Wildlife Specialist

Job Title: Wildlife Specialist

Job Description:

Are you a natural resource professional who likes to be part of a team whose core values are integrity, professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and cooperation? If you are goal oriented, have a passion for wildlife, and know how to help others succeed, then a Wildlife Specialist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is the job for you As a Wildlife Specialist, you will implement the depredation and predator program as part of a team of motivated professionals that comply with the mission, goals, and objectives of the DWR. You will also create and strengthen local partnerships with members of the public, private landowners, public land users and user groups, conservation organizations, and state and federal government agencies.

Working for the DWR as a Wildlife Specialist will provide rewarding work experiences with wildlife and will build lasting relationships with a variety of constituents as you act as trustee and guardian of the State's protected wildlife. You will enjoy a flexible schedule, great benefits, and maintain the high level of integrity, professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and cooperation of the UDWR.

Why Utah Employee Benefits

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Utah Department of Natural Resources

Principal Duties:

• Works closely with landowners, conservation organizations, DWR personnel, federal, state, and local governments to plan and accomplish the goals and objectives in state laws, rules, policies and work plans.
• Respond to and address agricultural depredation situations involving terrestrial wildlife species
• Respond to predator situations.
• Manage the Regional Coyote Bounty Program.
• Respond to nuisance wildlife situations.

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Proficiency in the principles, theories, and practices of wildlife science and the ecology of wildlife, domestic animals, and habitats.
• Ability to safely handle and capture wildlife, operate vehicles and trailers, and possess the proficiency and ability to dispatch wildlife using firearms when necessary, including the ability to process and salvage wildlife carcasses.
• Deep understanding of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to natural resources, and understanding of agency objectives, organization, structure, and mission.
• Ability to make decisions or solve problems by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose meaningful solutions, and the ability to weigh the relative costs and benefits of a potential action.
• Great oral and written communication skills, including the ability to compose and produce reports and written documents.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office and Google Suite for administrative, analytical, and communication tasks.

Preferred/Additional Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in a wildlife science or other directly related field (or equivalent directly related work experience).
• Current or former experience as a UDWR employee (or similar state/federal natural resource agency).
• Demonstrated supervisory experience in a technical or field setting.
• Knowledge of farming, ranching, and agricultural practices to inform wildlife control strategies.
• Experience with wildlife damage prevention techniques and advanced trapping methods, including the ability to effectively trap, chemically immobilize, euthanize with a firearm, and remove offending animals.
• Ability to field dress wildlife.
• Excellent communication, public relations, and conflict resolution skills to develop and maintain working relationships with private landowners in difficult and emotional situations.

• Risks that require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
• On-call, emergency call-outs, nights, weekends, holidays and travel are required for this position.
• Chemical Immobilization training, First Aid and CPR training, and Firearms training after hire.
• Employees will sometimes be working in extreme weather conditions, at night, some weekends and holidays. The work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing, crouching or crawling in restricted areas, and defending oneself and/or others against physical attack. A physically demanding position that includes heavy lifting up to 100 lbs. Requires an extensive amount of walking and hiking with the ability to operate snowmobiles, ATVs, and forklifts.
• Valid Driver's License - Required.