Wildlife Technician 2

Job Description

This position is open to permanent employees of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources only.

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.  

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Natural Resources Technician 2 (NRT2) plays a key role in the management, maintenance, and development of wildlife habitat and public facilities within the Brushy Creek and Saylorville Wildlife Management Units. These positions support the Wildlife Bureau’s mission by coordinating habitat projects, maintaining infrastructure, supervising field staff, and assisting with wildlife monitoring and public outreach.

The NRT2 works closely with the WMU Biologist to implement habitat management plans, maintain public lands and facilities, and ensure safe and efficient operations. The position also provides leadership and direction to field staff, temporary employees, and volunteers engaged in habitat and infrastructure projects.

We currently have two openings for a Wildlife Technician 2. One at each of these locations:
 

Key Responsibilities

Project Administration and Habitat Management

• Prepare and submit required reports on a daily, quarterly, and annual basis in accordance with department policies and procedures. Reports may include:
  • Cost accounting reports
  • Asset inventories
  • Vehicle reports
  • Claim vouchers and purchase orders
  • Property boundary inspection reports
  • Work accomplishment reports and time sheets
  • Water level management plans
  • Work injury reports
  • Temporary employee evaluations
• Develop project requests, maintain records, and manage purchasing of supplies and materials.
• Provide leadership and daily oversight to Natural Resources Technician 1 staff, temporary employees, and volunteers.
• Develop and post daily and weekly work plans for WMU personnel.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards established by the Department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Assist the WMU Biologist with planning and implementing habitat development projects including:
  • Vegetative plantings and habitat restoration
  • Prescribed burning and mowing
  • Herbicide applications
  • Tree and shrub planting
  • Wetland development and enhancement
• Coordinate and administer cooperative habitat leases with local farmers, including advertising, negotiation, compliance monitoring, and record keeping.
• Work with County Weed Commissioners to control noxious weeds and coordinate management activities with neighboring landowners.
• Provide technical assistance to other agencies and private landowners on wildlife habitat management.

Facility Development and Maintenance

• Oversee maintenance and repair of WMU facilities, including:
  • Buildings and signage
  • Parking lots and access roads
  • Bridges and culverts
  • Boat ramps
  • Fences and dikes
  • Water control structures
• Evaluate facility conditions and determine appropriate repair or construction methods.
• Coordinate projects completed by WMU staff or private contractors following state purchasing and contracting procedures.
• Work with engineering staff to develop project specifications for major repairs or improvements.
• Inspect public lands for hazards affecting employees or visitors and take corrective action.
• Collaborate with state and county officials on infrastructure issues such as road maintenance, signage placement, and vegetation removal.

Equipment Operation and Maintenance

• Maintain, inspect, and repair WMU equipment and vehicles.
• Track equipment usage, maintenance schedules, and operating costs.
• Maintain organized inventories of tools and equipment.
• Provide guidance to staff on proper operation, repair, and maintenance of equipment.

Wildlife Population Monitoring

• Assist with wildlife monitoring and research activities including:
  • Trapping and banding wood ducks, Canada geese, mourning doves, and other species
  • Conducting annual deer counts
  • Roadside game bird surveys
  • Fall migration waterfowl counts
  • Mid-winter waterfowl surveys
  • Habitat and wildlife monitoring for game and non-game species
• Dispatch injured or diseased wildlife, when necessary, in accordance with agency policy and training requirements.

Public Information and Outreach

• Serve as a local contact for visitors and users of WMU public lands.
• Provide information regarding regulations, wildlife management practices, and recreational opportunities.
• Respond to inquiries from the public in a professional and courteous manner.
• Deliver presentations to schools, service organizations, and sportsmen’s groups as requested.
• Provide information to other wildlife management units and DNR bureaus regarding WMU projects.
• Participate in professional meetings, workshops, and training to maintain current knowledge of wildlife management practices.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Experience supervising temporary employees and volunteers.
• Experience operating heavy equipment and power tools including chainsaws.
• Participating in prescribed fire operations and herbicide applications.
• Strong organizational skills for recordkeeping, reporting, and project coordination.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with the public, contractors, and government agencies.
• Must be able to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and terrain.

Essential Functions

1) Function within a small field work team to accomplish needed land management activities.

2) Perform strenuous work and work under inclement conditions at times.

3) Conduct wildlife management projects using current wildlife management techniques.

4) Apply knowledge of basic state and federal laws, rules, and regulations as they relate to wildlife resources.

Special requirements:

Must have, or be able to obtain, the following certifications and licensure:

• S-130/S-190 Firefighter Training Qualification
• S-212 Chainsaw Safety Training Qualification
• Pesticide applicator certifications
• Driver's License (operate a motor vehicle)
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• CPR/First Aid Certification

Critical Job Competencies

Accountability/Ethical Conduct, Integrity, High Productivity, Customer Focus, Team Player, Interpersonal

Skills, Communication Skills, Self-Management, Technical Skills (wildlife management).

What You Get From Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work. 
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment. 

 (Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)

• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).

Comments

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Ensure you are kept up-to-date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from [email protected]. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder. 

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Iowa DNR Mission

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Selectives

901 Wildlife Biology
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

The equivalent of three years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program;

an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for each year of the required experience;employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Additional Qualification Requirements

Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.

Benefits

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of IowaAgency 542 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Address 6200 Park Ave
STE 200
Des Moines, Iowa, 50321 Website http://www.iowadnr.gov/