WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN 1

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED: TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCE AGENCY, CAMPBELL COUNTY

Working Title: Elk Technician

Qualifications

• possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions.
• upon appointment, successfully acquire a valid commercial driver's license/endorsement in some positions.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Summary

Summary: Under general supervision, performs wildlife conservation work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the entry/working class in the Wildlife Technician series. Employees in this class perform wildlife conservation work in one of the following specialty areas: creel surveys, state lake operation and maintenance, fish attractor construction and fish data collection, wildlife area operation and maintenance, or hatchery operation and maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

• Assists Wildlife Biologists/Managers with studies of fish populations.
• Collects fish by electro-fishing (shocking) methods.
• Conducts interviews with fishermen to obtain data required for determining fish species harvest, fishing pressure, year groups, fish weights and lengths, number of fishermen, and economic information pertaining to fishermen.
• Constructs and places fish attractors in reservoirs throughout the state to create productive sites for fishermen.
• Draws down the ponds to remove fish for stocking; and transports the fish in tanker vehicles to designated stocking sites, stocks designated sites.
• Monitors and protects fry where they continue to grow to supply adult stocking programs; feeds the fish in ponds.
• Receives eggs from federal and private hatcheries; disinfects the eggs; places the fry hatched from these eggs in incubator trays; feeds the fry until they reach a size which enables them to be placed in ponds.

• Construct access routes and forest roads.
• Conduct forest and conservation work associated with seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires and maintaining recreational facilities.
• Conduct forest nursery operations, monitor timber harvesting, perform land use activities such as disease or insect control programs.
• Conduct forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, fire detection and public education.
• Inspect trees and collect samples of plants, seeds, foliage, bark and roots to locate insect and disease damage.
• Perform reforestation, or forest renewal, including nursery and silviculture operations, site preparation, seeding and tree planting programs, cone collection, and tree improvement.
• Provide forestry education and general information, advice, and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations, and the general public.
• Provide technical support to forestry research programs in areas such as tree improvement, seed orchard operations, insect and disease surveys, or experimental forestry and forest engineering research.
• Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
• Survey, measure, and map access roads and forest areas such as burns, cut-over areas, experimental plots, and timber sales sections.
• Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.

• Operating, running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, tractors, dozers, or water craft.

• Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

• Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

• Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

• The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

• Assists in constructing and maintaining buildings, storage sheds, roads, bridges, and trails at the assigned agency area; and maintains equipment assigned to agency controlled areas.
• Assists Wildlife Biologists/Managers with wildlife population studies.
• Collects biological data (age, weight, size, and condition) from game killed on managed hunts.
• Locates and traps animals such as turkeys and bears for relocation to other areas of the state.
• Manage hunts on state owned lands.
• Measure distances, clean site-lines, and record data to help survey crews.
• Plants and grows crops to feed wildlife.

Competencies

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of wildlife and fisheries habitat management or a related field.
• Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance.
• Basic knowledge hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations.
• Basic computer knowledge and use for administrative duties.
• Basic knowledge of hunter safety and firearm use.
• Basic knowledge of safe handling of sick or injured wildlife.

Skills:

• Finger dexterity
• Manual dexterity
• Hand arm steadiness
• Critical thinking skills.
• Active listening and learning skills.
• Oral comprehension
• Oral expression
• Depth perception
• Stamina
• Multi-limb coordination
• Trunk strength
• Near vision
• Speech recognition
• Written expression
• Handling and moving objects
• Mathematics

Abilities:

• Problem solving abilities
• Judgment and decision making
• Equipment selection
• Reading comprehension
• Deductive reasoning
• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• Time management
• Written comprehension

Tools & Equipment

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.