District Conservation Officer

Please Note: Applications will be accepted through 4:59 PM MST on the posting end date. 

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is currently recruiting for a District Conservation Officer for the Pocatello District (the residence location within the district will be negotiated with the Southeast Regional Supervisor and Regional Conservation Officer.) 

The District Conservation Officer (DCO) supervises and directs the activities of Conservation Officers/Senior Conservation Officers within a district. These responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating officer's performance, ensuring proper officer training, preparing officer development plans, providing technical direction and interpretation of various wildlife and non-wildlife laws, providing direction to an officer to improve performance for effectiveness and safety, and insuring officers follow Department procedures and policy. DCOs investigate and resolve citizen complaints against officers, resolve conflicts between employees, recommend disciplinary actions and serve on review boards. It is the DCO's responsibility to ensure that district officers properly carry out enforcement, wildlife management public relations and administrative programs generated by the Enforcement Bureau/Regional Conservation Officer. Within a district, DCOs will supervise scheduling, enforcement methods, license vendor and wildlife permit enforcement, special overt and covert investigations, backcountry patrols and the execution of arrest and search warrants. Incumbents may assume responsibility for the Region in the Regional Conservation Officer's absence. DCOs are responsible for directing the enforcement activities of their officers and for overall district enforcement direction. They use action plans to document high priority/visibility enforcement projects, review and critique investigations done by officers, provide technical expertise and overall direction to officers during investigations. DCOs are responsible for creating more effective, innovative, and efficient methods of completing the duties/programs of the district. They approve and provide direction for check stations, simulated wildlife sets, backcountry patrols and covert operations. A DCO is also required to perform the same field duties as a Senior Conservation Officer.

A DCO will provide technical guidance to officers and landowners to alleviate wildlife depredations. They respond to nuisance wildlife calls and provide technical direction to officers and the public on handling nuisance wildlife, including the use of Schedule II wildlife immobilization drugs, and ensure that officers' training is current and proper records of drug use are kept. DCOs compile biological and non-biological rules and recommendations from their officers and develop a district recommendation. They collect, summarize and forward wildlife management data to the appropriate personnel.

DCOs may be responsible for district level administration of the Hunter and Bowhunter Education programs. They attend numerous local citizen and sporting group meetings, give public, and school presentations and contact the various forms of news media. DCOs prepare reports of district activities; they review all the administrative documents, reports and bills submitted by their officers. DCOs approve budget expenditures and project future financial needs. District-wide interagency cooperation is the responsibility of the DCO; they function as the district's liaison with other agencies.

Please note that applicants for this position may be required to complete a physical fitness assessment, psychological examination, and medical exam during the hiring process.

Why IDFG? We are a premier natural resource agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's fish and wildlife for this great state. We are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence as we cultivate opportunities for our customers to engage with our natural resources and become resource stewards for future generations. We are highly dedicated to our mission, committed to our team, and we know how to balance work/life commitments while loving the work we do.

What We Offer: 

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance - employee only coverage for PPO $70.74/month for medical and vision & $12.08/month for dental
• Participation in one of the Nation's best state retirement systems
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start (accumulate approximately 3 weeks of vacation the first year, and increasing with state longevity)
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Multiple saving plans-optional 401k and 457 plans
• Group Life Insurance/Disability Insurance/Supplemental Life Insurance - state provided basic life insurance coverage and affordable supplemental plans
• Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness (eligibility requirements may apply)
• Employee Assistance Program - confidential support, information, and resources for all of life's challenges
• State and Department Wellness Programs
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Potential flexible work schedule  

Responsibilities: 

• Trains, assigns work, and evaluates performance of conservation officers within a district.
• Prepares and recommends district budget.
• Assigns and supervises collection of biological data for wildlife studies and projects.
• Assigns and supervises patrols to detect and control violators of fish and game laws.
• Supervises and conducts investigations of suspected violators.
• Prepares or oversees preparation of case materials and testifies in court regarding offenses.
• Presents information to hunting, angling, and trapping groups and other organizations.
• Coordinates wildlife conservation program with other department programs.
• With or without reasonable accommodations, these positions involve walking in rugged terrain; lifting and carrying 50 - 100 pounds; and working in extreme weather conditions.

Minimum Qualifications: (All qualifications listed below are required. To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum experience and/or education standards as outlined in each of the typical qualification guidelines. A detailed resume or work history must be submitted, clearly demonstrating/supporting how you meet each requirement. This information is essential to our initial evaluation process. Incomplete applications or those lacking relevant details may not be considered for further review.) 

Please note: The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in Fish and/or Wildlife Management AND at least two years of cumulative work experience in a natural resource field position.   

• Must have obtained Permanent Status as an Idaho Department of Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer OR have an equivalent level of comparable professional experience in the techniques used to investigate violations of fish and game laws; and laws of arrest, search and seizure, and civil rights of citizens; good knowledge of fish and wildlife management practices to include habitat and forage requirements, behavior of various fish and wildlife species, and wildlife population dynamics; experience making, preparing and giving oral presentations on wildlife management issues.
• Some knowledge of supervisory practices. (Typically gained through completion of a class or seminar (of more than one day) specifically covering supervisory practices or the elements of supervision; OR completion of a college-level personnel related course covering supervisory practices; OR leadwork experience that involved work assignment, direction, and monitoring of staff (such experience on a fill-in basis is non-qualifying unless for a period equivalent to a minimum of three months or more they do not have to be consecutive months).
• Must be able to meet IDFG and Idaho POST requirements. For more information about the Idaho POST entrance requirements, please see the information in the following link - https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/11/111101.pdf.
• Idaho Law requires that peace officers be certified by Idaho's Peace Officer Standards and Training Council ("POST"). The statutes and regulations of POST require that every peace officer be a citizen of the United States, and that citizenship must be established through one of the following: A birth certificate issued by the city, county or state and filed within one year of birth; Naturalization Certificate; U.S. Passport; Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth; or Certificate of Citizenship
• POST requires a valid driver’s license.
• POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
  o NOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02 An applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
  o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
  o The term “Conviction” shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant’s appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.
• POST Requirement one of the following:
  o High school graduate from a school accredited as a high school at the time of graduation by the recognized regional accreditation body;
  o Have passed GED or IBM Assessment Test in subject areas required by POST;
  o Have successfully completed a high school equivalency program and obtained a state-issued certificate;
  o Have successfully completed a minimum of fifteen (15) academic credits at a U.S. regionally accredited college (please see IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.053.01.d for a list of the POST-accepted regional accreditation agencies.);
  o Completed a course of study, either in a formal school setting or through homeschooling if the program is recognized by a state or by a local school district within a state as having met that state’s high school graduation requirements.
• Be at least 21 years of age by the date of hire.
• Valid driver’s license from your state of residence and that you qualify for an Idaho driver’s license.
• Physical Fitness Standards must be met twice a year by all Conservation Officers. Listed below are the exercises that will be assessed and the required minimum passing score for each exercise:
  o Vertical Jump - Minimum Passing Score = 14 Inches
  o Sit-Ups (in one minute) - Minimum Passing Score = 15 Repetitions
  o Push-Ups (no time limit) - Minimum Passing Score = 21 Repetitions
  o 1.5 Mile Run/Walk - Minimum Passing Score = 17:17 Minutes/Seconds
  o 300 Meters Run - Minimum Passing Score = 77 Seconds

 Automatic disqualifications in accordance with Idaho Administrative Procedures Act (IDAPA):

• 11.11.01.055 INELIGIBILITY BASED UPON PAST CONDUCT. An applicant is ineligible to attend a basic training academy and for certification under the following circumstances.
  01. Criminal Conviction. An applicant is ineligible if he was convicted of:
  a. A felony, if the applicant was eighteen (18) years old or older at the time of conviction;
  b. A misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence offense(s) within two (2) years immediately preceding application, or two or more (2) misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence offenses within five (5) years immediately preceding application;
  c. A misdemeanor crime involving domestic violence, if the relevant law enforcement discipline requires the applicant to possess a firearm in the course of their duty, or if the conviction occurred within 5 years immediately preceding application;
  d. A misdemeanor crime of deceit, as defined in these rules, or a misdemeanor sex offense, if the conviction occurred within five (5) years immediately preceding application;
  e. A misdemeanor drug-related offense, if the conviction occurred within one (1) year immediately preceding application.
  02. Driver’s License. An applicant is ineligible if he does not possess a valid driving license from the applicant’s state of residence and is unable to qualify for an Idaho driver’s license.
  03. Marijuana. An applicant is ineligible if he used, illegally purchased, or illegally possessed marijuana, cannabis, hashish, hash oil, or THC in synthetic and natural forms, whether charged or not, if such use occurred.
  a. Within one (1) year immediately preceding application.
  b. While employed as a law enforcement officer, in a prosecutorial position, or in a position of public safety, regardless of when the use occurred.
  04. Violations of Idaho Controlled Substances Act. An applicant is ineligible if he, while eighteen (18) years old or older, violated any provision of the Idaho Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Section 37-2701 et seq., Idaho Code, whether charged or not, that constitutes a felony, or of a comparable statute of another state or country, if the violation occurred:
  a. Within three (3) years immediately preceding application;
  b. While employed as a law enforcement officer, in a prosecutorial position, or in a position of public safety, regardless of when the illegal use occurred.
  05. Use of Prescription or Other Legally Obtainable Controlled Substance. An applicant is ineligible if he unlawfully used any prescription drug or a legally obtainable controlled substance within the past three (3) years, unless:
  a. The applicant was under the age of eighteen (18) at the time of using the controlled substance; or
  b. An immediate, pressing, or emergency medical circumstance existed to justify the use of a prescription-controlled substance not specifically prescribed to the person. (3-31-22)
  06. Military Discharge. An applicant is ineligible if he received a “dismissal,” “bad conduct discharge” (BCD), “dishonorable discharge” (DD), or administrative discharge of other than honorable (OTH) from military service. (3-31-22)
  07. Decertification or Denial of Certification. An applicant is ineligible if he has been denied certification; his certification is suspended in another state or jurisdiction, denied, revoked or applicant is not able to obtain certification in another state or jurisdiction; or his basic certificate has been revoked by the Council in this state or the responsible licensing agency in any other issuing jurisdiction, unless the denial or revocation has been rescinded by the Council or by the responsible licensing agency of the issuing jurisdiction.
• Conviction defined: Any conviction in any federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant’s appearance in court as final disposition; the payment of a fine or civil penalty; a plea of guilty or nolo contendere; or a finding of guilt, notwithstanding the form of judgment or withheld judgment, regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, or whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed or reduced, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho Code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal or reduction of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or rehabilitation rather than upon a defect in the legality or factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction. “Conviction” does not include a misdemeanor conviction upon a bond forfeiture for a violation that is or would at the time have in Idaho been an infraction violation, if the only reason it is classified as a misdemeanor is due to the bond forfeiture.

 Thank you for applying with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game!