Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist (35 Hour)(Supervising Furbearer Biologist)

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is currently recruiting for an Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist (35 Hour) to work as a Supervising Furbearer Biologist in Burlington, CT.

This position is open to Agency employees and is full-time on first shift, 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Hybrid work opportunities are available for this position.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Oversee all operations for the furbearer program.
• Design and implement research projects for management and/or conservation of furbearing species.
• Participate in development of public outreach materials, press releases, and media interviews regarding furbearing populations.
• Collect and analyze data on furbearer populations.
• Prepare legislative and regulatory proposals regarding management of furbearer populations.
• Address human-wildlife encounters with black bears and other furbearers.
• Work with conservation partners and municipalities on furbearer management.
• Develop and present public presentations, both technical and general.
• Assist in the development of management practices and protocols for furbearer species.

For additional responsibilities, see the "Examples of Duties" section below.

ABOUT US

At the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.

Connecticut’s system of state parks and forests, state boat launches, and waterways, provide many opportunities for outdoor recreation for residents and visitors alike. These range from camping and fishing to hiking, boating, and picnicking.

The Bureaus of Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources lead the agency’s outdoor recreation efforts by acquiring and managing lands with an eye toward providing public use that is compatible with long term protection of natural resources.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY

• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Ben Beaudry at benjamin.beaudry@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Division of Wildlife this class is accountable for supervising staff engaged in wildlife management, research and conservation.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• Determines priorities and plans unit work;
• Establishes and maintains procedures;
• Develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards;
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, divisions, agencies and outside regarding policies and procedures;
• Prepares reports and correspondence;
• Prepares plans for wildlife management projects;
• Reviews and/or coordinates establishment of wildlife management areas;
• Conducts biological research for management and/or conservation of wildlife species;
• Conducts studies to evaluate results of wildlife management projects;
• Inspects land management projects to determine effects on wildlife;
• Makes recommendations for improvement of wildlife conditions and addresses interested groups on wildlife matters;
• May act as Supervisor of Wildlife Management;
• May plan wildlife reintroduction activities;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • habits and ecology of wildlife;
  • principles and practices of wildlife management including habitat management and population;
• Knowledge of methods and procedures involved in conducting biological research studies;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • identify plants which serve as wildlife food and cover;
  • utilize computer software;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in wildlife management.

NOTE: Wildlife management is defined as work requiring a knowledge of scientific fields such as wildlife, biology, zoology, wildlife population dynamics, wildlife ecology, plant ecology, vertebrate zoology, ornithology, mammalogy, animal and plant taxonomy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training in wildlife management as defined may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in wildlife management as defined may be substituted for an additional one (1) year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supervising field staff, managing budgets, and administering projects.
• Experience with preparing and executing contracts and project agreements, grant writing, and tracking performance reporting requirements of the federal Wildlife Restoration Act.
• Experience with policy processes, including the development and review of statutes and regulations.
• Experience performing media interviews, giving public presentations, and providing legislative testimony.
• Experience with data management, data analysis, and report writing.
• Experience in furbearer management, population assessments, disease monitoring, harvest monitoring, furbearer trapping, and best management practices from the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.
• Experience capturing, handling, aversively conditioning, and chemically immobilizing furbearers including black bears.
• Experience with firearms including tranquilizer dart guns.
• Experience working with stakeholders, trappers, hunters, farmers, and state and local officials.
• Experience working with state and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to resolve local and regional furbearer management issues.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
• A physical examination will be required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be subject to some danger of injury of personal harm from environmental and working conditions and to a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.