Sr. Wildlife Technician - Grizzly Bear

SPECIAL NOTIFICATION: This position is exempt from classified state service and the rules of the Division of Human Resources and the Idaho Personnel Commission. This job announcement will remain open until the position has been filled. Applications will be periodically reviewed as they are received. Applicants are encouraged to apply and submit their applications as soon as possible.  

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking to fill a current opening for a Senior Wildlife Technician with a focus on grizzly bear monitoring and management. Due to this position being responsible for assisting with capture efforts, ideally the incumbent will reside in the area of Sandpoint, Idaho, Priest River, Idaho or Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

The successful candidate for this opening will assist Regional Wildlife Biologists in implementing management, research, and monitoring programs for grizzly bears during their active season in the Panhandle Region.

Our Senior Wildlife Technicians are stewards of Idaho's wildlife, who along with their passion for the outdoors, use their education and experience to help further our commitment to ensuring the future of Idaho's wildlife. We are responsible for preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's wildlife resources.

Why IDFG? 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.

General Information:

• This announcement will be used to fill the current opening for Senior Wildlife Technician – Grizzly Bear in the Panhandle Region only. If you have applied for any other posted or previously posted announcements for Senior Wildlife Technician and you would like to be considered for this current opening in the Panhandle Region, you will need to apply to this announcement. Applications received under any other announcement for Senior Wildlife Technician posting will not be considered.
• These positions involve walking and backpacking for several hours, operating trail bikes, working in extreme weather conditions; and lifting and carrying up to 65 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Participating in field-based work using capture equipment, controlled pharmaceuticals, firearms, and a variety of specialized field tools to safely and effectively monitor and manage grizzly bears while supporting conservation, livestock conflict, and public safety objectives.
• Capturing and handling a variety of wildlife species, including black bears and grizzly bears.
• Working long and irregular hours (at times on-call 24/7) during the field season.
• Working both independently and as part of a small team in remote and rugged areas to accomplish goals regarding grizzly bear monitoring and management.
• Monitoring and managing wildlife using a variety of tools including radio telemetry equipment, off-road vehicles, hand tools, power tools, and other equipment.
• Repairing and maintaining equipment, including trailers, culvert traps, other trapping gear, chain saws, and winches.
• Compile, manage, and analyze data in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Program R, ArcGIS and Google Sheets among other programs.

General Responsibilities:

• Monitors wildlife movement and activities.
• Implements wildlife population and habitat data collection programs.
• Develop relationships with landowners, producers, federal and state agency personnel, NGOs, and the public.
• Responds to complaints concerning wildlife depredation and conflicts.
• Analyzes wildlife population and habitat data and writes reports.
• Coordination of remote camera surveys.

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.  

• Good knowledge of wildlife ecology and habitat requirements. (Typically gained by successful completion of college coursework in a wildlife related field equivalent to an associate degree and one year of experience in habitat maintenance or wildlife related work OR a bachelor’s degree in a wildlife related field with no experience outside coursework.)
• Good knowledge of habitat development practices and procedures. (Typically gained by successful completion of college coursework in wildlife habitat requirements OR two years of work experience equivalent to a wildlife technician position.)
• Experience recording, summarizing, and analyzing wildlife biological data. (Typically gained by successful completion of college-level math/biology courses; experience recording analyzing and summarizing biological data AND at least one college-level computer course or GIS course OR six months of experience manipulating data using a computer.)
• Valid driver's license.