Wildlife Management Specialist

Wildlife Management Specialist

Work Location: 

Iowa DNR Missouri River Wildlife Unit (Monona County) 

21914 Park Loop Rd 

Onawa, IA 51040 

Application deadline: August 2nd, 2026 

Salary: $17.00 per hour 

Typical Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – 40 hours per week 

Anticipated Start Date: 2-4 weeks post successful job offer 

End Date: One year from start date 

JOB description:  This position is part of a partnership between Pheasants Forever and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The PF Wildlife Management Specialist is expected to perform a variety of maintenance and technical tasks at the wildlife management unit as well as promote and implement the Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP). The employee is expected to display a high level of initiative and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. The employee in this position will work with other wildlife unit personnel and be under the general direction of the Wildlife Biologist. The job duties of this position include general wildlife management activities on State owned wildlife areas within the assigned unit counties. Overnight travel will occasionally be required on special projects outside of the assigned unit counties. Click here to view a video of what typical job duties may include. 

Examples of typical job duties may include: 

• Perform general wildlife management activities including: wetland management, prairie management, native prairie seeding, food plot development, edge feathering, tree/brush removal, spraying, disking, mowing, etc. using large farm machinery, chainsaws, and other hand tools.
• Prescribed fire implementation for ecological purposes. This duty will require fire-line construction, fire-line holding, and mop-up activities. Performance of these tasks will require the employee to periodically work under physically stressful and adverse conditions. Proficiency in the use of basic wildland firefighting equipment will be needed.  
• Follow up on enrolled IHAP sites, contracting and ensuring that planned work has been completed.
• Contact targeted landowners enrolled in the jobshiringnearme.org Reserve Program (CRP) and follow up with interested landowners.
• Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring including: waterfowl banding, deer spotlight routes, August roadside surveys, spring bird point counts, fall quail covey counts, chronic wasting disease sampling, etc. Collecting of biological data occasionally will require early or late in the day work scheduling.
• General area maintenance involving mowing, sign posting, fence building, fence removal, tree/brush control, noxious weed control etc. These activities require the ability to use simple power equipment; drills, saws, hand tools, chain saws, trimmers, small mowers etc.
• Special assignments may require some overnight travel as part of a crew, to accomplish large scale fence removal, fence building or tree removal projects outside of the assigned unit counties.  These assignments will require the ability to work well with others, work out of doors under all types of weather conditions, and to withstand physically demanding work, i.e., lifting, bending and hauling.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• College graduate with a degree in wildlife biology, animal ecology, or another closely related natural resource field.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Able to travel on overnight duties.
• Work with minimal supervision; demonstrate responsible behavior and attention to detail.
• Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Able to work alone or as part of a team, with the public, in all conditions, on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.
• Exhibit honesty and integrity. Follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers.
• Display a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT BENEFITS: 

• Work alongside permanent DNR staff to develop technical skills.
• Work outdoors.
• Great opportunity to expand your professional network and make lasting connections.
• High rate of recruitment from PF Wildlife Specialist positions to permanent positions within DNR, PF and other conservation entities.
• Get a preview of employment within two organizations simultaneously, with opportunities to attend annual staff meetings for both DNR and Pheasants Forever.
• Pheasants Forever offers a competitive benefits package. Employee Benefit Package information can be found here: Employee Benefit Summary pdf

To Apply: Visit our website at:  http://www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs  Please combine your cover letter including which locations you are interested in, resume and 3 references into 1 Word document or PDF file before uploading to the “Resume” area of your application on our Recruitment website. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  Must possess or be able to acquire a pesticide applicator’s license and S130-190 basic firefighter training certification, special requirements shall be met within 90 days of hire if not currently possessed. Successful applicant will also be encouraged to obtain a commercial driver’s license, Iowa DNR chainsaw safety certification, and first aid & bloodborne pathogen training.  

If you have additional questions, please contact Brian Hickman, SW District Supervisor, at 712-250-0518, or brian.hickman@dnr.iowa.gov.  

 Pheasants Forever, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.