Habitat Conservation Technician

Job ID: 31148

Agency: Department of Game, Fish, and Parks

Location:Ft. Pierre, SD

Salary: $18.56 - $27.84 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: F

Closing Date: 04/29/2025

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. For more information on the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, please visit https://gfp.sd.gov/ .

Why the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks?Working for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is not just a job. It is a life passion. It is about working together as a team with colleagues, customers, landowners, and partner organizations to ensure that our state’s outdoor heritage lives on for the next generation. Providing exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities for people to enjoy is one of the best jobs in state government. Our atmosphere empowers professional success and team building, while fostering relationships to build a culture focused on our four strategic plan goals.

• Provide outdoor recreational opportunities
• Serve as stewards of our state’s natural resources
• Inspire confidence
• Foster professional excellence
  
  

All We Need Is You To Join Our Team! Sound Like a Good Fit So Far? As a South Dakota Department Of Game, Fish And Parks Employee, Here Is What You Will Experience

• Innovation – The GFP Team is consistently revolutionizing enhancements to outdoor recreation in terms of technology and customer experience. We invite new ideas and interaction from our employees.
• Collaboration and Communication – Our employees work with various teams, programs and divisions within the agency, outside state and federal agencies, and public stakeholders. We want all employees to know that their voice will be heard as we continuously work towards our future goals.
• Professional Development – We provide training and support for you to become an expert in the field and obtain the skills necessary to be successful in your position.
• Task Diversity – The work duties are never boring. Your duties may include meetings with coworkers, collaborating with other government representatives, representing the Department at Commission meetings and national conferences, visiting one of our state parks and recreation areas, or working to enhance habitat on a game production area.
  
  

The outdoors provides for a pretty nice corner office!

Who We’re Looking For?

• Do you have an interest of working within habitat resource management?
• Are you excellent at organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks and projects while maintaining a positive attitude?
• Do you welcome the opportunity to tackle problems and think quickly to find innovative solutions?
  
  

What You Will Do

This Conservation Technician position implements wildlife and land management projects as assigned, primarily on State Game Production Areas in the central portion of Region 2, which includes the following counties: Sully, Hughes, Stanley, Hand and Hyde. This position also conducts equipment, office, and shop grounds maintenance, and may act as a project leader over seasonal employees and Interns. Field duties include, but are not limited to planting trees, grass, and food plots; prescribe fire; fencing, tree removal; mowing; public land signing; noxious weed management. Successful applicant will also be required to complete a certified ATV safety course, an online UTV safety course, obtain a South Dakota Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator License, and Fire Fighter Type 2 certification.

Licenses And Certifications

• CDL will be required within 30 days of hire date
• South Dakota Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator License
• Wildland Fire fighter Type 2
  
  

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Education and experience in wildlife habitat management is preferred.
• Knowledge of habitat management techniques and equipment used in the development of habitat for wildlife
  
  

Knowledge Of

• practices of human resources management sufficient to provide daily training and work direction to temporary employees and answer their questions.
  
  

Skill To

• use Windows programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• use software including ArcMap, Survey 123, and ArcGIS collector;
• work effectively with agency staff, diverse members of the public, and conservation organizations;
• operate computers and various GIS/GPS technologies.
  
  

Ability To

• operate a wide range of equipment including tractor, skid steer, UTV, ATV, grass planting equipment, tree planting equipment, pumps, small engines, disks, chainsaws, and mowers;
• maintain and fix equipment;
• identify noxious weeds and control strategies;
• handle equipment and chemical safely;
• recruiting and training seasonal crew members;
• clearly provide work direction to others;
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, other agencies, and the public;
• communicate sufficiently to resolve conflicts with staff, the public, and landowners.
  
  

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1GR

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"