Senior Wildlife Biologist

Job ID: 28164
Agency: Department of Game, Fish and Parks - Wildlife Division
Location: Statewide
Salary: $64,101.60 to $74,000.00 annually, depending on experience
Pay Grade: GK
Closing Date: 10/02/2024

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. For more information on the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, please visit https://gfp.sd.gov/.

This position will provide comprehensive support for the wildlife diversity and environmental policy programs. The incumbent’s major emphasis will focus on environmental policy, compliance, and review; wildlife diversity monitoring and research; habitat development and enhancement; and interagency coordination and collaboration.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• coordinate Environmental Review of significant internal and external development projects, including site visits and sharing the Department’s comments & recommendations in writing or verbal testimony regarding wildlife, their habitats, and mitigation measures;
• supervise and coordinate the Natural Heritage and Wildlife Diversity program and its team members;
• oversee wildlife research and monitoring of threatened and endangered species and their habitats, including implementation of State Wildlife Grants and other grant programs;
• provide technical assistance and collaborate with biologists for habitat enhancement for nongame and rare species;
• present information to the public, policy makers, and collaborators about the Natural Heritage and Wildlife Diversity program;
• assist with revision and implementation of South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan, including rank and status reviews of threatened and endangered species;
• serve as Department representative on interagency committees and task forces, and liaison for interagency, professional, and private groups related to nongame and rare species;
• assist with evaluation and approval of wildlife and water right permits.

Working Conditions:
Typical office environment for a majority of time. At times, work will be conducted under adverse weather conditions and in low-flying aircraft. This position may also deal with sick and diseased wildlife, chemical immobilization drugs, and capture/restraint of wild animals.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Preferred experience would be an individual with a M.S. or Ph.D. in ecology, environmental policy, conservation/environmental science, or wildlife management.

Knowledge of:

• environmental policy, regulatory authority, and review process;
• State Wildlife Grant, Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grant, and other grant programs available for nongame, threatened, and endangered species research and monitoring;
• writing grants and completion reports;
• survey and analytical approaches to monitor abundance, survival, and recruitment of wildlife populations;
• wildlife ecology and habitats;
• population dynamics, including metapopulation, minimum viable population, competition, and predator-prey theory.

Skill to:

• read, interpret, understand, and comply with environmental policy including an understanding of state and federal law;
• design, collect, analyze, and evaluate information used to monitor trends in abundance and population limiting and regulating factors;
• use advanced computer skills including word processing and database management and analysis software;
• analyze and interpret data and scientific documents.

Ability to:

• serve as a team leader and provide leadership and supervision to program staff working in various parts of the state;
• communicate effectively including speaking in public, writing technical reports, and communicating with developers, collaborators, and jurisdictions responsible for enforcing environmental policy;
• apply statistical techniques to evaluate wildlife research, monitoring, and management problems;
• accomplish work tasks both independently and as a member of a work team;
• effectively plan and organize work activities and prioritize task completion to meet schedules and deadlines in variety of areas;
• provide a high level of attention to detail and be able to record that detail in field notes, reports and publications;
• direct and prioritize workload of nongame wildlife population and habitat research and monitoring data;
• favorably present and promote departmental priorities, services, and actions.

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume/CV.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://sodakprod-lm01.cloud.infor.com:1443/lmghr/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=QV4
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"