Under general supervision, within assigned Division, evaluates habitat needs for a variety of wildlife species, conducts field work to support ongoing activities. The Wildlife Habitat Specialist proficiently applies biological theories to a wide range of assignments within the Division’s mission with focus on wildlife habitat.

1. Review and comment on proposed forest activity on the Muckleshoot Tomanamus Forest. Assesses impacts to game and non-game species. Recommends habitat management approaches to meet species needs and regulatory requirements.
2. Reviews Washington State Department of Natural Resources Forest Practice Applications of landowners that may influence big game habitat and tribal use of non-Tribal lands.
3. Works with landowners to implement habitat improvement projects in the Cedar River Watershed (Seattle Public Utilities), Green River Watershed (Tacoma Water, WADNR, USFS, corporate timberlands, BPA, PSE), and White River Watershed (Muckleshoot Tomanamus, DNR, USFS, BPA, PSE).
4. Conducts active management on Tribal and partner lands including invasive species control, mowing, seeding, or mechanical brush control.
5. Reviews environmental documents, or portions of the documents, from local governments, State and Federal agencies, and private individuals and provides summary, comments, and recommendations.
6. Monitor Timber, Fish, and Wildlife activities relevant to Muckleshoot Wildlife interests. Monitor WA DNR Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (CMER) relevant to Muckleshoot wildlife interests.
7. Conduct non-game species presence and distribution investigations on Tribal lands using standard survey, inventory, and monitoring methods.
8. Conducts habitat surveys and investigations including measuring vegetation attributes.
9. Participates in meetings and works with other landowners and agencies on a variety of projects.
10. Assists in the review and/or development of management plans.
11. Participate in other Wildlife Program activities including but not limited to capture and collar big game, monitor status of collared animals, conduct mortality investigations, survey wildlife from helicopter.
12. Prepares reports, graph and charts; prepares correspondence pertaining to technical aspects of the work; uses computer software to perform calculations, store and track data.
13. Conducts GIS analyses or mapping as directed.
14. Because of the Tribe’s commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time. Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.

Required: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in wildlife biology or wildlife management, forestry, natural resource science, environmental science or a closely related field is required. Additional field experience in wildlife biology and/or management or closely related field desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Wildlife species and their habitats and regulatory status
• Basic principles of wildlife biology and management
• Data collection, management, summarization, analysis, and presentation techniques
• Herbicide types and use restrictions
• Field safety and first aid
• Use of power equipment such as chain saws and brush cutters

• Safe approaches to working alone in remote locations

 

Skill in:

• Use of GPS, map, and compass
• Computer software packages and ESRI ArcGIS
• Collecting and recording accurate scientific data
• Plant and animal identification
• Communicating clearly and effectively both verbally and written with a variety of partners
• Flying in a helicopter or other aircraft for long periods without fatigue
• Driving four-wheel drive vehicles on unimproved roads in various conditions
• Towing loaded flatbed trailers in excess of 10,000lbs GVW
• Operation of 4-wheel drive diesel tractors and implements

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class.

 

Work is performed outdoors and in an office setting. Frequently operates a motor vehicle. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office and field equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear; and occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift, carry, and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds over short distance. Be able to carry 30 to 50-pound pack off-trail over difficult and often wet terrain and vegetation. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Work outside may include close proximity to insects, wildlife, and plants. Outdoor activities may include long off-trail walks over uneven, rocky, densely vegetated, and steep terrain. The employee must be able to sit for up to 3 hours while flying in a helicopter conducting surveys and not be physically ill. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious, slippery places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate to loud in the field. Field work may infrequently occur at odd hours including very early or very late, weekends, and overnight travel.

 

COMMON RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POSITION:

• Often works alone in remote areas without cell phone service and may be a long distance from emergency responders;
• Exposure to insect stings and bites;
• Heat, heat stroke;
• Cold, frostbite particularly while flying in a helicopter with doors off during capture;
• Driving on unimproved roads including dry and dusty conditions that affect visibility, or snow covered roads;
• Driving on narrow logging roads with the potential for a head-on encounter with a loaded logging truck;
• Injuries due to terrain or landscape conditions while hiking off-trail such as logging slash, mountain beaver holes, rivers, rotten logs, slippery logs, sharp sticks, prickly or toxic vegetation;
• Cuts, punctures, and scrapes with subsequent infection during dead animal investigations, sharp vegetation, or rocks;
• Use of agricultural tractor and mower that might result in injury, amputation, or death;
• Exposure to herbicides that require appropriate PPE;
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as insecticides, or formaldehyde;
• Animal capture from a low-level helicopter using dart guns or net guns that may result in a crash with subsequent injury or death;
• Flying in helicopter and/or fixed-wing aircraft;
• Animal captures that may result in injuries due to terrain conditions, animals kicking or biting, or equipment untangling and retrieval;
• Exposure to potentially communicable pathogens during dead animal investigations, captures, or sample collections (e.g., fecal or blood sampling);
• Exposure to animal immobilization drugs including potent synthetic narcotics;
• Contact with the public who may have a negative view of the Tribe and who may threaten bodily harm or vehicle damage.

Valid Washington state driver’s license. Washington Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators License required to be obtained within 6 months of employment.