Description

Job Duties:

The Wildlife Biologist is responsible for the implementation of the Department's wildlife management program, including the State Wildlife Action Plan based from the Butte area resource office. Area of responsibility includes portions of the Pinter, Beaverhead, Pioneer and Highland mountains, Big Hole valley, and the Fleecer and Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Areas. This includes designing and conducting field investigations on wildlife populations and habitats, preparing survey reports and wildlife management recommendations, communicating department programs and policies, informing the general public of wildlife and habitat matters, maintaining, enhancing, and protecting wildlife habitat and hunting access on private and public lands and maintaining proficiency as a professional wildlife scientist

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Survey, capture, and handling methods frequently involve stressful and dangerous situations. Surveys require use of low-level fixed wing and helicopter flights in mountain valley, foothill and high mountain habitats. Capturing and handling big game animals involves the use of controlled substances and potentially lethal immobilization chemicals and handling big game animals such as deer, elk, bears, lions, moose, and sheep.

Wildlife surveys and inventories often require use of light aircraft and helicopter at low altitudes and in hazardous flying conditions, sitting in confined spaces with exposure to high noise levels.

Field work is often carried out alone in rugged terrain during unpredictable and inclement weather conditions. Hours of work are often long and irregular, and include evening meetings and occasional weekend work.

Requirements

For more information and to apply, Click here.

You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.  Please apply before closing date of July 24, 2026.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a Master's Degree in Fish and Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Range Management, Zoology or Biology, including completion of a field research project presented in a successfully defended thesis.   Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case  basis.

Equivalent experience is defined as five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a wildlife biologist or senior wildlife technician that includes examples of:

• Literature review and development of a problem statement and or hypothesis for a particular issue.
• Development of a detailed study plan or sampling protocol for a field-oriented project based on the above-noted hypothesis.
• Data collection and the effective management of data with an appropriate application.
• Interpretation and analysis of data, including a quantitative assessment of that information.
• Completion of a final report in a peer-reviewed publication or a publication comparable to a refereed journal.
• If appropriate to the project, formulation of any recommended changes in management prescriptions and or actions.
• Oral presentation on results of investigation to agency staff or public audience.