Starting Salary: $67,966
Anticipated Starting Date: May 15th, 2023, or sooner, depending on availability
Location: Based out of the DFW Great Swamp headquarters office at 277 Great Neck Rd, West Kingston, RI, 02892
Overview
We are seeking to fill a full-time, year-round, wildlife and fish biological technician to assist with research and outreach programs throughout Rhode Island. This position is a cooperative position held between The Wildlife Management Institute and Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife. This position will work on a wide variety of programs, with many different staff, though out the year based on divisional needs. The DFW full-time biological technician will report to the wildlife supervising biologist and will be enthusiastic about unique and ever-changing work tasks. This position will provide assistance, as well as occasionally take lead collecting field data, quality control and quality assurance, and data entry.
As an example of duties, the selected candidate will work on many, if not all, of the following:
- Deer-check stations
- Waterfowl capture and banding
- Bat program survey and detections
- Herpetofauna identification and monitoring
- Non-gamebird surveys and monitoring
- Pheasant stocking
- Fish shocking and fish counts
- Rabbit capture and relocation
- Wildlife habitat monitoring, mitigation, and implementation
- Trout stocking
- Diadromous fish run operation and maintenance
- Professional outreach and communication with the public regarding biological programs
- Supervision and education of DFW volunteers
- Training of new temporary/seasonal staff
- Additional work as assigned by supervisor
Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate will have earned a B.S. in wildlife biology, fisheries, zoology, ecology, or a related natural resources degree. Applicants should have experience working on a variety of wildlife and/or fisheries research projects and should be willing to work long, irregular hours. Preference will be given for those with work live trapping and handling, and experience with hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Must be able to collect quality data in varying weather conditions at all hours of the day and unpleasant field conditions.
Must be self-motivated and able to work on multiple projects simultaneously to conserve resources and maximize time efficiency.
Must be willing to work with deceased wildlife species of all varieties to collect biological samples for disease testing and removal of invasive species.
Must be able to communicate a message clearly to broad audiences both in person and in writing, including drafts for social media platforms (I.e., Instagram, Twitter).
Must be able to lift 50 lbs., move speedily over rough terrain, and work dexterously with both hands.
A considerable amount of truck-based travel and work is involved, requiring defensive driving skills. A preferred applicant will have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and experience operating 4-wheel drive vehicles and boats. The technician will work as part of a research, biologist, and outreach team based at the Great Swamp Headquarters in west Kingston, RI. This position will be classified as a Biological Technician I through WMI.
Vehicles will be provided for fieldwork.
WMI Contracts
Work independently in a joint capacity with the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) and the Bureau of Natural Resources, Rhode Island Department of Environmental (RIDEM) to aid freshwater fisheries and wildlife biologist programs throughout Rhode Island. The incumbent will work out of the RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife headquarters in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The work area will be statewide. 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. No other benefits are provided.
- 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.
Application Procedures
To apply via email, send a resume with contact information for at least three professional references to: david.kalb@dem.ri.gov
Applications via mail must be postmarked before the application deadline to be considered and should be sent to:
David M Kalb Ph.D.
Supervising Biologist
RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife
277 Great Neck Road
West Kingston, RI 02892
For questions about WMI Limited Term Employee terms, contact:
Scot Williamson, VP
Wildlife Management Institute
4426 VT Route 215 N
Cabot, VT 05647
802-563-2087
swilliamson@wildlifemgt.org