Coordinating Wildlife Biologist at American Bird Conservancy Timber Lake, SD

The American Bird Conservancy is hiring a full-time Coordinating Wildlife Biologist in Timber Lake, SD. The role involves working with various partners to implement conservation programs, promote habitat management, and provide technical guidance to landowners. Key responsibilities include contract coordination, conservation plan development, and outreach activities. The position requires teamwork and knowledge of wildlife ecology and Native Nations. The anticipated start date is January 2024, with an application deadline of December 1, 2023.
Coordinating Wildlife Biologist job at American Bird Conservancy. Timber Lake, SD.

Title: Coordinating Wildlife Biologist

Supervisor: Northern Great Plains Program Manager

Location: Northwest South Dakota (Timber Lake, SD)

Salary: $50,000; Based on experience

Anticipated Start Date: January 2024

Application Deadline: December 1, 2023

Position Summary:

This position will be a full-time employee of, and supervised by American Bird Conservancy, with daily instruction and leadership provided by ABC and NRCS.

Hired individuals will work within the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture ( ngpjv.org ) region, primarily in northwest South Dakota. This position will be located in Timber Lake, South Dakota based from the USDA Service Center to write contracts and conservation plans. Nearly all of Dewey County lies within the Cheyenne River reservation, with a small, northern sliver of the county fitted into the Standing Rock reservation.

As an ABC employee, occasional work on projects in North Dakota may be necessary. Timber Lake is near the four corners area of the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming. Outdoor opportunities abound, over a half dozen National Parks relatively nearby, including diverse (Black Hills, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, National grasslands, etc.) expanses of public land and water for hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching.

Primary Duties:
• Will work in a joint capacity with American Bird Conservancy and partners, including US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Northern Great Plains Joint Venture (JV), and other State, Federal, Native nations, and NGO partners to promote, accelerate enrollment, coordinate and implement the conservation provisions of the Federal Farm Bill and other wildlife related conservation programs such as the Joint Venture’s Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP).
• Activities will include program promotion (workshops and one-on-one meetings), contract coordination, conservation plan development and modification, site assessment, and reporting.
• Provide conservation technical guidance, including wildlife habitat enhancement techniques, and conservation program delivery, to private landowners and public organizations within partner identified priority areas, as appropriate and will collaborate with partner project managers to increase involvement in programs.
• Work with local partners to increase habitat management efforts and participate in regional and statewide habitat meetings;
• Assist or coordinate activities and projects with NRCS, or other agency or non-profit partners;
• Provide leadership and support for outreach activities including direct collaboration with project managers, and through landowner field events, inter-agency partnership training meetings, and other communication efforts.

Position Requirements:
• Ability to be a part of multiple teams and, where appropriate, provide coordination and leadership working with a diverse set of partner organizations and individual landowners to achieve conservation objectives at multiple scales (individual land parcel to state level) and through the work of others.
• Experiences with Native Nations, cultures, governments, and policies.
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, prescribed fire, and grassland, wetland, and early succession habitat management.
• Ability to convey the use of various habitat management tools in the development of management plans.
• Knowledge of conservation and wildlife habitat programs provided by federal (i.e. Farm Bill, US Fish and Wildlife Service), state, & local entities. In addition, knowledge of how these programs are implemented in an agricultural landscape is desired.
• Practical experience with agricultural systems, farming and ranching.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners, partner agencies and colleagues.
• The position requires excellent networking and communication skills (presentation, inter-personal, reading, and writing).
• Ability to work independently and with diverse clientele.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with a high degree of self-motivation.
• Proficiency with ArcPro or USDA Conservation Desktop.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Valid driver’s license required; some use of personal vehicle may be required (mileage reimbursement provided)
• Travel throughout western South Dakota and sometimes in southwest North Dakota
• Must be able to obtain USDA Federal Security Clearance.
• A minimum requirement for this position is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and three years of relevant experience.
• Wildlife Society Certification and graduate work will also be considered.
• Applied prescribed fire experience is encouraged.
• Proven experience working with USDA Farm Bill programs (i.e. RCPP, EQIP, CSP, ACEP, CRP and CREP) is preferred.

Benefits:
• Benefits include medical, dental, and 403(b) plan.
• Paid vacation days, holidays, and sick leave.
• Approved equipment/office expenses covered.
• Pre-approved professional training and workshop expenses covered.
• Lodging and meals covered for travel away from home.
• Rental vehicle or personal mileage reimbursement, if partner vehicles are unavailable.