Habitat Specialist II – Mississippi (3 Positions)

Location: Oxford, MS

Application Deadline:  Open until filled Anticipated Start Date: January 2025 

Overview: The incumbent will be part of a four-person team that will conduct habitat management work on cooperating private lands and targeted public lands within a designated 15 county priority geography in Northeast Mississippi (Alcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, and Yalobusha County). This position is supported by a partnership between the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and Quail Forever, Inc. (QF). The position is a full-time employee of Quail Forever and supervised by the Quail Forever Habitat Specialist Crew Leader with instruction and leadership provided by the Quail Forever Mississippi State Coordinator and the MDWFP Private Lands Division Coordinator.  This unique project will focus on providing assistance and education to private landowners in the implementation of prescribed fire and other land management practices to benefit wildlife in Northeast Mississippi.

Duties: Led by a crew leader, the four-person team will work with partners to conduct habitat management practices with a focus on prescribed fire, early-succession management and ecological restoration. The priority work area will be on private and public lands in Northeast Mississippi

Major responsibilities include:

• Implementing habitat management work on cooperating private lands as well as public lands that includes, but is not limited to, prescribed burning, firebreak establishment, native forb/grass establishment, shrubby cover establishment, and timber stand improvement (hack and squirt, chainsaw work, etc.)
• Participating in the construction, maintenance, and repair of equipment & implements used during work.
• Serve as burn crew member on public and private lands.
• Maintain fire qualification and participate in additional trainings as assigned.
• Assist with northern bobwhite quail surveys and other scientific surveys, including but not limited to spring breeding bird surveys, fall covey counts, vegetation surveys, and management of automated recording units (ARU) on private and conservation lands. 
• Assist crew lead to procure supplies and equipment following Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever best management practices and procurement policies.
• Assist crew lead with grant reporting responsibilities.
• Assist with outreach and education efforts.
• Attend/Assist with prescribed fire and other habitat management technique trainings.
• Perform other habitat management related duties as assigned.
• Job may require odd hours and travel/time away from home.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• A basic understanding of environmental, agricultural and/or natural resource science.  Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the partners.  Preference will be given to candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in wildlife management.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of upland habitat management and restoration, prescribed fire, and the identification and control of invasive plant species.
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, grassland management, and/or forest management including the ability to utilize various habitat management equipment and tools in the development of wildlife habitat.
• Safe transportation/hauling of equipment. Ability to safely haul and back trailers.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues, landowners, and partner agencies.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license required and a clean driving record.
• Ability to lift and carry 50+ pounds safely and repeatedly
• Successful applicant may be required to obtain a CDL or private pesticide applicators license.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Preference will be given to applicants who have completed some or all of the coursework listed below:

Course Title                                                                                                         Course Number

Introduction to ICS                                                                                              IS-100.C

Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service                                                        L180

Firefighter Training                                                                                              S130

Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior                                                               S190

NIMS: An Introduction                                                                                        IS-700.b

Wildland Fire Chainsaws                                                                                     S212

Ability to complete all coursework listed above (training opportunities will be provided).

• One year of experience conducting prescribed burns and/or timber stand improvement using chainsaws or hack and squirt methods.
• One year of experience applying herbicides to control undesirable species.

Training and Experience Guideline: Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Applicants who possess a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience are preferred. Prescribed fire training and field experience is required. Continued training and professional development opportunities will be provided.

Salary and Benefits:

• Starting salary of $45,000
• Health, vision, dental and more insurance coverage plans available.
• 401(k) Retirement plan with an employer match of up to 5%.
• Technology Stipend provided.
• 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. 
• Vehicles and equipment are provided to perform work related activities.

Application Requirements: ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please combine a cover letter, detailed resume, and 3 references into one MS Word document or Adobe Acrobat PDF file. Click on the blue “Attach Resume” button to upload your application package to the “Resume” section of our Recruitment website at: www.quailforever.org/jobs

For additional questions: Please contact John Mark Curtis, Quail Forever Mississippi State Coordinator at jcurtis@quailforever.org.

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.