Conservation Biologist II

Job Code: 32000063
Salary Grade: NC18

Class Concept

This is advanced professional work in wildlife (aquatic, marine, and terrestrial) culture, fisheries management, habitat management, forestry, field and laboratory research, disease management, wildlife management, commercial or recreational fishing industry enhancement, and access (such as game land or waterway access) management. Work addresses the health, stability, restoration, and control of populations of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and their habitats. Work may cover socio-economic aspects of wildlife conservation. Employees may represent the agency on state, multi-state, or national science committees. Employees may manage and coordinate the division's component of the agency's land acquisition program for habitat needed to maintain, enhance, provide access to, or perpetuate wildlife resources. Employee completes complex work independently with minimum supervision, including tasks with significant consequential outcomes. Employees determine the priorities and plan the work under their purview. Employees may assist a higher-level manager to engage with members of the public, legislators, agency partners, and commercial interest to explain scientific principles, biological information, policies, and regulations. Research and management Work in this classification may include advanced professional biological work in applied research, conservation management, surveys, disease response, human dimensions of wildlife management, or wildlife investigations. Employees may recommend actions to manage fish or wildlife populations or habitats. Geographic coverage may be regional- or state-wide. Employees may apply complex scientific principles to design, develop, administer, report on, and evaluate projects. Project design may include forecasting, acquisition of funding, budgeting, and monitoring expenditures. Employees direct all project phases, including statistical analysis and report or plan development. Employees may assign field work and data analysis to lower-level biologists and technicians. Work may require specialized, scientific knowledge or complex data gathering, integration, and analysis. Employees may review or recommend regulatory and policy changes to address conservation. Technical Guidance and Environmental Review Employees may provide technical guidance to internal agency staff, agency administration, legislators, the public, and partners in improving habitat and managing the numbers and varieties of fish or wildlife and to solve nuisance wildlife problems. Guidance covers current and future situations. Work involves a variety of complex conservation issues, variety of species, variety of habitats, variety of techniques, or variety of permit types. Work involves developing relationships with a variety of professional, governmental, and public contacts. Decisions affect individual landowners, citizen groups, the commercial fishing industry, as well as recreational anglers, hunters, and trappers.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of biological statistics, scientific principles, sampling techniques, GIS technology, and computerized data analyses and thorough knowledge of biological principles and management practices as applied to marine or estuarine biology, and wildlife and fisheries management.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods and techniques for hunting, trapping, and commercial and recreational fishing and considerable knowledge of taxonomic identification procedures, field and laboratory techniques, and the operation of sampling and laboratory equipment
• Considerable knowledge of applicable federal and state fisheries and wildlife laws as well as US Coast Guard rules and regulation and considerable knowledge of wildlife (aquatic, marine, and terrestrial) habitat, wildlife management, wildlife disease, and species propagation.
• Knowledge of the types, habitats, and behavior of a variety of wildlife (aquatic, marine, and terrestrial) species, knowledge of water level management, wetlands, water chemistry or quality and plant species succession and knowledge of the equipment and techniques associated with silviculture.
• Ability to prepare complex written technical reports for a variety of audiences, ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form to a variety of audiences and ability to apply biological principles to land use planning.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other biologists, members of the general public, and members of groups interested in wildlife or fisheries management or commercial fishing interests.
• Ability to project and monitor a project budget and to manage federal grants.
• Ability to interpret and analyze data and contribute to written reports, ability to gather and compile materials from a variety of sources and ability to design and implement complex study plans or field surveys.
• Ability to interpret statistical analysis and to develop recommendations for the consideration of higher-level management, aAbility to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other biologists, members of the general public, members of groups interested in wildlife or fisheries, and local government officials and ability to acknowledge and capitalize on conservation and resource planning opportunities.
• Skill in operating standard and specialized scientific sampling equipment.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in wildlife or fisheries management, fisheries science, zoology, or a biological science, or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.