Biologist II Private Lands Section
Location: Bismarck
Salary Range: $5,299 - $7,066 hiring range
Closing Date: May 10, 2026
Recruitment: Internal/External
Summary of Work
The individual selected for this position will work in the Private Land Section of the Department's Wildlife Division and be responsible for assisting the Private Land Section Leader in the development, implementation, and delivery of the Department's Private Land Initiative (PLI), which includes the Conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) walk-in hunting access program, and the wildlife habitat program. The position has supervisory and budgetary responsibilities for a team of private land field biologists located within district offices.
Primary responsibilities include supervisory and administrative support for field staff, preparing budgets and annual work plans, grant writing and reporting, policy and procedure compliance and annual updates, reviewing agreements, record keeping, and ensuring effective delivery of the PLI. Other responsibilities include coordination of the annually produced Conservation PLOTS Guide, equipment procurement, signing PLOTS tracts and wildlife depredation activities.
Work will require habitat planning, budgeting and discussions on how to improve habitat and access in the state through delivery of the PLOTS program. Discussions with internal staff, NGOs, state agencies, federal agencies, private landowners, agricultural entities and industry will be required. Other wildlife surveys, habitat management and public information duties may also be assigned as necessary.
Minimum Qualifications
Requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology or wildlife management or closely related natural resource science degree and four years of professional work experience with a wildlife or natural resource management agency.
The position requires experience delivering federal, state or private conservation programs. Experience with private landowners, knowledge of agriculture, experience performing habitat development/management and providing biological/technical assistance.
The individual must be highly responsible, well-organized and must have attention to detail. Applicants must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with the public, private landowners and other natural resource agency professionals and organizations. The individual must have the ability to work with other wildlife management professionals and must be self-motivated and adaptable to a fast-paced work environment. Must have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word and Excel).
The individual must have a valid driver's license and be willing to travel.
Requires satisfactory completion of a background check.
This is a salaried position and may require the individual to work long or extra hours, exceeding 40 hours per week, to complete tasks during specific periods throughout the year.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to individuals with:
- Supervisory or project management experience
- Experience managing budgets, grants, reports, policies or procedural documents
- Experience conducting wildlife surveys and habitat assessments
- Experience with wildlife depredation
- Experience with map reading, legal descriptions, or other mapping software applications
- Participation in hunting
About Team ND
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Application Procedures
Applicants should save their applications frequently to avoid any loss of information. The Online Application System will time you out after 40 minutes and you will lose any information that is not saved.
Applicants must submit all documents above. It is very important to be thorough and detailed on all your application materials. If the Department's human resource officer cannot determine that you meet the minimum qualifications or verify your answers to the questionnaire questions you will not be given credit.
Applications must be completed by 11:59pm on the posted closing date.
For information about the position please contact Kevin Kading, Private Lands Section Leader at [click to reveal email address] or for persons needing accommodation or assistance in the application or interview process, contact Melissa Long, HR Services Manager at 701-328-6618.
For troubles or questions about applying on the online system, contact [click to reveal email address] .
The North Dakota Game & Fish Department makes reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with an applicant's ability to compete in the recruitment and selection process or with an employee's ability to perform essential duties of the job. It is the applicant's responsibility to make known any needs for accommodation. ND Relay Number [click to reveal phone number]
Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.
As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. ยง 23-12-10.