OH Habitat Specialist
Sterling, OH
Full Time
Habitat Specialist
Entry Level
LOCATION: 12552 Post Rd. Route 1, Mt. Sterling, OH 43143 (Deer Creek Wildlife Area Headquarters)
JOB CATEGORY: Full-Time, Temporary (Approximately 1 Year)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
________________________________________________________________________________________
OVERVIEW: This is a field level position on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s (PF & QF) Conservation Operations Delivery Team, made possible through partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The successful applicant will be an employee of PF & QF and will receive training, daily instruction, workload prioritization, and more from ODNR. The employee will work with other wildlife unit personnel and be under the general direction of the Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor (ODNR). The Habitat Specialist is expected to promote and implement the Grassland Habitat Management on Deer Creek Wildlife Area in addition to performing a variety of maintenance and technical tasks at the wildlife management unit. The employee is expected to display a high level of initiative and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. The job duties of this position will include general wildlife management activities on state-owned wildlife areas within the assigned unit. Overnight travel will occasionally be required on special projects outside of the assigned unit counties.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires the individual to have access to confidential records and information. To successfully perform this position, confidentiality of the information with which the individual has contact must be maintained.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS USED
Tools and equipment listed are some of the typical tools and equipment; other equipment may be used as needed:
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Combine your cover letter, resume, and 3 references into 1 file (Word document or PDF) before uploading it to our recruitment website at www.pheasantsforever.org/careers. Only online applications will be accepted.
CONTACTS:
Pheasants Forever, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.
JOB CATEGORY: Full-Time, Temporary (Approximately 1 Year)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
________________________________________________________________________________________
OVERVIEW: This is a field level position on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s (PF & QF) Conservation Operations Delivery Team, made possible through partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The successful applicant will be an employee of PF & QF and will receive training, daily instruction, workload prioritization, and more from ODNR. The employee will work with other wildlife unit personnel and be under the general direction of the Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor (ODNR). The Habitat Specialist is expected to promote and implement the Grassland Habitat Management on Deer Creek Wildlife Area in addition to performing a variety of maintenance and technical tasks at the wildlife management unit. The employee is expected to display a high level of initiative and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. The job duties of this position will include general wildlife management activities on state-owned wildlife areas within the assigned unit. Overnight travel will occasionally be required on special projects outside of the assigned unit counties.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform general wildlife management activities including: Wetland management, prairie management, native prairie seeding, food plot development, edge feathering, tree/brush removal, spraying, disking, mowing, etc. using large farm machinery, chainsaws, and other hand tools.
- Prescribed fire implementation for ecological purposes. This duty will require fire-line construction, fire-line holding, and mop-up activities. Performance of these tasks will require the employee to periodically work under physically stressful and adverse conditions. Proficiency in the use of basic wildland firefighting equipment will be needed.
- Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring including: Waterfowl banding, deer age & condition stations, roadside surveys, spring pheasant crow counts, spring quail whistle, chronic wasting disease sampling, etc. Collecting of biological data occasionally will require early or late in the day work scheduling.
- General area maintenance involving mowing, sign posting, fence building, fence removal, tree/brush control, noxious weed control, etc. These activities require the ability to use simple power equipment; drills, saws, hand tools, chain saws, trimmers, small mowers etc.
- Special assignments may require some overnight travel as part of a crew, to accomplish large scale fence removal, fence building or tree removal projects outside of the assigned unit counties. These assignments will require the ability to work well with others, work out of doors under all types of weather conditions, and to withstand physically demanding work, i.e., lifting, bending and hauling.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Able to travel on overnight duties.
- Ability to work independently with minimal and/or remote supervision; demonstrating responsible behavior and attention to detail.
- Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
- Able to work alone or as part of a team, with the public, in all conditions, on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.
- Follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers.
- Exhibit honesty and integrity.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues and the public.
- Display a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently.
- Knowledge of grassland and early succession habitat management, including the ability to utilize various habitat management techniques in the restoration and enhancement of habitat.
- Knowledge of plant species common to Ohio’s grasslands and agricultural lands and ability to identify them (Including native, non-native, invasive, and noxious species).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) required.
- Must have or be able to obtain Ohio pesticide applicator’s license within 90 days of hire.
- Must have or be able to obtain S130/190 basic firefighter training certification within 90 days of hire.
- Successful applicant will also be encouraged to obtain a commercial driver’s license, UTV certification, Ohio DNR chainsaw safety certification, and first aid & bloodborne pathogen training.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- Degree in wildlife management, natural resource management, biological sciences, or related field of study appropriate to the position; OR any combination of education, training, and/or experience that demonstrates that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to do the job and is comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a 4-year degree program in an appropriate field of study.
- Related continuing education, training, licenses, and certifications may also be considered in the evaluation process for all job levels, including things such as prescribed fire training, pesticide applicator licenses, NRCS Certified Conservation Planner, and more.
CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires the individual to have access to confidential records and information. To successfully perform this position, confidentiality of the information with which the individual has contact must be maintained.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to work in an office setting, including sitting at a desk and viewing a computer screen.
- Ability to stand, walk, and hike outside for extended periods of time across uneven terrain in varying weather conditions.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds.
- Ability to work in the heat and smoke commonly encountered during prescribed fires.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Work in ODNR offices.
- Work independently and as part of a team in remote locations with limited access to cell phone and other services.
- Work related overnight travel for conferences, trainings, staff meetings, and other events can range from 5-15 nights/year.
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS USED
Tools and equipment listed are some of the typical tools and equipment; other equipment may be used as needed:
- Employer Provided
- Standard office equipment (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.)
- Truck
- Tractor
- Trailer
- Skidsteer
- Front loader
- ATV and/or UTV
- Spray tank
- Seeder
- Winches
- Chainsaws
- Drip torch, rake, axe, flapper, and other prescribed fire equipment
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
- Annual salary of $40,498.
- Health, vision, dental and more insurance coverage plans available.
- 401(k) Retirement plan with an employer match of up to 5%.
- Paid Time Off accrued at 15 days (120 hours) per year for new employees (increasing after 3 years).
- Bereavement/Family/Sick Leave of 6 days (48 hours) per year.
- 13 Paid holidays.
- An Employee Benefit Summary can be found on our Careers page.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Combine your cover letter, resume, and 3 references into 1 file (Word document or PDF) before uploading it to our recruitment website at www.pheasantsforever.org/careers. Only online applications will be accepted.
CONTACTS:
- Cody Grasser, PF & QF Ohio State Coordinator, [email protected] or 419-551-3875
- Karen Norris, ODNR Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor, [email protected] or 614-565-5168
Pheasants Forever, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.
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