Job Description

NAWCA Technician

North Dakota

Position: 2 DU (NAWCA) Private Lands Conservation Specialists

Duty Stations: 

• 1 at Kulm Wetland Management District; Kulm, North Dakota
• 1 at Chase Lake Wetland Management District; Pingree, North Dakota

Duties: 

Assist USFWS and Ducks Unlimited in identifying and successfully acquiring perpetual conservation easements on valuable wetland and grassland habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds. Assist other U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) Private Lands biologists in conserving wildlife habitat throughout the Kulm and Chase Lake Wetland Management Districts. Officially, this position is a Ducks Unlimited employee, but daily operations are supervised by the USFWS. Coordination with USFWS Private Land staff is essential to ensure proper permits, documentation, and technical guidance is followed on private lands projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

• To ensure that the goals of the North Dakota Prairie Pothole Project are met through habitat management, restoration, development, and preservation projects.
• Projects include acquisition of grassland and wetland easements, wetland restorations, wetland creations, grass seedings, grazing systems, etc.
• Most of these projects occur on private lands. It is essential the candidate for this position has the skills and abilities to work with private landowners to conserve valuable migratory bird habitat.
• Coordination with local, state, & federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations, farmers, ranchers, and private landowners to complete projects.

Education and experience needed:

• Wetland/grassland ecology of the North Dakota Prairie Pothole Region, habitat management techniques and knowledge of migratory and local wildlife.
• Knowledge of the Farm Bill, North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA), and general farming/ranching practices.
• Knowledge of conservation programs of other agencies and non-governmental organizations also is beneficial.

Skills needed:

• Must be self-motivated and have persuasive communication abilities to effectively initiate contacts with local landowners via phone, mail, and/or in-person visits.
• Must have excellent organizational skills to follow up on contacts.
• Must have ability to focus on long-term goals and manage projects that can take over a year to complete.
• Must have ability to work independently with limited oversight and also work well as part of the overall team.
• Must have excellent technology and computer skills to prepare maps, data bases, and operate GPS/GIS hardware and software.
• Must have valid driver's license and provide proof of insurability.

This position offers tremendous personal satisfaction to those who value the importance of protecting migratory bird habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota. The Kulm and Chase Lake Wetland Management Districts are in a top waterfowl producing area in North America. The Kulm/Chase Lake region contains excellent wetland resources and offers outstanding hunting, fishing, and outdoor opportunities.

To Apply: Please fill out all application materials and attach a resume, cover letter, and three references with daytime telephone numbers