Upland Game Bird Habitat Specialist – (25140522)

The Upland Game Bird Habitat Specialist position at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks involves implementing habitat enhancements for upland game birds in Northeast Montana. The role requires self-motivation and minimal supervision while working from a home office within 50 miles of Plentywood. Key responsibilities include collaborating with landowners and partners, managing habitat projects, and conducting surveys. Daily travel within 100 miles is expected.
Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on March 23, 2025. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Special Information:

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be releases to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Specific Job Information:

The Upland Game Bird Habitat Specialist is an opportunity to work with a team of conservation professionals and partnering landowners to implement on-the ground habitat enhancements to benefit upland game bird and other wildlife, as well as the recreating public. The position is located in Northeast Montana within an area that holds some of the most productive upland game bird habitat in the state, interspersed with small towns that offer basic medical and basic shopping facilities. These communities represent excellent hometown values and affordable housing. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound with excellent upland and waterfowl hunting, birding, big game hunting, hiking, and fishing.

The Specialist will work out of a home office within 50 miles of Plentywood and needs to be self-motivated, willing to initiate contact with landowners and partners daily, and able to work with minimal supervision. The incumbent must be able to work outdoors sometimes in adverse weather conditions. Personal accountability is critical, and ownership of one’s work is immense. Daily travel with provided vehicle within the immediate 100 miles of home office is frequent.

Job Duties:

The specialist is primarily responsible for implementing FWP’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) in Northeast Montana (FWP Region 6) through working with landowners, conservation partners, sportspersons, and FWP personnel in promoting, locating, evaluating, designing, coordinating, and monitoring upland game bird habitat enhancement and conservation projects on private and public lands. When and where appropriate, wetland habitat enhancement, long-term conservation projects and releasing pen-raised pheasants, and game bird surveys will be included in the specialist’s work.

The Specialist is responsible for initiating landowner contacts, promoting proven habitat enhancements, developing contracts and overseeing completion of habitat projects. Key projects will include upland vegetation enhancement or restoration, conservation and management leases, grazing management, native habitat conservation, food and cover plots, shelterbelts, Conservation Reserve Program cover establishment and maintenance, wetland and riparian enhancements and restoration, and public access agreements.

The Habitat Specialist will serve as a regional point of contact for the UGBEP program, promoting program objectives and representing the department when working with landowners, agencies and conservation organizations. The Specialist regularly coordinates with other UGBEP Specialists in the state and with the UGBEP Coordinator on program priorities, budgets, and program timelines. Ability to effectively work with private landowners, hunters, state and federal agencies, NGOs, and other members of the public is essential to the job. The position frequently works with partnering organizations and agencies of the area including NRCS, Conservation Districts, Ducks Unlimited, Habitat Forever, Pheasants Forever, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, USFWS – Partners for Fish and Wildlife, DNRC and BLM.

In addition to working outdoors, this position requires considerable office work, developing proposals and contracts and associated information as well as coordinating activities with department staff, landowners, and partners. The work product for this position is consistent and substantial accomplishments of on-the-ground upland game bird habitat enhancements and related public access.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of grassland and riparian wildlife habitats, plant and soil science including vegetation management techniques, an understanding of farming and ranching systems, and operating word-processing, spreadsheet, and data entry software. Working understanding of GIS software programs is preferred, but, if not, must be capable of learning. Knowledge of habitat and hunting access programs run by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, federal Farm Bill Programs (Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program) as well as upland game bird biology and upland game bird hunting culture is preferred. Capable of working with landowners, hunters, partners, and department staff; effective verbal and written communication; administrative processes; and tracking expenditures as relates to individual projects. Capable of keeping multiple projects on track that involve different partners, different stages of completion, and a variety of different project details and timelines. Employee in this position will need to establish a personal work schedule, identifying priorities daily that results in ongoing and substantial accomplishments. The position requires understanding and applying habitat program rules and laws under a broad array of circumstances.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, range science, fish and wildlife management, animal ecology, biology, or a closely related field and some related work experience OR at least 5 years of work experience that is specifically related to skill sets and abilities needed for these positions. Combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary: $ 25.94 – 25.94 Hourly Telework Eligibility: Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.) Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Resume

Contact Name: Stacy Janus | Contact Email: sjanus@mt.gov | Contact Phone: 406-444-3024 The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency’s HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.