Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (Bird Conservancy) is a 501-c(3) non-profit headquartered at the Environmental Learning Center at Barr Lake State Park with a satellite office in Fort Collins and fieldwork outposts in the Great Plains Region and Intermountain West. We conserve birds and their habitats through an integrated approach of Science, Education, and Stewardship. Our work radiates from the Rockies to the Great Plains, Mexico and beyond. 

We are hiring a Private Lands Wildlife Biologist (biologist) to deliver habitat conservation projects on private lands in the grasslands of northeastern New Mexico. The position is a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. The biologist will help agricultural producers improve wildlife habitat and achieve their management objectives by developing comprehensive conservation plans, including resource assessments, habitat treatments, and coordinating implementation (e.g. infrastructure for water and fence improvements, reducing invasive grass species and prescribed grazing plans, etc.). The biologist will work with federal, state, and local natural resource professionals, and will use voluntary, incentive-based funding opportunities (e.g. Farm Bill) to implement conservation. The biologist will be jointly supervised by Bird Conservancy and NRCS, and will travel throughout the region using a provided vehicle.

Clayton, New Mexico is the largest town and county seat of Union County and is located 10 miles from the Texas boarder and 11 miles from the panhandle of Oklahoma. Home to Indigenous Peoples, this area experienced the influx of settlers with the Santa Fe Trail. Historically, this rural area supported cattle ranching and dry land farming and continues to have a rich legacy in working lands. Visited by Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, this area was heavily impacted by the Dust Bowl and continues its regeneration and restoration efforts. An hour from the mountains of Raton, Clayton is a prime recreation area with trout, walleye, and bullhead fishing at the Clayton State Park with hiking and wildlife viewing at Rita Blanca/Kiowa National Grassland. In addition, one can travel far back in time by exploring the Capulin Volcano National Monument part of the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field and investigating over 500 dinosaur tracks at Clayton Lake State Park.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and programmatic support to enhance, restore or improve the management of wildlife habitat on privately-owned land in partnership with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and their clients (landowners) by leveraging USDA Farm Bill Conservation Programs and relevant state wildlife or habitat programs.
• Develop and sustain cooperative working relationships with landowners, conservation groups, state wildlife agencies, and other resource professionals (e.g., Cattleman/woman association, local weed and pest districts, etc.).
• Deliver formal trainings and products to landowners and other stakeholders for the purposes of enhancing, restoring, or improving management of wildlife habitat.
• Develop technical proficiency in the principles and practice of wildlife habitat enhancement, restoration, or improved management within agricultural systems on privately-owned land.

Other Duties:

• Collaborate across BCR programmatic teams
• Develop technical proficiency in conservation planning and agency business tools
• Assist partner agency and other collaborators in conducting biological assessments
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required (unless otherwise noted):

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 1-2 years’ experience, or advanced degree, in a conservation related field (e.g. wildlife biology, ecology, human dimensions of natural resources, rangeland ecology, etc.) or four years of equivalent professional experience
• Working knowledge of Farm Bill Conservation Programs (preference given to these candidates)
• Ability and desire to work with a diversity of people including state, federal, and non-governmental resource professionals, agricultural producers, industry professionals and other community representatives
• Motivated self-starter who is comfortable working independently under remote supervision and highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Practical understanding of habitat restoration, ecology, and land management
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (use active listening to build trust and establish rapport) with a variety of landowners and partners
• Knowledge of western South Dakota flora and fauna, particularly grassland communities
• Experience with grassland plant ID and with conducting range or grassland inventories for the purposes of creating a grazing plan
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with GIS software is desirable