Wildlife Conservation Technician II - Team Lead (Andrews Depot)

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission seeks a Wildlife Conservation Technician II - Team Lead in Murphy, NC. This role involves field leadership, project management, and mentoring staff in biological surveys and habitat management. Responsibilities include managing Game Land Operations, restoring wildlife habitats, and maintaining public fishing areas. The position requires operating heavy machinery and entails a 40-hour work week with potential night work and travel.
About the position

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking a Wildlife Conservation Technician II - Team Lead for the Land & Water Access Division at the Andrews Depot in Murphy, NC. This position is crucial for providing field leadership and project management within a smaller work unit that includes Wildlife Conservation Technicians and temporary staff. The Team Lead will be responsible for mentoring and training Wildlife Conservation Technician I's while conducting various biological species and human dimensions surveys, research, data collection, and population monitoring. In this role, the Team Lead will also engage in fish and wildlife habitat management and infrastructure management on state-owned lands or waterways. The primary responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of Game Land Management, as well as maintaining Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas in the Central Coast Work Area. The objectives of the projects will focus on restoring and improving fish and wildlife habitats for endangered and game species, enhancing wildlife populations through cultural practices, and providing hunting opportunities for sportsmen. The Team Lead will be involved in managing wildlife openings, creating early successional habitats, restoring altered ecosystems, and supporting research and survey efforts that aid in the long-term management and identification of species and habitats. Additionally, prescribed burning and maintaining and renovating boating access areas, public fishing areas, and Aids to Navigation on waterways will be part of the responsibilities. Infrastructure-related duties will include the maintenance of roads, dikes, trails, game land boundaries, docks, piers, navigation aids, and parking areas. The work will require operating heavy equipment such as farm tractors, crawler tractors, mowers, trucks, and other heavy machinery. Under the supervision of the Wildlife Conservation Technician Supervisor, the Team Lead will ensure that all activities and projects are completed safely, timely, and in compliance with applicable policies and laws. Responsibilities also include maintaining inventories, depots, public use facilities, bridges, and coordinating development or construction projects. This position involves a modified schedule of 40 hours per week, with specific times set by the manager. Night work and overnight travel may be required occasionally, and the individual may need to work some weekends and/or holidays.

Responsibilities
• Provide field leadership and project management for a work unit consisting of Wildlife Conservation Technicians and temporary staff.
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• Mentor and train Wildlife Conservation Technician I's in conducting biological species and human dimensions surveys, research, data collection, and population monitoring.
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• Manage day-to-day Game Land Management Operations and maintenance of Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas.
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• Restore and improve fish and wildlife habitats for endangered and game species.
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• Enhance wildlife populations through cultural practices and provide hunting opportunities for sportsmen.
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• Manage wildlife openings and create early successional habitats.
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• Restore altered ecosystems and support research and survey efforts for long-term management of species and habitats.
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• Conduct prescribed burning and maintain boating access areas, public fishing areas, and Aids to Navigation on waterways.
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• Perform infrastructure-related duties including maintenance of roads, dikes, trails, game land boundaries, docks, piers, navigation aids, and parking areas.
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• Operate heavy equipment including farm tractors, crawler tractors, mowers, trucks, and other heavy machinery.
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• Ensure all activities and projects are completed safely, timely, and in compliance with policies and laws.
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• Maintain inventories, depots, public use facilities, bridges, and coordinate development or construction projects.

Requirements
• Experience in wildlife conservation or a related field.
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• Knowledge of fish and wildlife habitat management practices.
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• Ability to operate heavy equipment safely and effectively.
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• Strong leadership and mentoring skills to guide junior staff.
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• Experience in conducting biological surveys and data collection.
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• Familiarity with state and federal wildlife laws and regulations.
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• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience with prescribed burning techniques.
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• Knowledge of ecosystem restoration practices.
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• Familiarity with public fishing and boating access management.

Benefits
• Competitive salary between $34k and $61k per year.
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• Opportunities for professional development and training.
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• Work in a dynamic outdoor environment.
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• Engagement in meaningful conservation efforts.