Wildlife Technician

State of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision of a wildlife biologist or Senior Biologist, the Wildlife Technician may assist in conducting surveys, investigations, and developments to enhance wildlife. Technicians perform a variety of duties depending on the specific program or area they are assigned to. The job posting details several specific technician roles including Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Technician, Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) Technician, Big Game Technician, Waterfowl / Migratory Bird Technician, and Wetland Technician, each with distinct responsibilities. Job duties may include posting boundary and highway signs, assisting with wildlife surveys and inventories, providing information to the public, maintaining buildings, grounds, and equipment (including carpentry, masonry, painting, litter removal, welding, mowing, general equipment repair, road maintenance, and fence construction/maintenance), developing food plots and performing farming operations, monitoring contract work, potentially supervising hourly employees, making purchases according to state guidelines, maintaining records, and preparing reports. The role requires the ability to operate various equipment such as boats, motor vehicles, lawn mowers, UTVs/ATVs, tractors, cutting torches, and welding equipment. It also involves the ability to operate and use firearms, lift and carry a minimum of 50 pounds, push/pull a minimum of 50 pounds, walk and jog over rough terrain for extended periods, swim, work alone in remote areas, endure extreme outdoor weather conditions, work extended hours, weekends, and stay overnight out of town, handle wild animals (live and dead), establish effective working relationships, work independently, be professional and courteous with the public and other agencies, communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, operate small handheld equipment, use personal computers and office equipment, and operate field traps, survey gear, and lab equipment. Additionally, the role requires conducting day/night audio and visual surveys.

Requirements

Associate degree or a minimum two years college to include course work in Wildlife Management or closely related field.
Four years’ experience in a Wildlife Conservation Technician position may substitute for education requirements.
One year’s related experience.
A total of five years’ experience is required in lieu of education requirement.
A completed bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management with an emphasis in Wildlife Management or related field may substitute for the experience requirement.
Thorough knowledge of capabilities and use of medium to heavy contractual and farming equipment.
Knowledge and competence in use of small hand tools and carpentry tools.
Knowledge of techniques used in wildlife surveys and inventories and all aspects of agriculture practices.
Skill in exercising good judgment in analyzing situations and making decisions.
Skill in establishing effective working relationships with other employees and with the general public.
Proficient in use of computers and various software applications.
Ability to operate boats, motor vehicles, lawn mowers, UTVs/ATVs and tractors with various attachments.
Ability to operate and use firearms, cutting torch, and welding equipment.
Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 50 pounds for a distance of 100 yards.
Ability to push / pull a minimum of 50 pounds to hook up trailers, load boats, and various other equipment.
Ability to walk and jog over rough terrain for extended periods of time.
Ability to swim.
Ability to work alone in remote areas.
Ability to endure various extremes of outdoor weather conditions.
Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and stay overnight out of town.
Ability to handle wild animals in live and dead condition, including field dressing wild game.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to be professional and courteous with the public and other agencies.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in public speaking situations.
Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely in writing.
Ability to operate and use small and handheld equipment and supplies.
Ability to use personal computer and various office equipment.
Ability to operate and use field traps, survey gear, and lab equipment.
Ability to conduct day / night audio and visual surveys.
Must attach a copy of your transcript.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in big game identification, biology and management.
Responsibilities with DCAP, Herd Health Evaluation (will require the collection of cervids via firearms), and other ODWC programs.
Proficiency in migratory bird identification, biology, diseases, and management.
Proficiency in wetlands management.

Responsibilities

Maintain buildings, grounds, and equipment and/or implement assigned programs.
Provide information and assistance to users on assigned areas.
Periodically inspect and coordinate work of contractors on assigned areas.
Assist in management of more than one wildlife area or program with multi-management objectives.
Set up, periodically inspect, and maintain OLAP Walk-in Areas, equipment, and signage.
Assist OLAP Biologist with maintaining and expanding the OLAP.
Monitor and document habitat of prospective and enrolled areas.
Execute lease agreements with private landowners.
Conduct animal surveys on foot, UTV, watercraft or aircraft, and gather, analyze, and report biological data.
Assist/lead wildlife necropsies of cervids with unknown mortality causes, maintaining sample integrity and personnel safety.
Coordinate and direct work of multiple inter-division staff and volunteers on various programs and activities.
Assume lead responsibility for western NWCO and other ODWC programs and conducting the eastern portion of annual aerial mid-winter survey.
Assist/lead necropsies of migratory birds with unknown mortality causes, maintaining sample integrity and personnel safety.
Gather, analyze, and report biological data through bird banding activities and other research.
Coordinate and conduct ODWC sponsored youth waterfowl hunts.
Assess, design, bid, and install/repair wetland management infrastructure, remain current on infrastructure innovations and suppliers, and provide onsite direction and approval of contracted or Departmental work.
Travel to all parts of the state to coordinate and oversee projects.
Periodically coordinate the work of biologists, technicians, and contractors as wetlands subject matter expert.
Assist in prioritizing program budgeting needs and manage extensive purchases.
Assume lead responsibilities with eastern NWCO and other ODWC programs.
Haul and operate various heavy equipment.
Post boundary and highway signs to denote Wildlife Management Area lands.
Assist in completion of wildlife surveys and inventories.
Supplies information to sportsmen and general public.
Maintain buildings, grounds and equipment performing tasks such as carpentry, masonry, painting, litter removal, welding, mowing and general equipment repair and maintenance.
Maintain and repair roads.
Construct and maintains fences in assigned areas.
Develop and prepare food plots and performs other necessary farming operations.
Assist in monitoring the performance of contract work and agreements.
May be required to occasionally supervise a small group of hourly employees by assigning daily duties and checking to maintain flow of work.
May be required to make needed purchases according to state purchasing guidelines and accounting policy.
Maintain complete and accurate daily records and prepares required reports.
May be required to perform other periodic duties as assigned by Supervisor.