Description:

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on June 9, 2024. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

NOTE: Effective July 1, 2024 this position will receive an additional $1.50/hour pay increase that is not included in the advertised hourly rate.

Special Information:

This position is funded through a grant. In the event that the funding ends or is not sufficient to continue your employment, your employment may be terminated without cause.

An understanding of the agricultural, social, economic and recreational components of the work area of responsibility is vital. Demonstrated ability to communicate and negotiate with disparate interest groups and individuals; interpersonal skill set that is demonstrable. Candidates' application will demonstrate experience in handling bears by use of live animal trapping via various means (culvert trap, snare, etc); chemical immobilization delivery systems and skills; large bor􀁅JiJJe, handgun and shotgun proficiency. Capability of monitoring bears via ground, vehicle and aerial telemet;y (chopper and fixed wing), and drone (certification required for use). Must be able to be certified to use immobilizing drugs and Department issued firearms. Employee may be required to work various hours due to bear conflict response requirements and human safety, and in varying environmental conditions.

Successful candidate will operate from Conrad, MT FWP field office to include base of operations, communication, and equipment storage. Conrad is a city in and the county seat of Pondera County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2020 census.

Job Duties:

The wildlife management specialist will be responsible for developing and implementing a program that focuses on minimizing wildlife (bear)/human conflicts, responding to and resolving grizzly bear conflicts, assisting private citizens, landowners/producers and industry by providing technical assistance, managing sustainable populations, and contributing to conservation of important grizzly bear habitat. A product of this position will be a technical expert that pro-actively works to resolve potential and immediate wildlife/human conflicts while promoting sound wildlife conservation and a public with an enriched knowledge of and attitude towards wildlife and grizzly bears.

The person in this position must be able to adapt and implement a grizzly bear conflict management program in geographic area of responsibility, to include proactive efforts to reduce conflict, and responsive actions in response to human-grizzly bear conflict:

• Team leader in grizzly and black bear/human conflict situations.
• Supervise a 2.0 FTE wildlife technicians (bear technician and carcass pickup program)
• Resolve grizzly bear conflicts by means of capture, using aversive conditioning techniques, relocation of the animal and/or lethal removal.
• Work with FWP peer management specialists to coordinate program delivery.
• Work with partner agency staff in depredation investigations and subsequent response (USDA Wildlife Services)
• Work with partner agency staff in program delivery (USFWS, USDA Wildlife Services, USFS, DNRC, BLM, etc)
• Minimize the potential for grizzly bear/people conflicts by working cooperatively with private landowners, livestock producers, industry, and local communities and providing technical assistance.
• Collect biological information and monitor individual grizzly bears and overall populations in NCDE.
• Represent FWP in bear conflict management issues and policy to other agencies, NGO's and private citizens.
• Monitor trends in wildlife/human conflicts
• Maintain proficiency
• Contribute to statewide programs

They will represent FWP in public outreach & education, to include:

• Continuously conduct proactive outreach efforts to educate landowners, the public and communities how to minimize potential for human-bear conflicts.
• Assist with multi-agency efforts to coordinate public education and response
• Instruct the public on techniques that will prevent or alleviate potential wildlife/human safety problems.
• Represent FWP in a variety of situations and to a variety of people interested in prevention of grizzly bear/human interactions. This includes FWP staff, landowners, hunters, state and federal agency personnel, media, and the general public.
• Meet regularly with individual citizens, landowners and interest groups to inform them of grizzly bear conflict management issues, determine concerns, discuss alternative solutions and identify opportunities for long term grizzly bear population recovery.

This position may also:

• Identify and make recommendations for long-term management of grizzly bears.
• Collect and assemble population information on grizzly bears and other species and make recommendations for management of those species to area biologists, regional managers and Division staff.
• Identify and contribute towards conservation and management of habitat important for grizzly bear sustainability.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

The above knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a, Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Management, Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a closely related field and two years of job-related work experience. Other combinations of education and experience which could provide such knowledge, skills and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.