The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agencys HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711.
Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.
State government does not discriminate based on race color national origin religion sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression pregnancy childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth age physical or mental disability genetic information marital status creed political beliefs or affiliation veteran status military service retaliation or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.
Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.
Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on March 18 2025. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.
Special Information:
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be releases to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement paid vacation sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.
Women and minorities are underrepresented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.
Location:
Kalispell is a dynamic community located within a thirtyminute drive of Flathead Lake Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort Glacier National Park several National and State forests and parks and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. Kalispell is the retail professional medical and governmental center of the Flathead Valley serving approximately 150000 people in Northwest Montana. The FWP Regional Headquarters building located at 490 N. Meridian Rd Kalispell houses the regional divisions including Fisheries Enforcement Wildlife and Parks. Northwest Montana contains a diverse landscape with numerous mountain ranges lakes streams and river valleys. Outdoor recreation is a major activity for residents of this area. Please note that housing costs have risen in the area recently so people are encouraged to search for rental possibilities before determining if they should apply. Shared housing may be available for the technician; pets are not allowed in housing or in FWP vehicles.
Job Duties:
The Wolf Technician will conduct projects addressing statewide wolf management priorities both under the direct supervision of the Wolf Specialist and independently. This work largely consists of scouting surveys along backroads for wolf scat and tracks to determine presence and setting survey cameras to monitor the population. A few months will include extensive time setting and checking traplines to place GPS and radiocollars on wolves for monitoring survival and movements release incidentally captured nontarget species and collect biological samples from animals including blood hair or tissue. The technician may investigate mortality sites of animals and collect samples including tissue hair and skeletal parts. Routine job duties require proficiency with tracking animals using GPS and maps to navigate in remote areas to monitor wolf activity collect scat maintain cameras monitor dens conduct hazing of wolves near livestock or humans assist with capture and collaring of wolves and talk with the public about wolf issues and information.
The Wolf Technician will maintain organized field notes and data forms and analyze the data collected to interpret information for reports used in making program decisions. The Wolf Technician will be responsible for troubleshooting and solving basic problems they encounter during fieldwork while respecting the plans made for them by the supervising Wolf Specialist as well as the limitations of their equipment and abilities. The Wolf Technician will be responsible for ensuring data is collected responsibly. Animal handling activities will be conducted professionally and ethically demonstrating respect for captured animals. The Wolf Technician will interact with the public and coworkers in a professional manner respecting differences of opinion and seeking to resolve conflicts in an equitable manner. The Wolf Technician will work with the public landowners hunters university personnel federal and state land managers nonprofit organizations and the media to coordinate projects. This job demands excellent sociability with teammates and the public.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
Basic knowledge and understanding of biology animal ecology anatomy and population dynamics will be required. Training in and some ability to conduct surveys and perform radio telemetry is required. Knowledge of the safe collection of blood tissue or other samples form animals is preferred. Knowledge of animal handling is required. Good organizational and time management skills are needed as well as the ability to accurately collect and record data. Introductory knowledge of computer applications such as word processing spreadsheets and database management applications are required. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work with professional biologists agency staff and the public. Excellent communication skills both written and verbal are required. Introductory mapreading skills and familiarity with map coordinate systems are required. Experience with use of telemetry equipment and GPS units are required. Applicants must have a valid drivers license and be able to operate a fourwheel drive vehicle on difficult remote roads. The ability to work effectively and safely both as a team and independently without supervision in potentially hazardous conditions is expected.
Specific Job Information:
This position is challenging requiring selfmotivation advanced mental and physical stamina and good decisionmaking skills. Work is conducted throughout northwestern Montana across a diverse landscape. Montana is home to a wide variety of wildlife with a full suite of predators including black bear grizzly bear mountain lion wolf coyote bobcat lynx and wolverine. The applicant must be comfortable working alone in remote areas with this full complement of wildlife. The applicant must possess the ability to use or learn to use bear spray which must be carried at all times when in the field. The Wolf Technician will conduct fieldwork for wolf monitoring activities that requires extreme flexibility of work schedules frequent travel within the region driving for long periods of time hiking in remote areas and lifting heavy objects up to 50 pounds. The Wolf Technician is expected to work both independently and in a team setting. Working conditions are routinely hazardous. Exposure to potentially harmful animals chemical agents and offensive sights and sounds are routine. Extreme caution and rigorous protocol must be followed to prevent exposure to serious injury indoors and outdoors. Exposure to outdoor hazards such as severe weather during extensive foot travel while carrying heavy packs in rough and remote terrain use of a fourwheel drive truck and bicycles is possible. The Wolf Technician will be expected to follow direction from the Wolf Specialist and at times use her/his own judgement in prioritizing and completing daily tasks independently and in a timely manner. Frequent public contacts include a diverse community of people ranging from landowners hunters and wildlife enthusiasts with differing concerns and views on wolves and wildlife in general. As a result good conflict resolution skills and an ability to effectively interact with the public are necessary. The Wolf Technician will work closely with the Wolf Specialist and must possess good communication skills and be detailed in providing information from field surveying activities. Lodging accommodations in the field will be varied and may consist of staying in cabins camper trailers or tents for extended periods of time. A work vehicle will be provided. No vehicle will be provided for the incumbent when off duty; Technicians should have their own vehicle for transportation on days off. The position is based out of Kalispell although most field work will be conducted in a variety of locations throughout northwestern Montana. This requires that the Wolf Technician maintain flexibility in work schedules and spend extended periods of time away from their home base.
This position will last up to 6 months with most work hours occurring during spring summer and fall months. There will be no work during the winter months approximately November through April. Candidate must be able to work long days up to 12 hours with a flexible and varied schedule including weekends and nights in sometimes adverse environmental conditions. Work schedules will loosely be 5 days on with weekends off during regular survey and camera monitoring work but will vary as needed by demands of the job. Field work during trapping involves extended days in the field up to 14 days during any given work hitch requiring the ability to stay in the field at overnight accommodations during that time.
Wolf Technician
