Stewardship Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4 (FWB4)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Forest Resilience Division as a Stewardship Fish and Wildlife Biologist. This role is responsible for helping non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners understand, manage, develop, and improve the wildlife habitat on their property. The Forest Resilience Division focuses on forest health, ecological functions, and resilient communities. The Service Forestry Program provides technical assistance and educational services for proactive forest management, including advice to landowners, assessment of resource conditions, identification of problems and opportunities, assistance with treatment implementation, and recommendations for management practices. The program also educates landowners and assists with management plan development. The Statewide Stewardship Fish and Wildlife Biologist serves as the program lead and statewide expert biologist for fish and wildlife habitat management and policy issues concerning private forested lands. This position offers scientific expertise and advice to private landowners and other professionals serving them, assisting landowners in developing and implementing fish and wildlife habitat management components of their plans to ensure habitat protection, creation, restoration, and enhancement on non-industrial forest lands. The role also ensures that fish and wildlife management components align with USDA Forest Service national plan standards and Washington State Integrated Forest Management Plan guidelines. The position independently directs, develops, evaluates, manages, and implements statewide biological studies, research, resource assessments, policies, legislation, or regulations related to wildlife management on private forested lands in Washington state.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in fish and wildlife biology, wildlife management, or closely related field AND five years of professional, operational, field experience in forest fish and wildlife habitat management in the Pacific Northwest; OR Equivalent education plus experience.
Experience in typical silvicultural and forest management practices in the Pacific Northwest, including forest road design and construction, timber management planning, silviculture techniques, reforestation methods, and timber harvest boundaries.
Experience teaching or providing group presentations to small forest landowners or other non-technical audiences.
Experience responding to and interacting in a positive, responsive, cooperative, and collaborative manner while interacting with the public and other professionals (both inter-organizational and interdisciplinary).
Proficient with computers and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint, and various online presentation tools.
Experience in defining research problems and applying knowledge of research methods to forestry-related fish and wildlife research projects.
Uses interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to develop relationships rooted in acceptance, cooperation, and mutual regard with the public, external partners, and other governmental agencies.
Experience using effective oral and written communications to convey messages clearly and persuasively.
Excellent public speaking skills.
Accustomed to identifying or creating need-specific organizational systems and implementing them to track program-specific components and competing deadlines.
Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention and requests are followed.
Ability to walk over steep, uneven terrain in a variety of forest environments, year-round, statewide, in a variety of weather conditions is required.
Travel is required and may include site visits statewide, may be multiple days in length, and will require overnight stays estimated at three to five nights per month, but may be more depending on workload and scheduling.
Additional travel may be required nationally for meetings, conferences, and other activities.
The ability to drive long distances in a variety of weather conditions, year-round, is required.
A current, valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience.
DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices).
This position requires driving as an essential function.
Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in fish and wildlife biology, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
Three years of experience in silviculture and forest management practices in the Pacific Northwest.
Certified Wildlife Biologist designation by The Wildlife Society.
Experience providing technical assistance, education, and educational materials to professional and non-professional audiences, especially forest landowners.
Experience with Forest Stewardship Plan and Forest Management Plan development.
Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS Pro, Survey 123, Field Maps, and other mapping tools to document work and convey information to non-technical audiences.
Experience working with small forest landowners, particularly in providing technical assistance.
Experience determining fish presence or conducting water typing assessments on non-industrial forest land, including electrofishing performed according to WA Department of Fish and Wildlife guidelines.

Responsibilities

Provide on-site fish and wildlife resource assessments for private forest landowners.
Provide statewide scientific expertise and advice on fish and wildlife habitat needs in developing and implementing the fish and wildlife portion of management plans, including technical assistance to participants in DNR and WSU educational events.
Diagnose and assess forest wildlife damage problems and recommend control measures.
Provide statewide professional fish and wildlife habitat management consultation and advice to other natural resource professionals also serving forest landowners.
Develop, direct, manage, implement, and evaluate statewide biological studies.
Lead development of program policies and guidance related to wildlife habitat and management on private forest land.
Review legislation and provide input and analysis on bills impacting wildlife management on private forest lands.
Provide landowners with guidance on wildlife regulation.
Coordinate with other DNR programs and external public and private service providers.
Develop educational materials for, and make educational presentations to, family forest landowners, natural resource professionals who advise them, loggers, and other audiences regarding forest fish and wildlife habitat management.
Teach fish and wildlife-related topics and WSU Extension education programs, including Forest Owners Field Days, Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Courses, Family Forest Advisors Workshops, Contract Logger’s Trainings, Conservation Districts, colleges, and others across the State.
Author, edit, and review articles and publications on fish and wildlife habitat management.
Provide technical and professional support for the Washington-Oregon Woodland Fish and Wildlife Publication project (or others).
Serve on the project steering committee and author, review, and revise publications issued by the project.

Benefits

Commitment to organizational health and wellness
Work/life balance
DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups
Leadership that empowers and supports employees
Professional development opportunities
Educational and career development aid
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
A comprehensive benefits package includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave, and vacation days.