HABITAT, EVALUATION, AND LANDS PROGRAM SPCT 2
Address: 7200 E University Drive, Mesa, Arizona
Hiring Salary Range: $48,000 - $55,000
Grade: 21
Closing Date: 03/25/2025
WILDLIFE SPECIALIST 2
“Habitat, Evaluation and Lands Program Specialist 2”
FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION / REGION 6 / MESA, ARIZONA BASED
FLSA –Exempt / SALARY GRADE 21 (Hiring Salary Range $48,000-$55,000)
CLOSING DATE: 03/25/2025
The Habitat, Evaluation and Lands Specialist, under the direction of the Program Manager, will perform a variety of professional wildlife biologist work in regards to habitat assessment, evaluation and compliance.
- Coordinate and participate in the review and evaluation of land and water development projects and investigate and determine the effects that may impact wildlife and their habitats.
- Implement and follow the policies and guidance provided by the Commission and the Department to fulfill the agency’s mission and ensure federal and state laws are followed.
- Leads and/or assists other programs in landscape scale habitat work.
- Prepares contracts, agreements, reports and associated documents for habitat project implementation and conducts surveys.
- Coordinates with federal and state agencies, local governments and cooperating agencies in the planning and implementation of land and water development projects, and serving on behalf of the Department on various multidisciplinary teams.
- Attends meetings and writes response letters for Department personnel and stakeholders.
- Prepares grant applications to fund habitat improvement and enhancement projects.
- Provides education outreach to Department personnel, other agencies and the public.
- Assist the Robbins Butte Wildlife area and Horseshoe ranch property managers with habitat enhancement projects and perimeter boundary maintenance
- Maintains necessary equipment associated with field work. Performs other duties as assigned.
| Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): |
The candidate must have knowledge of/in: fish and wildlife species and their habitat requirements, habitat functions and values, environmental evaluation and habitat management/enhancement techniques. Candidates must have knowledge of the location and relative values of the major biotic communities in Arizona, federal, state and local environmental laws and regulation and environmental issues and public attitudes toward wildlife habitat and other environmental issues.
The candidate must be skilled in: use of computers, GIS (ArcPro preferred), cameras and other necessary tools and equipment (drone experience preferred), data entry and analysis, developing program goals and objectives, negotiation, public speaking, conflict resolution, facilitation, field survey and habitat assessments to make sound biological recommendations.
The ideal candidate will be able to develop effective and positive working relationships with a wide variety of audiences including external agencies and organizations, have the ability to communicate both orally and in writing, train and evaluate other specialists, serve as project manager, work irregular hours including weekends, holidays and at night and work outdoors in extreme and isolated conditions, identify wildlife in less than optimal conditions, and operate boats, four wheel drive vehicle and ATV’s. The preferred candidate will have FAA Part 107 Small UAS license.
| Pre-Employment Requirements: |
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management or closely related field plus a minimum of two years of professional work experience in wildlife management or research.
Employment is contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Health and dental insurance
Retirement plan
Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Milani Barron at mbarron@azgfd.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.