Species of Greatest Conservation Need Program Supervisor

The Species of Greatest Conservation Need Program Supervisor at the State of New Mexico oversees a team of biologists to prioritize and manage wildlife conservation efforts. Responsibilities include supervising staff, ensuring project alignment with departmental goals, managing budgets, and conducting research. The ideal candidate should have a graduate degree in wildlife science or a related field and experience in wildlife program management.
$29.58 - $47.33 Hourly

$61,531 - $98,449 Annually

This position is a Pay Band 75

Posting Details

Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.

Our Mission

It is the mission of New Mexico's Game and Fish Department: To conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within the state of New Mexico using a flexible management system that ensures sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety; and to provide for off-highway motor vehicle recreation that recognizes cultural, historic, and resource values while ensuring public safety.

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Why does the job exist?

This position provides statewide leadership and supervision over the Species of Greatest Conservation Need Program. The position works with other wildlife biologists within the Department to prioritize species to work on, develop and implement field research and monitoring, analyze data, and make management recommendations. The position ensures that collaboration both internally and externally, is occurring, including various Divisions within the Department, federal agencies, state agencies, private landowners, and the public. It also ensures that all work aligns with the Department's goals and priorities and provides logistical support to ensure that projects can be successfully implemented in the field.

How does it get done?

The major responsibility of this position is to supervise 5 biologists. Tasks include prioritizing species and projects to work on and ensuring they coincide with the Department's mission, ensuring that administrative processes are followed and sufficient time is allocated to complete them prior to project implementation. Supervisory duties also include reviewing and approving personnel reports (time sheets, vehicle logs, per diem, grant time reporting), providing direction to staff including day-to-day work to be accomplished, answering questions from staff regarding the Departments position when dealing with controversial issues, planning and developing annual and project-specific budgets, completing written reports, procuring supplies and contracts, submitting grant statements and reports, and preparing and compiling information for State Game Commission meetings. This position will also compile biological and logistical information through field visits, literature reviews, consultation with Department, university, and federal biologists, and other experts to prioritize species to work on, and determine species threats, requirements, and management needs. They will then implement research/monitoring field projects, analyze data, and make management recommendations.

Who are the customers?

The public who enjoy wildlife and outdoor recreation in New Mexico. Other Department of Game and Fish staff, including biologists, district officers, administrators; stakeholders, cooperators, and all natural resource aficionados.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess a graduate degree in wildlife science/management, ecology, or closely related natural resources program and professional experience managing a statewide wildlife program. They will have experience designing and implementing wildlife research and monitoring, conducting statistically relevant analyses, and making management recommendations within the social, political, and economic framework in which we operate. The candidate must also have experience developing technical reports. Preference will be given to candidates with experience supervising permanent wildlife biologist positions.

Minimum Qualification

A Bachelor's degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of professional level experience operating within parameters and guidelines directly related to the purpose of the position defined by the agency at the time of recruitment. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling nine (9) years may substitute for the required education and experience. A hiring agency will designate a portion of the required experience to include supervisory and/or specialized experience. Any required licensure, certification or registration shall be defined at the time of recruitment and will be in addition to the above requirements.

Employment Requirements

Pre-employment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results. Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment.

Working Conditions

This job requires both office and field work. Office work consists of a normal indoor environment with continuous sitting, a significant amount of time using a computer and talking on the phone. Some standing and lifting of heavy items (10-40lbs). Field work consists of normal outdoor environments including exposure to the sun, wind, rain, snow, and biting insects. Must be able to operate a 4x4 vehicle on rough roads. The ability to lift and carry heavy objects (up to 50lbs and sometimes more) is required. Overnight travel is required as is periodic weekend, early morning, or evening work, as dictated by project needs. The ability to work outside in inclement weather (hot, cold, rain, snow, etc.) is sometimes required. The ability to conduct biological surveys in helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft is preferred. Specific tool use may include long-range thermal camera, GPS, GIS, telemetry, cameras, spotting scopes, binoculars, environmental measuring instruments, capture equipment such as pitfall traps, mist nets, Sherman traps, ARUs, infra red cameras, and standard construction tools such as drills, saws, hammers, shovels, wrenches, axes, and chainsaws.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Elise Goldstein, Assistant Chief of Wildlife. Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.