Employment opportunities

Location: Exeter, Rhode Island
Salary Range: $66,500
Classification: Limited Term
Start Date: September/October 2021
Duration: Three Years
Recruitment: Internal/External
Application Deadline: October 25, 2021

Position Summary

The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife (RIDFW) is looking for an innovative, organized, and self-motivated individual with a strong hunting and human dimensions background to plan and coordinate the State’s efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate (R3) outdoor enthusiasts, specifically hunters, trappers and shooting sportsmen and women.

As the R3 Coordinator, you will work with a talented team of wildlife biologists and educators to develop and implement a statewide R3 plan. This includes evaluating strategies to increase diversity and overall participation in hunting and shooting sports in Rhode Island. It is imperative that this process is data driven. Thus, as the Coordinator, you will require skills related to requesting, analyzing, and interpreting data, as well as leading efforts to adapt current programs and develop new efforts based on those findings. Working with data, your teammates, partner organizations and agencies, you’ll help organize and conduct events and workshops to increase overall participation in hunting and shooting sports.

Overview

Work independently in a joint capacity with the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), Division of Fish and Wildlife (RIDFW) to provide Coordination services to RIDFW. The incumbent will work out of the RIDEM E-Hun-Tee facility in Exeter, Rhode Island. The work area will be statewide, and some duties may require out-of-state travel. This position will be classified as a limited term employee of the WMI. Direct supervision of day-to-day activities will be provided by RIDEM.

Limited-term employees are defined as employees of WMI retained to provide a specific scope of services as defined within one or more grants or contracts awarded to WMI. WMI bases your employment upon your skills and knowledge and ability to achieve desired outcomes defined by RIDEM.

As a limited term employee:

• You will be expected to work no more than an average of 35 hours per week in any 12-month period.
• You will be eligible for WMI 401(k) retirement benefits and WMI will provide workers’ compensation, general liability protection, professional liability protection and unemployment insurance benefits. WMI will withhold taxes including social security.
• Total annual compensation will reflect your base salary plus the amount contributed to your 401(k) by WMI. In addition to salary but contingent upon the funding available within the contract or grant that defines your scope of services, WMI will reimburse you for any travel expenses that are necessary and reasonable to perform the duties assigned to you. The salary also includes a $14,000 stipend for the acquisition of health insurance at the discretion of the employee.
• Your employment will be “at-will,” which means that either you or WMI can end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without notice.

Duties

• Develop, coordinate, and implement a recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) plan for hunters in the State of Rhode Island, in alignment with existing state efforts, national goals established in the National Hunting and Shooting Sports Action Plan and other R3 best practices resources.
• Build collaborative partnerships
  • Develop and maintain strong partnerships with members of sporting groups, retailers, industry, and organizations to help recruit, retain and/or reactivate hunters.
  • Assist in developing and coordinating communication plans designed to maintain positive relationships with the public, program stakeholders, other Rhode Island agencies/organizations, and related service programs.
• Develop R3 programs, printed materials, and resources
  • Plan and conduct surveys, programs, workshops, and events to improve cultural acceptance of hunting and shooting sports, increase access to hunting and shooting sports opportunities, and improve skills and training for participants based upon known barriers to hunting participation.
  • Coordinate the development, organization and translation of web content, signs, and other outreach materials, including social media outputs.
• Request, analyze & evaluate data and trends
  • Facilitate the requisite research, monitoring, reporting and data analyses needed for the development and implementation of a new R3 program and statewide plan.
  • Develop a method to track participation as well as determine and evaluate whether specific programming is contributing to R3 efforts.
  • Work with stakeholders to develop, evaluate and modify a state-specific strategic plan as necessary.
  • Create, maintain, and update program evaluation tools and surveys to gather data on participant outcomes and outputs.
• Create and maintain a high-performance environment
  • Define goals and/or required results at the beginning of reporting periods and gain acceptance of ideas by creating a shared vision.
  • Initiate discussions and communicate regularly with supervisor and stakeholders on progress toward defined goals and required results.
  • Identify issues and solve problems by coordinating actions across organizational lines and agency departments.

Expected Results

• Improve statewide R3 strategy, program design, and outcome tracking efforts.
• Increase participation in hunting and shooting sports and support the agency’s mission and safeguard wildlife conservation in the state.
• Increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of RIDFW activities and efforts toward wildlife conservation.
• Increase awareness of, enthusiasm for, and participation in RIDFW training programs that encourage outdoor recreational activities in hunting, trapping and shooting sports.
• Provide an overall benefit to wildlife conservation through improved public understanding of agency programs and mission.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's Degree in a science-related natural resources field, education, marketing or communications; and four years’ experience coordinating, administering, or managing a program; or, any combination of experience or education equivalent to seven years of experience coordinating, administering or managing a program.

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of hunting and shooting sports programs, training theory, instructional design, and program management.
• Experience developing, scheduling, and facilitating programs delivered to the public related to hunting or other outdoor recreation activities or skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience working with multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications including spreadsheets, internet, and computer applications.
• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods including alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media (e.g., articles, blog posts, social media, podcasts, video).
• Self-starter attitude with the ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, possess excellent organizational skills, and work well as a team member.
• Trustworthy and possessing the highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards.

Conditions for Appointment: The incumbent must be physically qualified to perform assigned duties in a variety of different environments, including an office environment, field environment, rugged terrain, and various adverse weather conditions (extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, sleet, etc.), and must be able to lift at least 50 pounds.

Must possess, or be able to obtain, a Class D valid driver’s license, and be willing to travel within and outside the state. Total travel is not expected to exceed 15% of time requirements.

Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check is required.

Application Procedures

Applications must be submitted on or before the application deadline (Monday, October 25, 2021) to be considered. Send a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications and a resume to Emily George, Supervising Wildlife Biologist, Emily.George@dem.ri.gov.

For questions about WMI Limited Term Employee terms, contact:

Scot Williamson, Vice President
Wildlife Management Institute
4426 VT Route 215 N
Cabot, VT 05647
802-563-2087
swilliamson@wildlifemgt.org

Conserving and Enhancing Flood-irrigated Waterbird Habitat & Livestock Production on Working Lands

Application Deadline:: November 5, 2021
Location: Lakeview, Oregon
Anticipated Start Date: On or about December 15, 2021, TBD

Overview

This opportunity is part of a collaborative effort between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV), U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) to further conservation delivery of NRCS Conservation Implementation Strategies (CIS) and other working lands conservation programs in southeast Oregon. The position will provide technical assistance to NRCS for implementing the Working Lands for Waterbirds Habitat Conservation CIS and other wildlife habitat conservation efforts. The primary objective will be marketing and delivering Farm Bill conservation programs to livestock producers, flood irrigators and private landowners. This position will be administered by the IWJV and key funding partners. The successful applicant will be an employee of Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). WMI’s mission is: “dedicated to the conservation, enhancement and professional management of North America’s wildlife and other natural resources.” Daily guidance will be provided by the Lake County NRCS District Conservationists (DC). A team of contributing partner organization staff will provide additional oversight and guidance.

Duties

• Provide technical assistance (conservation planning, livestock and flood irrigation management, wildlife biology, wet meadow management, waterbird habitat management, or other natural resource disciplines) and guidance to landowners, government agencies, non-government organizations and others. Training will be provided by NRCS, IWJV, USFWS, DU and other local and state agencies.
• Coordinate integration and application of biological sciences and production agriculture within the conservation programs in cooperation with the local NRCS DC and others, consistent with Field Office Technical Guides.
• Complete conservation plans and maps, contracts, applications and other required documentation for implementing Farm Bill conservation programs ((i.e., Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)), and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Program. The position requires expertise in biological sciences, surface-irrigated agricultural lands (i.e. flood-irrigated), aquatic invasive species management, invasive plant management and rangeland science in cooperation with private landowners and partners.
• Communicate program requirements, complete site visits to determine eligibility, and develop contracts/plans for applicants enrolling in USDA conservation programs or other state and local conservation programs for the management, restoration, enhancement and protection of flood-irrigated pasture, hay lands, and associated wetlands and riparian areas to mutually benefit livestock forage production and wetland-dependent migratory birds.
• Work with agricultural producers to develop and implement infrastructure repair projects on flood-irrigated pasture and hay lands. Provide information to landowners on emerging working lands conservation easement programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including promotion, marketing and outreach activities related to USDA, NAWCA and OWEB projects.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively with private landowners, government agency personnel and conservation partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse clientele.
• Knowledge of ranch management, water resource management and wetland ecology, including the ability to develop and complete flood irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation projects that include wetland wildlife habitat management objectives.
• Ability to obtain USDA Security Clearance and NRCS Conservation Planning certification.
• Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license.
• A general qualification guideline for this position is an Associate’s Degree, or equivalent, in Natural Resource Planning, Rangeland Science, Wildlife Biology/Management or Agriculture Technology, with an emphasis on developing prescribed grazing systems and course work and/or experience in working lands management systems is desirable. Funding partners may agree to substitute experience in ranching if that experience includes forage production using flood irrigation.
• Computer skills are required and applicant should be familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to use NRCS Conservation Desktop, GIS applications, and GPS systems would be beneficial.
• Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time over rough terrain; lift and move material weighing up to 50 pounds; work in all types of weather conditions.

Additional Information

The funds for this position are primarily of federal origin, managed through Cooperative Agreements with the hiring entity. Compensation is commensurate with experience. The position is year-round. The work week will be 37 hours/week.

Training and Experience Guideline

Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Salary

$49,500 per year, based on education and experience. Because the position does not include health insurance benefits, the advertised salary includes a 10% stipend to offset the cost of health insurance. The position will be eligible for WMI 401(k) retirement benefits and WMI will provide workers’ compensation, general liability protection, professional liability protection and unemployment insurance benefits.

To Apply

Send a cover letter, resume and three references with contact information.

Email

Send application materials to ccolson@ducks.org and ed.contreras@iwjv.org by the application deadline.