Land Acquisition Assistant (IF&W Senior Resource Biologist)

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is hiring a Land Acquisition Assistant to support land acquisition initiatives for wildlife habitat management. Responsibilities include reviewing land projects, conducting field assessments, and managing grants. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience. It is based in Augusta, ME, primarily in the office with some fieldwork.
About the position

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is seeking a Land Acquisition Assistant (IF&W Senior Resource Biologist) to work as part of the Land Acquisition Program. The mission of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) is to preserve, protect, and enhance the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the state as well as enable and promote the safe enjoyment of Maine’s outdoors. As part of this mandate, the Department acquires land for the management and protection of fish and wildlife habitats and to support and improve opportunities for public access. The Department also achieves this mandate through partnerships with other conservation entities and by supporting the work of state conservation granting programs such as Land for Maine’s Future and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The position will support IF&W’s land acquisition goals and initiatives and will also assist with the Program’s habitat grant management and administration responsibilities. Work will be conducted primarily in the office, with some related field investigations as needed. The position is located within the Habitat Conservation Section and is based in IF&Ws Augusta office.

Responsibilities
• Assisting with the review and assessment of potential land acquisition projects, including IF&Ws initiative to identify and acquire land to be managed as deer wintering areas
• Assisting with land acquisition due diligence requirements, including contracting for and reviewing appraisals, surveys, title work, and environmental hazard analyses
• Field visits of properties to assess habitats, public access opportunities, and site conditions
• Drafting, reviewing, managing and/or administering grants for IF&W and conservation partners
• Use of programs such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, and Microsoft Access for mapping and data management
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Land Acquisition Program Supervisor, Habitat Section Supervisor, Division Director, or Commissioner’s Office.

Requirements
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Fisheries or Wildlife Management, or related field -AND- two (2) years of progressively responsible related laboratory or field research and/or management experience.
• Equivalent experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Nice-to-haves
• demonstrated experience in land acquisition or real estate law
• knowledge of land conservation and management policies and procedures
• experience developing and managing grants and grant reporting
• excellent verbal and written communication skills

Benefits
• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays , 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.