Conservation Technician jobs in Twin Falls, ID

Description

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Opportunity

Please Note: Applications will be accepted through 4:59 PM MST on the posting end date.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is currently recruiting for a District Conservation Officer for the Ketchum District (the residence location within the district will be negotiated with the Magic Valley Regional Supervisor and Regional Conservation Officer.)

The District Conservation Officer (DCO) supervises and directs the activities of Conservation Officers/Senior Conservation Officers within a district. These responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating officer's performance, ensuring proper officer training, preparing officer development plans, providing technical direction and interpretation of various wildlife and non-wildlife laws, providing direction to an officer to improve performance for effectiveness and safety, and insuring officers follow Department procedures and policy. DCOs investigate and resolve citizen complaints against officers, resolve conflicts between employees, recommend disciplinary actions and serve on review boards. It is the DCO's responsibility to ensure that district officers properly carry out enforcement, wildlife management public relations and administrative programs generated by the Enforcement Bureau/Regional Conservation Officer. Within a district, DCOs will supervise scheduling, enforcement methods, license vendor and wildlife permit enforcement, special overt and covert investigations, backcountry patrols and the execution of arrest and search warrants. Incumbents may assume responsibility for the Region in the Regional Conservation Officer's absence. DCOs are responsible for directing the enforcement activities of their officers and for overall district enforcement direction. They use action plans to document high priority/visibility enforcement projects, review and critique investigations done by officers, provide technical expertise and overall direction to officers during investigations. DCOs are responsible for creating more effective, innovative, and efficient methods of completing the duties/programs of the district. They approve and provide direction for check stations, simulated wildlife sets, backcountry patrols and covert operations. A DCO is also required to perform the same field duties as a Senior Conservation Officer.

A DCO will provide technical guidance to officers and landowners to alleviate wildlife depredations. They respond to nuisance wildlife calls and provide technical direction to officers and the public on handling nuisance wildlife, including the use of Schedule II wildlife immobilization drugs, and ensure that officers' training is current and proper records of drug use are kept. DCOs compile biological and non-biological rules and recommendations from their officers and develop a district recommendation. They collect, summarize and forward wildlife management data to the appropriate personnel.

DCOs may be responsible for district level administration of the Hunter and Bowhunter Education programs. They attend numerous local citizen and sporting group meetings, give public, and school presentations and contact the various forms of news media. DCOs prepare reports of district activities; they review all the administrative documents, reports and bills submitted by their officers. DCOs approve budget expenditures and project future financial needs. District-wide interagency cooperation is the responsibility of the DCO; they function as the district's liaison with other agencies.

Please note that applicants for this position may be required to complete a physical fitness assessment, psychological examination, and medical exam during the hiring process.

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 $65/month for medical and vision & $11.80/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

Responsibilities:

• Trains, assigns work, and evaluates performance of conservation officers within a district.
• Prepares and recommends district budget.
• Assigns and supervises collection of biological data for wildlife studies and projects.
• Assigns and supervises patrols to detect and control violators of fish and game laws.
• Supervises and conducts investigations of suspected violators.
• Prepares or oversees preparation of case materials and testifies in court regarding offenses.
• Presents information to hunting, angling, and trapping groups and other organizations.
• Coordinates wildlife conservation program with other department programs.
• With or without reasonable accommodations, these positions involve walking in rugged terrain; lifting and carrying 50 - 100 pounds; and working in extreme weather conditions.

Minimum Qualifications: (These qualifications are required.)

Please Note: Competitive candidates have a bachelor's degree in Fish and/or Wildlife Management AND have at least two years cumulative work experience in a natural resource field position.

• Must have obtained Permanent Status as an Idaho Department of Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer OR an equivalent level of comparable professional experience in the techniques used to investigate violations of fish and game laws; and laws of arrest, search and seizure, and civil rights of citizens; good knowledge of fish and wildlife management practices to include habitat and forage requirements, behavior of various fish and wildlife species, and wildlife population dynamics; experience making, preparing and giving oral presentations on wildlife management issues.
• Some knowledge of supervisory practices. (Typically gained by completion of a class or seminar (of more than one day) specifically covering supervisory practices or the elements of supervision; OR completion of a college-level personnel related course covering supervisory practices; OR leadwork experience that involved work assignment, direction, and monitoring of staff (such experience on a fill-in basis is non-qualifying unless for a period equivalent to a minimum of three months or more they do not have to be consecutive months).
• Must be able to meet IDFG and Idaho POST requirements. For more information about the Idaho POST entrance requirements, please see the information in the following link - https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/11/111101.pdf.
• Idaho Law requires that peace officers be certified by Idaho's Peace Officer Standards and Training Council ("POST"). The statutes and regulations of POST require that every peace officer be a citizen of the United States, and that citizenship must be established through one of the following: A birth certificate issued by the city, county or state and filed within one year of birth; Naturalization Certificate; U.S. Passport; Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth; or Certificate of Citizenship
• POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
  o NOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02 An applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
  o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
  o The term “Conviction” shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant’s appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.
• POST Requirement one of the following:
  o High school graduate from a school accredited as a high school at the time of graduation by the recognized regional accreditation body;
  o Have passed GED or IBM Assessment Test in subject areas required by POST;
  o Have successfully completed a high school equivalency program and obtained a state-issued certificate;
  o Have successfully completed a minimum of fifteen (15) academic credits at a U.S. regionally accredited college (please see IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.053.01.d for a list of the POST-accepted regional accreditation agencies.);
  o Completed a course of study, either in a formal school setting or through homeschooling if the program is recognized by a state or by a local school district within a state as having met that state’s high school graduation requirements.
• Be at least 21 years of age by the date of hire.
• Valid driver’s license from your state of residence and that you qualify for an Idaho driver’s license.
• Physical Fitness Standards must be met twice a year by all District Conservation Officers. Listed below are the exercises that will be assessed and the required minimum passing score for each exercise:
  o Vertical Jump - Minimum Passing Score = 14 inches
  o Sit-Ups (in one minute) - Minimum Passing Score = 15 repetitions
  o Push-Ups (no time limit) - Minimum Passing Score = 21 repetitions
  o 1.5 Mile Run/Walk - Minimum Passing Score = 17:17 minutes/seconds
  o 300 Meters Run - Minimum Passing Score = 77 seconds

Automatic Disqualifiers:

• Applicants must be a sworn peace officer
• Selected candidate must obtain a certificate from the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy
• POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
  o NOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02 An applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
  o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
  o The term "Conviction" shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.

• Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of domestic violence from carrying a firearm.
• Any felony convictions
• Marijuana usage, which is considered illegal in the state of Idaho, within the last year.
• Drug usage, excluding marijuana, which are considered illegal in the State of Idaho within the last three years.
  o The term "used" is defined as any intentional or unintentional testing, smoking, injecting, absorbing, sniffing, or inhaling of any drug not prescribed, administered, or provided to the applicant by a licensed physician, their authorized agent, or practitioner allowed to do so by statute.
• Drug conviction within the last three years.
• Served in the military and been given any of the following military discharges: Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD), Dishonorable Discharge (DD), or Administrative Discharge of other than Honorable (OTH).

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

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

Thank you for applying with us!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Idaho Department of Fish and Game
P.O. Box 25
Boise, Idaho 83707

WEBSITE:
https://idfg.idaho.gov/

If you have questions,
please contact us at:

EMAIL:
idfgjob@idfg.idaho.gov

PHONE:
(208) 334-3773

EEO/ADA/Veteran:

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.

Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.