Wildlife Biologist 1 (PCN 11N24114)

State of Alaska•Palmer, AK

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, is hiring a Wildlife Biologist 1 in Palmer, Alaska. This position is open to Alaska residents only. The incumbent is responsible for the daily care of captive caribou and leads two technicians in animal-care and facility tasks. Work includes routine welfare and health checks, providing food and water, maintaining and cleaning animal pens, facility maintenance and improvements, ordering feed, collecting fecal samples and behavioral observations, snow removal, and purchasing. Other duties may be assigned as needed to support animal care and welfare. The position is based at the ADFG Foraging and Wildlife Nutritional Analysis Lab, working with a Wildlife Physiologist and seasonal fish and wildlife technicians. Work is on site daily and primarily outdoors in animal enclosures, including winter conditions such as snow, wind, and cold temperatures. Hours may be irregular and include some weekends (one to two per month depending on seasonal staffing), evenings, and holidays. The incumbent is expected to work as needed to meet animal-care needs. The Division's mission is to conserve and enhance Alaska's wildlife and habitats and provide for a wide range of public uses and benefits. The role offers opportunities to support science-based ungulate management and gain experience collecting data and samples for ungulate research. A bachelor's degree in a specified biological or natural-resource field, or qualifying coursework as described in the posting, is required. Applicants who will complete the educational requirements within six months may be considered for a conditional offer but cannot be appointed until the degree is documented.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management; alternatively, a bachelor's degree with specified coursework may qualify.
The coursework substitution requires at least 24 semester hours in specified biological or natural-resource fields, including 16 upper-division semester hours, plus at least 12 semester hours in any combination of two or more of chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.
Applicants completing the educational requirements and obtaining the required bachelor's degree within six months may apply, but may not be appointed until the degree is documented.
Must be willing to work on site and as needed to meet animal-care needs, including irregular hours, some weekends, evenings, and holidays.
This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition; individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence may not hold the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising or leading technicians in field or trail crews.
Experience with light construction activities and familiarity with a variety of power tools.
Experience with livestock or wildlife projects requiring manual labor, such as fence building or repair.
Veterinary technician experience or experience with chemical immobilization of ungulates.
Experience successfully following detailed checklists and procedures.

Responsibilities

Lead two technicians in daily duties related to captive caribou care.
Conduct daily welfare and health checks of captive caribou.
Provide food and water to captive caribou.
Maintain and clean animal pens.
Perform facility maintenance and improvements.
Order animal feed and make purchases.
Collect fecal samples and behavioral observations from caribou.
Perform snow removal.
Carry out other duties as needed to ensure high levels of animal care and welfare.