GA Habitat Specialist II

Overview

The incumbents (2) will be part of a four-person team that will conduct habitat management work on cooperating private land and targeted public lands within designated priority geographies in Southwest Georgia as part of GADNR’s Bobwhite Quail Initiative. This position is part of a partnership between the Quail Forever, Inc. (QF), Georgia Department of Natural Resources and NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Bobwhite Quail Pine Savanna Project
. These positions are full-time employees of Quail Forever and supervised by the Quail Forever Habitat Specialist Crew Leader with instruction and leadership provided by the Quail Forever Georgia State Coordinator, QF Georgia Habitat Specialist Manager and GADNR State Quail Coordinator. This position will be based in the Albany, GA area.

Led by a crew leader, the four-person team will work with partners to conduct habitat management practices with a focus on prescribed fire, early-succession management and ecological restoration. The priority work area will be on private and public lands in Southwest Georgia.

Major responsibilities include:

• Implementing habitat management work on cooperating private landowners as well as public lands that includes but is not limited to herbicide application, prescribed burning, native grass/forb establishment, shrubby cover establishment, and timber stand improvement (hack and squirt or chainsaw method)
• Participating in the construction, maintenance, and repair of equipment & implements used during your work
• Serve as burn crew member on public and private lands and maintain qualification and participate in any additional training
• Occasionally assist with northern bobwhite quail surveys and other scientific surveys, including but not limited to spring breeding bird surveys, fall covey counts, vegetation surveys, and management of automated recording units (ARU) on private and conservation lands
• Assist crew lead to procure supplies and equipment following Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever best management practices and procurement policies
• Assist with outreach and education efforts
• Attending/Assisting with prescribed fire and other habitat management technique trainings
• Perform other habitat management related duties as assigned
• Job may require odd hours and travel/time away from home

• A basic understanding of environmental, agricultural and/or natural resource science. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the partners. Preference will be given to candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in wildlife management
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of upland habitat management and restoration, prescribed fire, identification and control of invasive plant species, and use of tractors and related implements (disks, brush cutters, herbicide sprayers, seed drills, etc)
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, grassland management, and/or forest management including the ability to utilize various habitat management equipment and tools in the development of wildlife habitat
• Safe transportation/hauling of equipment
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues and partner agencies
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills
• Valid driver’s license required and a clean driving record
• Applicant may be required to obtain a CDL, private pesticide applicators license and prescribed fire training

• The following courses are preferred to have already been completed by applicant:

Course Title
Course Number
Introduction to ICSI-100 Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service L-180 Firefighter Training S-130 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior S-190 NIMS:
An Introduction IS-700

• One year of experience conducting prescribed burns and/or timber stand improvement using chainsaws or hack and squirt methods
• One year of experience applying herbicides to control undesirable species
• One year of experience operating tractors, discs, and planting equipment

Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable…