FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
NATURAL RESOURCE TECHNICIAN 2 (NRT2)

Wenas Wildlife Area
312 Mt. Vale Rd. Selah, Washington – Yakima County

Are you passionate about protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats, while providing sustainable and wildlife related recreational and commercial opportunities in Washington State? Would people describe you as observant, creative, and adaptable?

If so, keep reading!

This is an opportunity to provide field support on the Wenas Wildlife Area, which includes more than 120,000 acres of WDFW owned and managed lands within Yakima and Kittitas Counties. Maintain facilities and structures, uses, and maintains equipment, and implements projects to maintain or improve habitats, species, or recreation on the wildlife area.

Wenas Rainbow – Photo credit: Justin Haug

With that in mind,

Picture yourself supporting the agency’s strategies to provide Fish and Wildlife habitat and recreation in Washington.

In this dynamic role you will perform Wildlife Program and Wildlife Area administrative tasks including responding to the public, weekly reporting, purchasing materials, training, meeting with other agencies and non-governmental organizations.

With your experience, you will balance outdoor and office work to ensure smooth operation within your assigned area.

The optimal applicants are resourceful and have both organizational and political awareness.

We are seeking a candidate, who exemplifies the WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Wenas Pines – Photo credit: Justin Haug

Our Wenas Wildlife Area Natural Resource Technician 2,

• Assists with implementation of habitat, fish, wildlife and recreational use management activities on the Wenas Wildlife Area.
• Controls weeds using integrated pest management, applying herbicides as needed. Implements and monitors habitat enhancement and maintenance projects.
• Projects often include activities such as mowing, disking, seeding, limbing trees, installing gates, spreading gravel, and herbicide application.
• Safely uses heavy equipment such as tractors, skid steers, mowers, disks, seeders, herbicide sprayers, the use of hand tools and power tools such as brush cutters and chainsaws.
• Assists Assistant WLA Manager with operation and maintenance of facility and equipment.
• Inspects, repairs, installs and maintains the physical facilities of the wildlife area, including signs, reader boards, and kiosks, and maintenance and repair of 49 miles of elk fence.
• Maintains and utilizes a variety of small and large equipment such as chainsaws, welders, ATV’s, trucks, tractors, trailers, spray systems, backhoes and dozers.
• Removes structures and litter on wildlife area and monitors public use.
• Performs administrative tasks including responding to the public, weekly reporting, purchasing materials, training, meeting with other agencies and non-governmental organizations.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Position functions primarily in the field, with some work performed in the shop and office settings.
  • Hazards include exposure to inclement weather and difficult terrain, working with power equipment, tripping/falling, and other things consistent with working with tractors and other equipment in an outdoor setting.

• Schedule:
  • Monday-Thursday, 6:00am-4:30pm.
  • At times work may be off-schedule due to seasonal demands, emergencies, and time critical assignments.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Overnight travel is seldom required.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Work requires standard field tools, such as shovels, fence post drivers, spray equipment, etc.; work also requires use of chain saws, other power tools, ATVs, tractors, mowers, skid steers, backhoes, dozer, large trucks, attachments, agency vehicle and standard office equipment (computer, copier, scanner).
  • Position requires ability to drive a manual truck on primitive roads during all weather conditions, utilizing 4x4 trucks and ATV’s.
  • Field work also requires the knowledge and operation of GPS, smartphones, and digital camera.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Communicate with public during field work, via e-mail and telephone, and at public meetings.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three (3) years of experience as a Habitat Technician 1 or equivalent. (Examples of equivalent natural resource experience include working on a farm/ranch, conducting agricultural enhancement/farming practices, operating heavy equipment, conducting wildlife habitat enhancement practices.)

• College education in the field of fish, wildlife, habitat management, agriculture, forestry, or other natural resource related field may substitute year-for-year for experience.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• First Aid (training provided by WDFW)
• Hold or obtain Washington State Public Operators State pesticide license withing 6 months of employment
• ATV certification (training provided)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Commercial Driver’s License
• Firefighter Type 2 (desirable, training provided)

• Wildlife agricultural enhancement programs/farming practices.
• Wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration.
• Heavy equipment operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Small engine tools such as pumps, chainsaws, brush cutters.
• Operating small hand and power tools (drills, hammer, etc..).
• Basics of carpentry, mechanical and facility repair.
• Small and large equipment trouble-shooting, repair and maintenance.
• Welding and fabrication.
• Computer software (MS/Office; GIS) and GPS.
• Safety procedures.
• Critical thinking and the ability to make decisions based on the best available information.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials - your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume.
• Three professional references.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

UNION - WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

dh

Follow us on social media:
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram