Natural Resource Specialist 3, Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator

~ The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is headquartered in Oregon’s capitol city of Salem. ~

The agency works through a regional management structure that allows for fish and wildlife management at the local, watershed level. Its local field offices are divided into two regions (West and East) with four to six watershed districts in each of those regions.

Position Overview

The Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator will coordinate statewide species movement and habitat connectivity efforts at the landscape scale to help conserve species by improving wildlife movement, connecting key habitats, and restoring ecological processes. S/he will identify key terrestrial habitat corridors and evaluate animal movement patterns and coordinate with Wildlife Division Conservation, Game, and Habitat Resources program staff as well as non-department partners, including other local, state, federal, and Tribal agencies, and non-governmental organizations, on developing connectivity maps, priorities, and actions for species and habitats.

The Coordinator will also collect terrestrial wildlife movement data, and refine maps and models to better identify and prioritize wildlife movement corridors. In addition, s/he will participate in connectivity working groups and committees and work to implement the actions identified in the Key Conservation Issue 'Barriers to Animal Movement' in the Oregon Conservation Strategy.

The Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator works closely with the Conservation Program staff, Habitat Resources Program staff, Game Program staff, district, and conservation field biologists across the state on species movement and habitat connectivity issues and will serve as a liaison with the Fish Division – Conservation Recovery Program. 

Responsibilities

Serve as Department lead on species movement and habitat connectivity:

• Maintain current information on species and habitat connectivity.
• Identify, develop, and implement priority connectivity needs and associated conservation actions with an emphasis on Strategy Species and Strategy Habitats.
• Coordinate with staff and partners on developing connectivity maps, priorities, and actions for species and habitats.
• Coordinate with Department Research programs on connectivity-related data needs, new research project proposals, and analyses.
• Provide technical assistance to Department Districts and Wildlife Areas, federal/state agencies, and other partners on species monitoring, habitat restoration efforts, and management plans to inform or improve species and habitat connectivity.
• Promote use of priority connectivity areas during conservation efforts (e.g., land use planning, other mitigation measures).
• Assure connectivity products provide utility to all Wildlife Division programs (e.g., Big Game, Energy, Forestry, Greater Sage-Grouse, Invasive Species, Land Use, Sensitive Species, Threatened & Endangered Species).
• Assist with updates to the Oregon Conservation Strategy (Key Conservation Issue: Barriers to Animal Movement).

Work with internal and external partners to evaluate animal movement patterns and identify key terrestrial habitat corridors:

• Encourage enhancement of wildlife habitat and connectivity with consideration of climate change impacts.
• Identify important stopover sites and migratory flyways for birds and bats; promote restoration and maintenance of these areas.
• Identify habitat corridors between large habitat blocks to ease negative effects of habitat fragmentation.
• Develop strategies to maintain and implement connectivity connections between critical habitat blocks through time.
• Work with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), county transportation departments, and other partners to identify and address key areas of wildlife barriers and mortality on roads, and consider animal movements when planning new roads.
• Work with partners to identify and secure potential funding sources to construct wildlife passage structures, conserve land that functions as critical connectivity corridors, or reconnect critical habitats previously disconnected by development or other impacts.
• Promote strategies to increase permeability of urban landscapes for wildlife.

Represent the Department on various working groups and committees:

• Participate in landscape-level habitat planning efforts.
• Serve on the Oregon Connectivity Mapping Working Group Steering Committee.
• Participate in Landscape Conservation Cooperative connectivity planning efforts (e.g., Northern Pacific LCC, Great Northern LCC).

Conduct connectivity outreach:

• Work with the Information and Education Division on connectivity related education and outreach materials.
• Communicate with the Fish and Wildlife Commission, staff, partners, and the general public.

Collect terrestrial wildlife movement data, and refine maps and models to better identify and prioritize wildlife movement corridors:

• Determine what additional data layers are needed for information on species' movement across the landscape, and resistances that impact movement.
• Develop, collect, or incorporate species movement and barrier datasets from ODFW field offices and external partners into Department databases.
• Coordinate with Management Resources Division to manage and document the Department's connectivity-related datasets to maximize their usability and long-term application.
• Use available spatial analyses, models, and other tools/technologies to better portray and analyze connectivity related data.
• Determine how connectivity data can be displayed via traditional maps, web maps, Compass layers, etc., to better highlight species movement patterns, needs, and barriers.
• Work with the Oregon Conservation Strategy GIS Analyst to produce needed maps, web maps, Compass layers, etc.
• Work with partners to develop and implement new and innovative ways to collect, display, and analyze wildlife passage and connectivity data.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3 years of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fish or wildlife program.
• At least one year of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a fish or wildlife program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities. AND
• A Bachelor's degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a closely-related Bachelor's degree with at least 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of biological/ecological coursework, or 3 additional years of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fisheries or wildlife program.
• A Master's degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a closely-related Master's degree in biological/ecological sciences will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.
• A Doctorate degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science or a closely-related Doctorate degree in biological/ecological sciences will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.
• Applicants who have obtained a Master's degree or Doctorate that included work experience from an internship, work/study, thesis, or similar program may list this experience in their application to receive credit for the work experience.
• The Master's degree/Doctorate and applicable work experience will be considered separately and both the education and applicable experience may count toward minimum qualifications.
• Your application materials must clearly describe how you meet these qualifications. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported in the "Work Experience" section of your Oregon E-Recruit application.

Requested Skills / Preference will be given to applicants with knowledge and/or experience in:

• Working with a state wildlife action plan.
• Program level work promoting or addressing wildlife habitat connectivity .
• Landscape level habitat restoration and conservation planning.
• Game and non-game wildlife life-history traits.
• Working in collaborative, multi-disciplinary working groups with a focus on complex natural resource issues.
• Working in a GIS environment.
• Public speaking and making presentations.
• Strong written communication skills.

 Working Conditions:

• Work is conducted primarily indoors in an office environment.
• Requires moderate interstate travel, occasionally overnight. Occasional travel and work outdoors in rough terrain or inclement weather to inspect proposed project sites.
• Frequently involved in lengthy and controversial multi-party negotiations on public policy issues relating to energy facility projects.
• This position requires a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day.
• Requires working some odd hours, nights and weekends.
• Note: You must have a valid driver license and an acceptable driving record.
• The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will check driving records for in-state finalists. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current driving record for review.
• Note: Within three-days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

Compensation: $4,144.00 - $6,050.00 Monthly

Additional Information

• This position is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife located in Salem.
• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.
• The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job postings may change without notice.
• Sector - Government- State/Provincial.

To Apply

Please click "Apply on Company Website" below. You must submit your application online. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Note: A copy of all transcripts (if education is required to qualify) must be attached at the time of application in order to receive credit for college degrees or coursework. Transcripts must include coursework and indicate that a degree was conferred. Online transcripts are acceptable. Official or original transcripts are not required; however, they may be required to validate education.