Please note: Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. MDT on the posting end date.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking to fill two Regional Wildlife Biologist - Habitat vacancies in the Montour-Payette and Nampa Habitat Districts.

Our Regional Wildlife Biologists are the stewards of Idaho's wildlife, who along with their passion for the outdoors, use their education and experience to help further our commitment to ensuring the future of Idaho's wildlife. We are responsible for preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's wildlife resources.

Why IDFG? We are a premier natural resource agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's fish and wildlife for this great state. We are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence as we cultivate opportunities for our customers to engage with our natural resources and become resource stewards for future generations. We are highly dedicated to our mission, committed to our team, and we know how to balance work/life commitments while loving the work we do.

What We Offer: 

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance - employee only coverage for PPO $70.74/month for medical and vision & $12.08/month for dental
• Participation in one of the Nation's best state retirement systems
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start (accumulate approximately 3 weeks of vacation the first year, and increasing with state longevity)
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Multiple saving plans-optional 401k and 457 plans 
• Group Life Insurance/Disability Insurance/Supplemental Life Insurance - state provided basic life insurance coverage and affordable supplemental plans 
• Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness (eligibility requirements may apply)
• Employee Assistance Program - confidential support, information, and resources for all of life's challenges
• State and Department Wellness Programs 
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Potential flexible work schedule 

General Information:

• Regional Wildlife Biologists may be required to apply herbicides, operate tractors and other heavy equipment, ride in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. These positions may involve walking and backpacking for several hours, operating trail bikes, and riding horses in rugged terrain; handling unsedated wild animals; working in extreme weather conditions; and lifting and carrying up to 65 pounds with or without accommodations.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Regional Wildlife Biologist assigned to the Payette/Montour Habitat District is responsible for management of the Montour and Payette River Wildlife Management Areas and several isolated tracts of wildlife habitat under lease or management agreement within this habitat district. This position typically supervises one seasonal Wildlife Technician. In that role, the incumbent is expected to train, coach, provide work direction, and assess performance.

The Regional Wildlife Biologist assigned to the Nampa Habitat District is responsible for management of several isolated tracts of wildlife habitat under lease or management agreement to include several Bureau of Reclamation tracts like the C-Line Canal properties. This position is also responsible for developing and implementing projects on private lands throughout the region.

Both positions administer the Habitat Improvement Program within their respective habitat districts and provide technical assistance on wildlife habitat issues to public agencies, private landowners, and non-governmental organizations.

To accomplish these tasks, the incumbents are expected to design and implement wildlife and habitat data collection programs, collect and analyze data on wildlife and habitat characteristics, implement trapping, tagging, and marking programs to monitor wildlife movements and activities, and monitor habitat work. They are expected to operate various types of motor vehicles to include trucks, ATVs, OHVs, motorcycles, tractors, backhoes, excavators, skid-steers, and various associated implements.

These positions are responsible for preparing management plans, planning and implementing management operations on Department owned lands, meeting with landowners to advise on and develop programs to alleviate and prevent depredation problems, review environmental assessment reports and impact statements affecting area wildlife populations, inspect and evaluate habitat manipulations, and evaluate and report on land and water acquisitions for use as wildlife or public access areas.

The incumbents are expected to conduct public meetings and hearings on Department actions, give talks and presentations to student, civic, and sportsmen’s groups, and may assist in enforcing fish and game laws.

General Responsibilities:

• Work with regional staff to implement big game, upland game, waterfowl, furbearer, nongame, and habitat management programs.
• Designs, implements, and monitors wildlife habitat projects on department and/or private lands.
• Works with others to implement priority strategies and actions identified in Idaho's State Wildlife Action Plan.
• Designs and implements wildlife data collection programs. Monitors wildlife movements and activities.
• Prepare management work plans and annual reports for projects within assigned habitat district.
• Evaluates and reports on land and water acquisitions for use as wildlife habitat or public access areas.
• Applies for and administers grants.
• Reviews and provide written comments regarding environmental assessment reports and impact statements affecting area wildlife populations.
• Supervises and trains employees involved in habitat management activities such as: operation and maintenance of department facilities, vegetation restoration, weed control, water level control, prescribed burning, and habitat inventory.
• Participates in conducting public meetings and hearings on habitat projects and wildlife regulations.
• Develops and maintains cooperative and successful relationships to affect habitat management within your region/district.

Minimum Qualifications:

(All qualifications listed below are required. To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum experience and/or education standards as outlined in each of the typical qualification guidelines. A detailed resume or work history must be submitted, clearly demonstrating/supporting how you meet each requirement. This information is essential to our initial evaluation process. Incomplete applications or those lacking relevant details may not be considered for further review.) 

• Incumbents will participate in and to instruct hunting activities.
• Some knowledge of forest management, range management, or agricultural wildlife habitat. (Typically gained by at least six months of professional field work experience in wildlife management OR successful completion of at least two college-level courses in range or forest ecosystems/management of agricultural wildlife habitats from an accredited college or university.)
• Experience developing, evaluating, or implementing management plans or development plans, hunting regulations or species management plans. (Typically gained by experience evaluating, implementing, or developing management plans or projects for wildlife populations and/or habitats (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act documents, habitat development plans, hunting seasons and regulations, or wildlife species management plans. Experience as a team member in this area is acceptable.)
• Good knowledge of the ecology, habitat requirements, taxonomy, species identification, and population dynamics of wildlife. (Typically gained by at least six years of professional field work experience in wildlife management OR successful completion of upper-division college coursework leading to a bachelor's degree in wildlife management or a closely related field that includes courses in zoology, wildlife management techniques, wildlife habitat relationships, species identification, population dynamics, and wildlife behavior from an accredited college or university, plus at least two years of professional field work in wildlife management.)
• Experience conducting wildlife field research to include the design, collection, and analysis of wildlife data, writing reports, and giving oral presentations of project results. (Typically gained by work experience designing, gathering, and analyzing on wildlife data where the experience is limited to only one species or habitat.)

Minimum Qualification Specialty Area:

(The qualification listed below is required for the current openings at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum experience and/or education standards as outlined in each of the typical qualification guidelines.) 

•  A valid driver’s license.

To learn more about the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, please see the following:

• (Video) Idaho Fish and Game - We Make It Happen

Additional Comments:

• EEO/Veteran's Preference.

Thank you for applying with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game!