Statewide Avian Conservation Coordinator at Department of Fish and Wildlife Yolo County, CA

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a Statewide Avian Conservation Coordinator in Yolo County, CA. This role involves leading conservation efforts for native bird species, providing guidance to staff, managing grant-funded projects, and participating in interagency teams. The position requires office work, travel, and fieldwork, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. Candidates must be passionate about avian diversity and conservation.
Statewide Avian Conservation Coordinator job at Department of Fish and Wildlife. Yolo County, CA. Job Description and Duties

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is looking for a qualified applicant to serve as the state lead for the conservation and recovery of California's native bird species in our West Sacramento office. We are looking for someone who is passionate about California’s avian diversity and is willing to work hard to ensure it is conserved for future generations. If this sounds like you, we’d love for you to join our team! This important position is responsible for providing direction, guidance, and technical expertise to statewide California Department Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) staff and leadership, and functions as a statewide lead for the conservation and recovery of high priority native nongame avian wildlife and their habitats. The incumbent serves as the CDFW representative on interagency teams, technical working groups, and policy teams including travel to and participation in two week-long Pacific Flyway Council meetings each year. The incumbent is responsible for administering multiple grant-funded research and management projects including grant writing, contract and subgrant writing, invoicing, budget tracking and reporting. The incumbent is responsible for assessing the status of, and supporting recovery efforts for California's Bird Species of Special Concern, Fully Protected bird species, and bird species listed or being evaluated for listing under the State and federal endangered species acts. The incumbent implements and coordinates conservation actions and programs to benefit California’s native birds, including the avian predator management program for the protection of western snowy plovers and California least terns, barred owl management to conserve northern spotted owls, and California condor recovery efforts.

In order to be eligible for this position, you must either be transfer eligible or take and pass the following exam.

Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist):

You will find additional information about the job in the .
Working Conditions

This is primarily an office-centered position that requires the use of a computer for several hours each day, the completion of office tasks that require sitting, standing, and walking to other locations, attendance at meetings and participation in conference calls, though occasional travel and field work is required. Travel and fieldwork may require overnight travel, early mornings, late nights, hiking over uneven and possibly steep or wet terrain carrying equipment and/or packs, use of alternative methods of transportation (including rafts and all-terrain vehicles), and work in inclement weather. Wearing a uniform identifying the employee as Department staff may be required at times. Reporting to the office for work a minimum of two days per week is currently required though reporting to the office for up to five days per week may be required in the future at the discretion of the Department.
Special Requirements

Must be able to work in remote field conditions and lift up to 40 pounds repeatedly throughout the day and hike long distances in uneven terrain carrying at least 30 pounds. May occasionally require work at irregular hours including weekends and holidays and overnight travel throughout California and out of state. Must be able to work seated or standing at a desk for up to 8 hours per day. Must possess valid drivers license and be capable of driving up to 8 hours per day.
Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Knowledge of, and advanced education in wildlife ecology and/or conservation biology principles, experience working with California's native bird species, familiarity with their habitats, and familiarity with California’s ecosystems. Knowledge of global and local threats to wildlife populations such as diseases, climate change, invasive species, habitat degradation, diseases, and loss of adaptive genetic diversity. Understanding of state and federal wildlife conservation laws and regulations and wildlife recovery programs. Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams to achieve common goals. Experience managing projects and diverse stakeholder groups, addressing diverse and often difficult topics. Strong analytical, interpersonal, public presentation, communication, and technical and non-technical writing skills, adept use of interest-based negotiation, and routine use of computer programs including text processing, PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, databases and on-line sourcing of information. Experience designing and managing complex research projects and expertise with advanced statistical analysis techniques. Experience applying for and managing grants including budget and deliverable tracking and progress reporting. A high degree of personal initiative, dependability, independence, professionalism, and integrity is expected. Ability to accept feedback on performance, adapt to change and challenges, maintain productivity and professionalism under short deadlines, and demonstrate empathy and understanding of stakeholders’ interests. Ability to work independently and in a team setting and provide leadership in accomplishing the functions and objectives of the Wildlife Diversity Program. Ability to mentor new staff members, communicate politely, tactfully, and firmly as necessary with colleagues and members of the public, demonstrate excellent listening skills and effective negotiation skills, and work effectively in a diverse work environment.
Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-035-0765-004 and RPA Number E-WLB 24-011 in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) for Which You Are Applying section of the State Application Form (Std. Form 678). Applications that do not list the Position Number and RPA Number may not be considered.

It is recommended that Application Packages be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at . If applications are mailed, we recommend applications are sent certified mail as we are unable to verify receipt.

Applications that do not follow the Filing Instructions may not be considered.

This advertisement may be used to fill additional vacancies for this JC.

Resume – Resumes will be reviewed in addition to the STD 678 for employment history. Resumes must include the complete to and from dates (MM/DD/YYYY) and hours worked per week.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at
All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Degree and/or School Transcripts
• Other -

A Cover Letter is required and must be submitted along with your STD 678 application. Failure to include a Cover Letter will result in an incomplete application submission.
• Other -

A Valid Driver's License is required. Please provide a photocopy in PDF format of the front and back of your Driver's License (DL), clearly showing your name as stated on the license, issuing state, DL number, class, and expiration. Failure to include the SOQ will result in an incomplete application submission.
• Statement of Qualifications -

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ ) is required . Please see below for SOQ instructions. Failure to include the SOQ will result in an incomplete application submission.
Applicant must include a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) no more than three pages in length using Arial 12-point font for this position. The SOQ must include “Statement of Qualifications” in the header, along with the Job Control number and the candidate’s name. The SOQ is a narrative discussion.

Question 1: Please describe your experience managing, monitoring, conducting research on, and planning for the conservation of California’s native birds and their habitats.

Question 2: Please describe your experience managing complex long-term projects, including how you stayed within budget and how you ensured deliverables were of high quality and on time.