Job Description
Description Title- Wildlife Area Technician Classification- Natural Resource Technician 2 Job Status- Full-Time / Permanent WDFW Program- Wildlife Program – Lands Division – Region 2 Duty Station- Brewster, Washington – Okanogan County Wildlife Areas- Big Bend, Sagebrush Flat, and Wells Wildlife Areas Spray Operator- This position is eligible for an additional 10% pay differential when the incumbent is a licensed spray operator performing spray operator duties as noted in the duties listed below. Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW! Landscape of Big Bend Wildlife Area – Photo Credit: WDFW If you enjoy working outdoors and want to play a hands-on role in habitat conservation, this opportunity might be a great fit. This position supports maintenance and habitat management efforts across the Douglas County Wildlife Area Complex, including Sagebrush Flat, Big Bend, and Wells Wildlife Areas. You’ll help care for these landscapes by assisting with weed control, habitat restoration, and monitoring activities that keep ecosystems healthy and functioning. In this role, you’ll get a mix of field-based work and equipment operation. Day-to-day tasks include assisting with herbicide applications, supporting habitat enhancement projects, maintaining signs and site infrastructure, and operating a variety of tools and equipment. It’s a practical, boots-on-the-ground position where your work directly contributes to improving wildlife habitat. Beaver den – Photo Credit: Alan Bauer What to Expect: Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Wildlife Area Technician will, Implement existing programs to enhance wildlife habitat: Prepare soil through discing and mowing. Plant shrubs and trees, seed, and maintain irrigation systems using tractors, utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and implements. Irrigate food plots and shrub rows on a weekly schedule using water pumps, hand lines, wheel lines, permanent irrigation lines, and center pivot system. Restore, enhance, and maintain shrubsteppe and riparian habitats. Assist with building beaver dam analogs and Zeedyk rock structures in creeks and streams. Conduct noxious weed control across the wildlife area: Apply herbicides using trucks, tractors, UTVs, ATVs, and backpack sprayers on state listed noxious weeds; remove weeds through mechanical methods. Calculate applications rates and mix herbicides and adjuvants to rate and equipment specifications. Proficient at using GPS equipment and mapping (e.g., OnX Hunt Maps, ArcGIS). Maintain pesticide application records consistent with Washington laws and regulations. Operate and maintain equipment: Safely operate and maintain tractors, ATVs, UTVs, trucks, farm implements, and gas-powered and hand tools, including in off-road conditions. Utilize trailers for hauling equipment and materials including safely loading, securing, and transporting. Drive 50hp-400hp tractors with attached implements to mow, disc, cultivate, harrow, or spray fields to establish or maintain restored habitats. Maintain capital facilities and wildlife area infrastructure: Use a variety of hand tools including hammer, shovel, wire cutters, tamping bars, hand saws, and chainsaws to repair fences. Maintain and repair interpretive signs, trail signs, and kiosks to provide information to the public. Pick up and remove litter and debris to maintain aesthetic quality of the area. Mow and prune woody vegetation adjacent to trails, viewpoints, bridges, and parking areas to maintain clearance for public safety. WORKING CONDITIONS: Work Setting, including hazards: Field 90% office 5%. Navigate through wetlands or upland shrub/steppe habitats while walking, occasionally carrying, and/or moving up to 40 pounds over uneven and difficult terrain. Transporting and loading gear. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments. This position involves the handling and application of pesticides in accordance with state and federal regulations and agency safety policies. Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weath