Wildlife Biologist 2

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation is recruiting

for a Wildlife Biologist 2 located in Palmer, Alaska!

What you will be doing:
This position operates under supervision of the Palmer Area Biologist, supports and administers wildlife management programs in the Mat-Su valley and surrounding mountain ranges. The incumbent regularly interacts with members of the public issuing licenses and permits and collecting harvest and field information. Daily work environment spans from report writing, data analysis, interacting with the public, responding to nuisance wildlife issues, conducting surveys, investigations, and capturing and handling wildlife in remote locations which sometimes requiring travel away from the duty station (1-2 weeks at a time). Fieldwork may involve exposure to animals, biting insects, inclement weather, firearms, low-level aircraft flights, and/or travel by boat or skiff. Aerial surveys are conducted in small aircraft maneuvering at low altitude for long periods of time in sometimes extremely cold conditions.



Our mission, values, and culture:
The mission of the division of Wildlife Conservation is to conserve and enhance Alaska’s wildlife and habitats and provide for a wide range of public uses and benefits.


The Alaska Department of Fish and Game strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully. Alaska’s programs are built on the principles of conservative management, sound science, and habitat protection. ADF&G develops and carries out policies that promote sustainability. The people at the Division of Wildlife Conservation are charged with managing Alaska’s wildlife.



The benefits of joining our team:
This position offers a challenging and fulfilling professional opportunity to assist in the management of world-class wildlife resources in the Matanuska and Susitna valley's, portions of the Alaska Range, Chugach, and Talkeetna mountains to meet DWC’s mission. This position will work directly with management and research biologists to grow professionally and gain experience assessing wildlife resources and managing a diversity of wildlife.



The working environment you can expect:
The incumbent will work primarily out of the Palmer area office planning, writing, aiding the public, and more. Sealing furbearers, bears, and sheep is required along with sometimes helping members of the public at the front counter. The office building has multiple suites including the Region IV Wildlife office, Sport Fish, and Habitat staff. Much of the work is in the office with sporadic fieldwork intermixed. The incumbent will have a private office in Palmer to conduct analyses, writing, and other office work. Addressing human-wildlife conflicts ebbs and flows with the season. Moose are the primary focus for conflict work and much time is spent providing education or dealing with conflicts in and around communities in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough area. Fieldwork is conducted in remote parts of southcentral Alaska and in other locations within Region IV based on need. Fieldwork can occur in all weather conditions and requires flying in small fixed-wing aircraft for many hours at a time or capturing animals via darting from a helicopter. Required to conduct low level surveys in fix-winged or rotary-winged aircraft. Work from small boats and via ATVs or snowmachines also may be required to meet needs of specific projects. Some work may include extended stays in remote field camps. Incumbents will be exposed to biting insects, snow, wind, rain, continuous sun, and other hazardous conditions during fieldwork. Incumbents will be required to be certified to carry firearms and bear spray during fieldwork. Fieldwork may require travel for 1-2 weeks away from the duty station at a time.



Who we are looking for:
We are looking for an energetic and committed professional who has some or all of the following position-specific competencies:

• Knowledge of the life history of wildlife species in Alaska and a working knowledge of wildlife biology, ecology, and population dynamics
• Experience capturing, immobilizing, and performing physical examinations of various large mammal species
• Experience collecting data via aerial and ground investigations, working with databases, preparing data analyses and summaries, and writing technical reports and presentations
• Experience answering complex public inquiries on wildlife issues or regulatory requirements using good oral and written communication skills (i.e., explaining trapping/hunting regulations, processes for obtaining a hunting permit, public access, etc.) while working in rural Alaska.
• Experience in handling firearms and proficiency in firearm use

To view the general description and example of duties for a Wildlife Biologist 2 please go to the following

link:

Special Note:

• A valid driver's license is required.

• This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition.

• Alaska State Peace Officer certification

• Animal Capture and handling certification

• Animal Welfare certification

• Certification as Associate Wildlife Biologist by professional organization (recommended)

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management.
AND
One year of professional level biologist experience. The required professional biologist experience is met by service as a Wildlife Biologist 1, Fishery Biologist 1, or Habitat Biologist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

Substitutions:
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:

• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.

A master's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry or natural resource management, will substitute for the required year of professional level biologist experience.

Special Note:
“Upper division courses” means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline’s theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.


Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.

Additional Required Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

If selected, please provide the following at the time of the interview:

• Transcripts, if using to meet minimum qualifications (unofficial copies are accepted).
• Two (2) most recent performance evaluations or two (2) letters of reference if evaluations are not available.
• A list of three (3) professional references with current contact information with one (1) reference being a current or former supervisor.

COVER LETTER

A cover letter is NOT required for this position . Your completed application will be reviewed to determine if you will proceed to the interview phase.

FIREARMS

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competences, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts).

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence.

WORK EXPERIENCE

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES

This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats, please call View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com or View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

NOTICE

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the ‘govermentjobs.com’ domains. For information on allowing emails from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com (toll free) or View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed View email address on jobs.institutedata.com.

For applicant password assistance please visit:

Contact Information

For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:


Ross Dorendorf, Palmer Area Wildlife Biologist
Phone: View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com
View email address on jobs.institutedata.com

Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.


For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)



Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

See for additional information

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year