, prepare contract documents, prepare environmental review documents, develop bid documents, and prepare legally binding project agreements.
Must have a demonstrated ability to define wildlife conservation problems and priorities; design, develop, and implement approaches to solve these problems; analyze and interpret wildlife habitat research information; and present management recommendations and strategies in an appropriate technical format.
Must be able to administer and coordinate grants and contracts, administer cooperatively funded work with external partners, use geospatial mapping software, basic office computer software, and databases software, pay bills, track/rectify funding balances, and handle associated processes and paperwork.
Must reside in Montana (or move to Montana) to accept this position.
Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.
Ability to spend long periods of time working at a computer terminal doing detailed office work including writing agreements and reports, answering calls, and reviewing and evaluation of project applications.
Ability to handle mentally stressful situations including work deadlines, multi-tasking over complex projects and communications, dealing with agitated people, making presentations to large groups, and communicating/enforcing program requirements.
Ability to work outdoors in environmental extremes.
Must be able to work with a variety of field equipment, be able to work outdoors under adverse weather conditions, be in good physical condition capable of hiking with field equipment for distances of up to 10 miles daily in mountainous or uneven terrain and operating all-wheel drive vehicles in uneven terrain.
Willingness to conduct regular overnight travel (car or air travel) to state, regional, and national meetings. This may include overnight stays up to a week at a time.
Willingness to work varied hours, including evening, weekends and holidays.
Education equivalent to a master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management, Disease Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Biology, or related field including completion of a field research project presented in a successfully defended thesis.
A minimum of 3 years of experience that includes 1) establishing or assisting with habitat conservation, restoration, or enhancement projects; 2) working directly with private landowners, organizations, or agencies on natural resource topics; and 3) administering agreements, grants, or other forms of documentation that involve basic accounting, technical writing, and attention to details.

Nice To Haves

In-depth knowledge of wetland and riparian systems is preferred.
Some knowledge of forest habitat management is preferred.
Equivalent experience is defined as five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a wildlife biologist or senior wildlife technician that includes examples of: Literature review and development of a problem statement and or hypothesis for a particular issue. Development of a detailed study plan or sampling protocol for a field-oriented project based on the above-noted hypothesis. Data collection and the effective management of data with an appropriate application. Interpretation and analysis of data, including a quantitative assessment of that information. Completion of a final report in a peer-reviewed publication or a publication comparable to a refereed journal. If appropriate to the project, formulation of any recommended changes in management prescriptions and or actions. Oral presentation on results of investigation to agency staff or public audience.

Responsibilities

Manage and administer the Migratory Bird Wetlands Program and the Nongame Habitat Program.
Manage applications and proposals, rank projects for funding, establish contracts and agreements.
Perform mapping and geospatial data management.
Maintain program databases and manage program budgets.
Write reports summarizing accomplishments.
Serve as the primary liaison between the Wildlife Division’s Habitat and Nongame Bureaus, the Wetland Protection Advisory Committee, and regional FWP staff and partners.
Serve as the state’s wildlife representative on a variety of Montana, regional, or national advisory capacities.
Coordinate and collaborate with FWP staff, conservation groups, and land managers to prioritize, strategize, and conserve habitats for nongame SGCN.
Conduct both office and field work, including regular overnight travel to state, regional, and national meetings.
Balance work of multiple projects with time-sensitive demands.
Communicate regularly with an array of state, federal, non-government organization, private individuals, and partnership groups.