GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking two Access Coordinator/Senior Game Wardens based out of Casper, Wyoming and Green River, Wyoming.  

Within a geographically assigned area and with minimal direct supervision, the Access Coordinator is responsible for meeting Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Department) objectives by administering the Wildlife Division's Access Yes Program to secure, maintain and enhance public access to private lands to provide opportunities for hunting and angling. This position represents the agency daily by engaging stakeholders (private landowners, other government agencies, and non-government agencies) to enhance hunting and fishing access on private and public lands and conduct law enforcement and wildlife management duties in conjunction with other department personnel on enrolled properties.

This position interacts with a wide array of publics in varied settings and numerous topics associated with serving people and conserving wildlife by conducting the following: working with private landowners to enroll their lands into the Access Yes Program; contract development with enrolled private landowners and program donors; use of GIS and GPS to develop maps and online content of enrolled properties, conduct law enforcement duties on enrolled properties, and assist with wildlife and habitat management in the region. The required job duties show that the person in this position must have the ability to build relationships and communicate clearly with landowners.

Human Resource Contact: Dezzaree Schott / dezzaree.schott@wyo.gov

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function which may be performed at the job level.

• Coordinate with the Fish, Services, Fiscal and Wildlife Divisions as needed to maintain and enhance hunting and fishing access on Walk-In and Hunter Management Areas.
• Coordinate with Department personnel, other government agencies, private landowners, and non-government organizations to meet program objectives.
• Given that this position requires working closely with landowners, it’s crucial that the candidate possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships with landowners.
• Interprets legal land descriptions, reading of maps delineating land ownership, use of GIS, GPS, ARC GIS and being familiar with common real estate transactions.    
• Develops, administers, and monitors contracts with individuals, agencies, or NGOs as it pertains to hunting and fishing access.
• Responsible for formulation and production of program publications and electronic (i.e., website) information at the regional and statewide level pertaining to the Access Yes Program. Contributes information and education efforts to promote the Access Yes Program, including fundraising, securing grants, and coordinating donor recognition.
• Work independently or with other game wardens to enforce/check compliance with hunting, fishing, trapping, and watercraft statutes and Wyoming Game and Fish Commission (Commission) regulations, with emphasis on Access Yes properties, as well as specific state land statutes and regulations and littering.
• Write law enforcement reports, attend court, work with other law enforcement agencies, conduct investigations, and collect intelligence; conduct watercraft safety equipment inspections as well as HIN, VIN and AIS inspections.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships by communicating and coordinating with Department employees; makes regular public contacts with landowners, sportspersons, watercraft recreationists, public-at-large, conservation groups, government agencies and non-government organizations.  
• Provide information, education and presentations on numerous wildlife topics, including hunter safety, watercraft safety, AIS, CWD, and varied other wildlife, conservation, and access-related topics.
• Collaborates and communicates with Department wildlife biologists to facilitate decisions related to the management of Wyoming’s wildlife resources.
• Humanely euthanize sick and injured wildlife and be on call to respond to these situations outside normal business hours. Carry out the lethal take of wildlife under Department-issued lethal take permits. Field dress harvested big game and donate harvested big game.
• Collect biological samples (CWD) from harvested animals.
• Manages wildlife populations toward Commission approved objectives; assists with trapping/collecting/sampling wildlife for research projects and disease surveillance. Use chemical and mechanical immobilization equipment and techniques when necessary and appropriate.
• Conduct wildlife population inventories under the direction and guidance of regional wildlife managers. Collect biological samples. Collect wildlife observation data. Assist with wildlife captures for management and research purposes. Assist with wildlife monitoring programs/projects, including the deployment and retrieval of GPS collars. Record hunter harvest data in the field and at check stations. Assist regional habitat biologists in the implementation of habitat improvement projects on state, federal, and private lands. Assist with basic data entry and compilation in support of wildlife research and management. 
• Other duties may include assisting with elk feed ground operations, emergency elk feeding, wildlife husbandry, game bird farm assistance, nuisance wildlife mitigation, and professional development training. 
• This position will represent the Department at public events and meetings, and maintain equipment and Department facilities. 
• Attend training, represent the agency in public forums, and maintain equipment and Department facilities.
• Provides ATV/UTV use/safety training and certification to Department employees. Documents and reports daily activities, prepares and administers the regional access coordinator budget in order to ensure expenditures are within allocated amounts and in accordance with fiscal procedures.

Qualifications

PREFERENCES/*AGENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Agency requires that candidates have a Bachelor's degree in wildlife management, range management, biology, zoology, ichthyology, or other closely related fields. Other bachelor's degrees may be considered with at least 20 hours of wildlife-related coursework as evidenced on required transcripts.
• POST certification required within the first year of employment.
• Wyoming State Law requires competitive testing (exam) for wildlife law enforcement positions.
• Background check, polygraph, psychological evaluation and fingerprinting are required prior to appointment.

KNOWLEDGE: 

• Knowledge of basic concepts, principles, and practices of wildlife management. Knowledge of animal biological processes.
• Knowledge of game and fish statutes and regulations, and of enforcement of game and fish laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of wildlife and fish species identification and life history.
• Knowledge of population ecology.
• Knowledge of methods, techniques, and regulations pertinent to the investigation, court procedures and prosecution of violators in wildlife, hunting or fishing, and watercraft-related criminal cases.
• Knowledge of using onX Maps and GPS.
• Knowledge of developing relationships and communicating with landowners.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:    
     
Education:Bachelor's Degree (typically in Biology) Experience:1-2 years of progressive work experience (typically in Biology) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Game Warden

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:
Applicant must posses POST certification through the Wyoming Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission or equivalent certification through another state.

OR

Education & Experience Substitution:
4-6 years of progressive work experience (typically in Biology) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Game Warden

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:
Applicant must possess POST certification through the Wyoming Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission or equivalent certification through another state.

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Meet physical fitness assessment requirements of Wyoming law enforcement academy.
• Work in various weather conditions and environments.
• Must be able to work all days of the week and varied work hours, including weekends and early mornings, evenings/late nights.
• Ability to safely operate motorized equipment, including 4x4 pickup truck, boats/personal watercraft, ATVs, and snowmachines.
• Ability to safely and appropriately handle live wildlife in a variety of sensitive and hazardous conditions.
• Ability to utilize and handle firearms (enforcement and hunting) and pass Department firearms qualification requirements and testing.
• Ability to perform and pass Department custody/control and intermediate weapons requirements and use of force testing.
• The position is on call to respond to job requirements.
• The position requires lifting of heavy objects and strenuous physical exertion at times.
• Operation of 4WD vehicles and towing trailers will be required.
• Requires the ability to navigate with a map in remote locations.
• Use of GPS and a basic working knowledge of GIS software. Use of onX Maps will be required.

NOTES: 

• FLSA: Exempt
• There are two positions available one will be stationed in Casper and one in Green River.
• No housing provided.
• Wyoming State Law requires competitive testing for wildlife law enforcement positions. Must submit transcripts containing at least 20 hours of wildlife-related coursework (see preferences).  
• Must pass a comprehensive background check, polygraph, psychological evaluation and fingerprinting process prior to appointment.
• POST certification is required within the first year of employment.
• Contact information Wildlife Division at 307-777-4684.

Supplemental Information

Click here to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure.

URL: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/wyoming/default.cfm

The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.

Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.