Staff Game Biologist

Position Description

I.      IDENTIFYING INFORMATION

II.      INTRODUCTION

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources, is responsible for the protection and management of the wildlife resources of the State.  This responsibility is accomplished by conducting research and management programs through district biologists and special section ("staff") biologists.  The State's wildlife program is a designated program of the Division which is concerned with all game and non-game terrestrial wildlife species and activities which provide for the conservation and utilization of game and non-game wildlife resources in the state.  This position is a Staff Game Wildlife Biologist and serves as a key member of the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife administrative staff.  This position provides staff services for the wildlife game program.  It provides broad program management overview for the State's hunting program, including the development of operating policies, budgets, program development, program review, coordination, technical expertise, research priorities, and leadership. The position is responsible for providing staff technical review regarding hunting issues in the state, including potential conflicts between the hunting program and endangered species conservation. This position also provides field assistance to DOFAW branches for game mammal and game bird surveys and serves as a liaison with the Conservation and Resources Enhancement Division's Hunter Education Program. Specific program areas include: (1) statewide coordination of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program for Game Management, (2) statewide coordination and management of hunting program, and (3) public information on hunting program.  This position is under the administrative and operational direction of the Wildlife Management Program Specialist (Position No. 15015) who heads the Wildlife Program.

III.  MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A.  Program Administration    65% 1.      Coordinates statewide game bird and mammal program development, management technical advice activities, and research with other State, Federal, military and private agencies to facilitate work programs and prevent duplicity of effort. [1]

2.      Investigates and makes recommendations for the issuance of permits to take or control game wildlife for scientific study,  control crop damage, reduce wildlife  nuisance, or deal with human health issues. [1]

3.      Maintains records of statewide game program information including boundaries and acreage of public hunting areas, game bird and mammal harvests, hunter activity, cooperative agreements, and other information as may be required by the Wildlife Program Manager. [1]

4.      Reviews and investigates Environmental Impact Statements, Conservation District Use Applications, Land Use Transactions, State lease renewals as related to game birds and mammals and their habitats throughout the State. [2]

5.      Coordinates the game aspects of the USFWS Wildlife Restoration Program including drafting necessary documentation of grants-in-aid and reviewing job progress and final reports. [1]

6.      Meets with conservation groups, hunting clubs, and school classes to explain the game program and educate the public on conservation needs. [1]

7.      Works with staff non-game wildlife biologists and foresters to integrate the hunting program with other Division activities, such as integrated land use and the development of non-game conservation projects in public hunting areas and other state lands where public hunting may be needed to help control feral ungulates. [1]

8.      Works with hunters and Branch Wildlife Biologists to develop additional hunting opportunities within the state, such as increasing size and number of hunting areas and expand hunting seasons.  Works with Branch Wildlife Biologists to develop and implement hunting lotteries and other random drawing procedures .  Actively solicits materials and information from other states in order to improve the Division's hunting program. [1]

9.      Responsible for updating applicable Administrative Rules when needed. [2]

10. Prepares draft news releases, articles and information for publication in newspapers, magazines and newsletters. [2]

11. Maintains and keeps current the statewide hunting information "Hunter's Hotline". [2]

12. Trains and supervises other Division or Department personnel as may be assigned to participate in the game management program. [3]

13. Prepares legislative documents for budget proposals, proposed bills, and legislative requests for information as required by the Wildlife Program Manager. [2]

B.  Research and Field Studies        15%

1.      Conducts the overall planning and oversees implementation of selected research studies involving hunter attitudes and their utilization of game resources, potential threats to endangered plants and animals by game species, augmentation of game populations in specific habitats, incidence of disease and parasites in game species, and other projects affecting the hunting program.  [1]

2.      Develops research design and methodology; collects, compiles and analyzes data; and writes and submits reports on results.  [1]

3.      Plans, supervises and participates in field surveys and censuses of game birds and mammals and their habitats.  [1]

4.      Recommends management actions based on research and field study results.  [1]

5.      Prepares progress reports and job completion reports with analysis and evaluations for research jobs.  Implements the use of these reports for the evaluation and planning of game bird and mammal preservation, management or control programs.  [2, 3]

6.      Assists other agencies and university biologists in research involving game species in Hawaii. [2]

C.      Management       10%

1.      Conducts planning and implementation of management projects involving game species and their habitats. [1]

2.      Participates in the negotiation for and establishment of public hunting areas and hunter access throughout the State, participates in the delineation of boundaries and recommends development and management practices for public hunting areas including plans specifications and estimates with techniques, costs and personnel time required. [2]

3.      Participates in the development of management plans for the conservation of wildlife resources on military lands and private lands. [2]

4.      Responsible for ensuring that the statewide hunting license database is current, that it is secure, and that appropriate information is made available to enforcement officers and approved DOFAW staff. [1]

5.      Ensures the production of annual hunting licenses in a timely manner and is responsible for developing and ensuring the production of the Wildlife Conservation Stamp. [2]

6.      Assists in the development and dispersal of game program information to the public.  [2]

7.      Conducts field and study site visits to implement program activities and inspect program facilities.

8.      Assists Branches in implementation of program activities such ungulate control, predator control, wildlife capture, and surveys.

9.      Supervises volunteers and other DOFAW personnel involved in administrative staff projects.

D.  Fire Suppression      5%

1.      Participates in forest fire suppression activities on an on-call basis, working long irregular hours under hazardous terrain and fire conditions. Rides in helicopters. [2]

2.      Uses water pumps and hoses, water back packs, chain saws, axes, shovels, hoes, and other fire fighting equipment as needed. . [2]

3.      May be called upon to lead crews of fire fighters on fire suppression and mop-up operations; to estimate fire situations, select attack procedures, and recommend fire fighting alternatives to fire boss. . [2]

4.      May serve an administrative staff function in organization of fire response, planning, communications, aircraft support, and other oversight activities involved in fire response. . [2]

E.  Other Duties 5%Participates in such other programs and accomplishes such other duties as may be temporarily assigned. [2,3]

Essential Function Information

Reason: [1] The performance of this function is the reason that this job exists. [2] There are limited employees among whom the performance of this function can be distributed. [3] This function is highly specialized.  Employees are hired for their skill/ability to perform this function.The following evidence was considered in determining the essential functions of the position:  the amount of time spent performing the function; the consequences of not requiring a person in this job to perform a function; the work experience of people who have performed a job in the past and work experience of people who currently perform similar jobs; and the nature of the work operations based on organizational structure.

IV.      CONTROLS OVER THE POSITION

A.      Supervisor:- Position No.:  15015      Class Title:  Wildlife Management Program Specialist

B.  Nature of Supervisory Control Exercised Over the Work:

1.      Instructions Provided. - Instruction is received through staff meetings and personal conferences as required.  Guidance is general unless solicited or in unusual situations.

2.      Assistance Provided. - Employee seeks assistance from supervisor with problems of an unusual nature.

3.      Review of Work. - Work is conducted independently, reviewed in general and through staff meetings.

C.  Nature of Available Guidelines Controlling the Work.

1.   Policy and Procedural Guides Available:Hawaii Revised Statutes – Chapters 183D, 195D. Hawaii Administrative Rules – Chapters 122, 123. USFWS Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and the associated Federal Aid Manual. Applicable federal natural resource management law. Procedural guides on purchasing and procurement.

2.   Use of Guidelines. Procedural guides cover most situations.  The employee is expected to understand state and federal laws and regulations regarding endangered species and migratory birds.  All work under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act must comply with standards established in the Federal Aid Manual.

V.      REQUIRED LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, ETC.     

State of Hawaii driver's license

VI. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A.      Knowledge:Knowledge of the principles and practices of wildlife management; the techniques used in making field investigations into the life history, habitats and environmental requirements of wildlife; field research methods pertaining to the study of wildlife; identification of bird and mammal species; techniques of trapping and other methods of capture of game animals; and animal census techniques.  Knowledge of standard statistical techniques.  Knowledge of common hunting weapons such as rifles, muzzleloaders, and archery. Knowledge of the biological, social and economic consideration of game and wildlife resource activities; and a wide range of standard wildlife methods, techniques and precedents. Must have knowledge of the characteristic  conditions and interrelationship of wildlife resources and their environment and an awareness of the competing demands for land and the increasing need for additional lands to provide hunting opportunities to the public. Must have a knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision.

B.      Skills/abilities:Ability to collect, analyze and evaluate data on wildlife and habitat conditions; conduct bird and mammal surveys;  plan and prepare clear and concise reports; and work in remote areas. Ability to plan, schedule and implement wildlife research and management projects and direct the work of others. Ability to meet deal effectively with coworkers and the public, hunters and private landowners.  Supervisory and administrative skills are required. Must also be particularly skilled in the application of precedents, techniques and procedures pertinent to the functions of this position and have comprehensive grasp of the relationship of wildlife problems and practices to those of related disciplines.

C.      Education:Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in Wildlife Management, Game Management, or related field of biology or zoology with a minimum of 24 semester credit hours in the following areas: At least 18 semester hours of course work applicable to wildlife biology in such subjects as mammalogy, ornithology, animal ecology, wildlife management, animal husbandry, zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, biometry; or research courses in the field of wildlife biology; and at least 6 semester hours in botany or the related plant sciences.

Substitutions Allowed for Educational Requirements:

1.      Work experience as described below in the Specialized Experience may be substituted for the Educational Requirement on a year-for-year basis.

2.      Progressively responsible administrative, professional, or analytical work experience which provided knowledge, skills and abilities comparable to those acquired in the Educational Requirement described above may be substituted for the Educational Requirement on a year-for-year basis.  To be acceptable, the experience must have been of such scope and quality as to assure the applicant's overall ability to perform wildlife biology work.

3.      A combination of six months of work experience as described in 1 and 2 above and a bachelor's degree in biology may be substituted for the Educational Requirement.  To be acceptable, this combination must have provided knowledge, skills and abilities comparable to those acquired in the Educational Requirement as described above and must have been of such scope and quality as to assure the applicant's overall ability to perform wildlife biology work.

D.      Experience: Specialized Experience:  The position requires three years of progressively responsible professional experience in wildlife conservation, development, and management, and/or research. Of the three years, at least one year must be comparable to the Wildlife Biologist IV level, and two years must be comparable to the Wildlife Biologist III level in the State service.

Supervisory Experience:  Work experience in wildlife management and/or research which involved (1) planning and directing work of others; (2) assigning and reviewing such work; (3) advising subordinates on difficult problem areas; (4) timing and scheduling the work of subordinates; and (5) training and developing new employees is required. Supervisory aptitude rather than actual supervisory experience may be accepted.  Supervisory aptitude is the demonstration of aptitude of potential for the performance of supervisory duties through successful completion of regular or special assignments which involve some supervisory responsibilities or aspects; by serving as a group or team leader, or in similar work in which opportunities for demonstrating supervisory capabilities exist; by completion of training courses in supervision accompanied by application of supervisory skills in work assignments; or by favorable appraisals by a supervisor indicating the possession of supervisory potential.

Substitutions Allowed for Educational Requirement: 

1.      Possession of a  master of science degree in wildlife management, wildlife biology, mammalogy, or ornithology may be substituted for one year of specialized experience.

2.      Possession of a Ph. D. degree in wildlife management, wildlife biology, mammalogy, or ornithology from an accredited college or university may be substituted for three years of specialized experience. Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position.  The applicant's overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that he or she has the ability to perform the duties of the position for which the applicant is being considered.

E.      Physical Requirements:Must be physically able to perform efficiently and effectively the essential duties of this position, including field work.  Must be willing to work in extreme conditions in field situations such as rugged terrain in remote areas.

VII.      TOOLS, EQUIPMENT & MACHINES

Computer, GPS units, firearms

LINKS TO: [Job Announcement | State of Hawaii | Division of Forestry and Wildlife