Deer Program Supervisor

Deer Management
This position leads the statewide deer management program to manage for healthy and sustainable deer populations while allowing for deer recreation opportunities. The Deer Program Manager will assess the condition and trends of deer populations and their habitats statewide for the Department. Based on evaluations of population and habitat information, develop recommendations for projects to improve habitat on public and private lands and coordinate discussions to identify and implement priority habitat projects with Department staff, private landowners and land management agency personnel. Translate population trend data into management actions and hunting season regulation recommendations to meet Department objectives.

Supervision & Staff Development
In addition, this position supervises 4 regional wildlife biologists. This includes providing oversight and direction to regional wildlife biologists to manage for sustainable and healthy wildlife populations in the region; the supervisor will also be involved with personnel management and staff development.

How does it get done?

Deer Management
The job requires working with Department staff to collect, analyze, and report population, harvest, and trend information and managing for healthy deer populations. This is accomplished by:

* Coordinating and conducting annual aerial and ground surveys
* Coordinating and conducting deer captures and developing and implementing research projects to answer management questions
* Statistically analyzing biological, ecological, and social information and reporting deer population and hunter harvest data, monitoring and modeling trends of deer populations, their habitats, and hunters in New Mexico
* Participating in development of management goals, projects, and harvest regulation recommendations, based on consideration of stakeholder interests
* Working with Department staff, land management agency personnel, and private landowners to develop habitat improvement initiatives on public and private lands
* Writing technical and management reports, and develop information for use by Department staff, general public, and professional audiences
* Writing annual renewal and performance reports for Federal Aid Grants. Identify fiscal requirements annually, develop budget documents as necessary, ensure projects are all within budget, and develop professional service contracts and ensure contractor compliance with all deliverables
* Assisting other Division staff with tasks as needed including, but not limited to, captures, survey assistance, document preparation and review, data analysis and population modeling

Supervision & Staff Development
As supervisor of the Regional Wildlife Biologists, this position is expected to provide oversight and guidance to the 4 Regional Wildlife Biologists to manage for sustainable and healthy wildlife populations in each region. Supervisory responsibilities include:

* Setting expectations and providing direction on work schedules and project priorities
* Managing personnel and providing assistance and support for staff development
* Ensuring that staff is aware of the Department's position when dealing with controversial issues
* Developing annual priorities, writing performance evaluations, and reviewing and approving timesheets and per diems

Ideal Candidate

1) Knowledge and experience in wildlife and/or wildlife habitat management including experience managing wildlife populations on a regional or statewide scale.
2) Experience working independently to complete assigned tasks and developing novel approaches and new projects
3) Experience supervising full time staff.
4) Experience riding in rotary (helicopter) or fixed-wing aircraft for wildlife surveys. Big game survey experience preferred (deer, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, oryx, ibex, etc.).
5) Experience capturing and handling wildlife. Big game capture experience preferred (deer, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, oryx, ibex, etc.).
6) Experience with statistical analysis methods and mapping software
7) Working in rugged backcountry conditions (for example camping, backpacking, hiking, hunting, wildlife tracking, 4x4, mountainous driving, or other related activities)

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's degree in biology, fisheries science/management, wildlife science/management, animal science, forestry, ecology, or similar related natural resource degree and two (2) years directly related work experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling six (6) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Pre-employment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results. Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment.

Working Conditions

This position has both office and field work elements. While in the office, extended periods will be spent sitting at desks, computers, meetings, and talking to public on telephone and in person.  During field work, this person will spend extended periods traveling to various locations around the state. This person will need physical strength and stamina to hike and work at high elevations and drive 4-wheel drive vehicles over highways and narrow mountainous roads safely. Equipment used will be standard office equipment, ½ to ¾ ton 4 wheel drive vehicles, and may include goose-neck and bumper-hitch trailers. Travel may include helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, ATV's, or snowmobiles. Specific tool use may include GPS, GIS, radio telemetry, cameras, spotting scopes, binoculars, other ocular and environmental measuring instruments, capture equipment such as net-guns, dart guns, drop nets, drive nets, clover traps, corral traps and laboratory items such as centrifuges, syringes, scalpels, microscopes, slides, stethoscopes, thermometers, and standard construction tools such as drills, saws, hammers, shovels, wrenches, axes, and chainsaw