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LTE Large Carnivore Research Scientist

Employer
Wisconsin DNR
Job Description, Responsibilities and Required Qualifications or Skills

The Office of Applied Science within the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hiring a Wildlife Research Scientist to join the Large Carnivore Research Program. The Wildlife Research Scientist will be responsible for developing and implementing analysis plans for multiple wildlife research projects aimed at informing management of wolves and bear. The preferred position location is Rhinelander, WI, but Madison or other DNR offices in Wisconsin will be considered. This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and will not automatically lead to permanent state employment or be entitled to the same benefits as permanent employees. 

Current projects within the large carnivore and elk program include:

•      Estimation of bear reproductive parameters: cub survival, litter size, and litter frequency

•      Evaluation of abatement measures to reduce crop damage by bears

•      Analysis of existing wolf datasets

60% Data summary and analysis

•      Analyze wildlife population data using a range of models, i.e. spatial capture-recapture, survival analyses, occupancy models

•      Manage and use multiple statewide spatial data layers to develop models that inform carnivore management

•      Analyze satellite telemetry data from collared animals to develop habitat use and selection models

•      Data simulation and power analyses to inform study design

 

30% Field work

•      Conduct denning surveys following protocols and standard operating procedures for field data collection, including protocols for chemical immobilization

•      Training with our state veterinarian on project protocols for chemical immobilization of bear that are in torpor, including use of a syringe pole and drug dosage protocols

 

10% Support of other projects 

•      Develop predictive models for evaluating bear and wolf management alternatives

•      Work with the Decision Science Team on structured decision making projects
 

Special Requirements:

1) Residency: To be considered for this position, you must be a resident of the State of Wisconsin.

A Wisconsin resident is a person who:

a. Has established a residence, as defined in s. 6.10(1), in this state not less than 10 days earlier; 

b. Has resided in this state for not less than a total of one year out of the immediately preceding 5 years; 

c. Is eligible to register to vote in this state; or 

d. Is the spouse of a person meeting the requirements of par. (a), (b), or (c).” s.230.03(12), Wis. Stats.

2) Background Checks: The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants prior to a job offer. Please note that a criminal charge or conviction on your record will not necessarily disqualify you from state employment. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the DNR does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

3) Eligible to work in U.S.: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. The Department of Natural Resources does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility I-9 form upon hire.

Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications below, the selected candidate must be eligible to drive a state vehicle and meet the following criteria:

  • Have a valid driver’s license
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Have a minimum of two years licensed driving experience
  • Have not had three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years
  • Have no OWI/DUI violations within the past year

Required Qualifications:

  • Coursework or prior knowledge and work experience involving wildlife science and management, biology, GIS, or a related field
  • Demonstrated proficiency in analyzing wildlife population data (e.g., spatial capture-recapture, survival analyses, population matrix models, N-mixture models) using frequentist and Bayesian frameworks
  • Proficiency with data wrangling, visualization, and analysis using R (e.g. tidyverse, RMarkdown, Shiny apps)
  • Experience conducting spatial analyses with landcover data in R and/or ArcGIS (e.g. NLCD)
  • Comfortable working sometimes long hours in harsh winter conditions
  • Ability to organize and manage large-scale field research, specifically related to wildlife
  • Ability to lift 50 lbs

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in wildlife science and management, biology, GIS, or a related field
  • Exposure to decision science (i.e. structured decision making)
  • Experience analyzing data from radiotelemetry collars, including using accelerometer data
  • Experience with chemical immobilization of wildlife
Job Field:
Wildlife
Job Type:
Seasonal, Temporary, Internship
Location Detail:
Rhinelander, WI
Salary:
This position pays $26.87 per hour and is in pay schedule and range 15-03. Compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.
Job Benefits:

More about LTE positions:

1) Offer a great opportunity to gain experience and learn about careers at the WI Department of Natural Resources.

2) Provide opportunities for individuals to enhance their resumes with skills learned on the job. 

3) May accommodate flexibility for part-time or full-time work hours and seasonal schedules. Work schedules are dependent on business needs. 

4) Allow individuals to hold multiple LTE appointments concurrently. If both LTE positions are at the same agency, the positions must be bona fide different positions. Each individual LTE position allows for maximum of 1039 hours in a twelve-month period.

 

How To Apply

Follow the attached link to the job posting. Click the “Apply for Job” button and follow the directions. You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.

For any position-related questions, please feel free to contact David.MacFarland@wisconsin.gov.

Your resume and letter of qualifications are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. 

Application Deadline:

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