Wildlife Technician 1 - 05112023-45997

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY, MONROE COUNTY
This is an on-site position

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Experience equivalent to one year of fulltime wildlife conservation, forestry, farming or closely related work; qualifying coursework at an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Other Requirements

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

• 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.

Job Overview

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.

Work Activities

Communicating with Persons outside the Organization:

• 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.

Fish Management:

• 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.
• Collects fish by electro-fishing (shocking) methods.
• 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.
• Assists Wildlife Biologists/Managers with studies of fish populations.
• Monitors and protects fry where they continue to grow to supply adult stocking programs; feeds the fish in ponds.
• Draws down the ponds to remove fish for stocking; and transports the fish in tanker vehicles to designated stocking sites, stocks designated sites.
• Constructs and places fish attractors in reservoirs throughout the state to create productive sites for fishermen.

Forestry Management:

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

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices or Equipment:

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

Performing General Physical Activities:

• 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.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment:

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

Mechanical:

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

Trunk Strength:

• 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.

WMA Management & Maintenance:

• Manage hunts on state owned lands.
• Plants and grows crops to feed wildlife.
• Measure distances, clean site-lines, and record data to help survey crews.
• Locates and traps animals such as turkeys and bears for relocation to other areas of the state.
• Assists Wildlife Biologists/Managers with wildlife population studies.
• 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.
• Collects biological data (age, weight, size, and condition) from game killed on managed hunts.

Competencies (KSA'S)

Competencies:

• Listening
• Ethics and Values
• Decision Quality
• Problem Solving
• Learning on the Fly
• Time Management
• Technical Learning
• Perseverance
• Action Oriented
• Integrity and Trust

Knowledge:

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

Skills:

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

Abilities:

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

Tools and Equipment Used

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.