Wildlife Staff Specialist

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is seeking a Wildlife Staff Specialist in Reno, NV. This role involves program research, planning, and evaluation related to wildlife management, co-leading the Habitat Restoration Program, and collaborating with various agencies. Candidates should have a background in ecology, knowledge of Nevada’s habitats, and experience with GIS. Responsibilities include grant management, policy development, and project administration.
The Position

Under general direction, Wildlife Staff Specialists perform program research, planning, analysis and evaluation; draft proposed legislation, policies, procedures and regulations related to wildlife management programs and activities throughout the State.

This position co-leads the Habitat Restoration and Rehabilitation Program for the Department. The program coordinates, plans, funds, implements, and monitors projects aimed at improving habitat values for wildlife. The incumbent will work collaboratively with other staff to evaluate and prioritize actions and locations to most efficiently and effectively rehabilitate degraded vegetative communities that have been impacted by land use, infested with noxious/invasive plants, or damaged by wildfire. This position may administer the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program’s W-24 Wildlife Habitat Restoration Grant. This position provides support to staff on project administration activities including coordination, contract administration, agreement administration and reporting, NDOW funding program administration and support, etc. An ecological background with knowledge and experience of Nevada’s habitats, plants, soils, systems, and rangeland restoration techniques is preferred. Knowledge and experience with geo-spatial information, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and databases is preferred. This position is also responsible for reporting on program accomplishments and working with NDOW’s Conservation Education Division on media releases. This position provides support to the other program co-lead as-needed, assisting with the vegetation monitoring programs, science/research, administering funding opportunities, and planning needs.

This position could be a liaison with state and federal land management agencies and a variety of national and state conservation organizations to pursue, capture and leverage funds and resources for habitat restoration actions. Coordination and communication with restoration biologists, cooperating agencies and entities is required for the purpose of negotiating approaches and solutions to major resource issues in Nevada’s ecosystems, especially the Great Basin. The position will have fiscal responsibilities such as applying for, managing, and reporting on various grants and agreements, as well as assisting on overarching contracts, subgrants, and purchase requisitions. This will also involve coordinating the development of policies and procedures necessary to operate the restoration and rehabilitation program. Work is performed independently within the framework of department policies and all applicable laws, regulations and statutory requirements; project management includes determining work priorities, standards, techniques and guidelines; when standards and techniques are not adequate or applicable, judgment and ingenuity must be exercised.

To Qualify:In order to be qualified, you must meet the following requirements:Education and Experience (Minimum Qualifications) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in wildlife management, biology or closely related field and four years of professional experience that included organizing, planning and completing wildlife management studies, writing technical reports and preparing species or land use management plans and recommendations related to wildlife management; OR one year as a Biologist III in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.Special Requirements A valid drivers license is required at the time of appointment and as a condition of continuing employment.

HOW TO APPLY

The Examination

Application Evaluation Exam

The exam will consist of an application evaluation. It is essential that applications include detailed information with time frames regarding education and experience. The most qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for interview. The hiring agency may require specific skills related testing as part of the interviewing process.

The following additional questions are part of this Recruitment

1) Describe your experience developing and administering restoration or rehabilitation plans and projects. Ensure to include where (geographically) you gained this experience.

2) Describe your experience with geo-spatial programs and databases.

3) Describe your experience administering, monitoring and maintaining federal grants in the following areas: 1) writing project agreements and grants 2) working with grant administrators 3) monitoring cost accounting system and reports.

To apply for the recruitment, you will need to submit application online at: https://nvapps.state.nv.us.

To see full Class Specifications visit: http://hr.nv.gov/Resources/ClassSpecs/Class_Specifications-1_0/