MSU Listserv

September 21, 2021

Biologist – Living Lakes Initiative (Southern Minnesota & Northwest Iowa)

Ducks Unlimited is a seeking a wildlife biologist or natural resource specialist with wetland and waterfowl habitat knowledge, experience, and expertise to help initiate, develop, manage, coordinate, and lead on-the-ground habitat conservation activities as part of DU’s shallow lakes and prairie pothole wetland conservation programs in southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa from office space in Windom, MN.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
This position identifies, develops and delivers prairie and wetland restoration and shallow lake enhancement projects with state and federal agencies and other partners in southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa.  This position works with DU engineers to manage and deliver projects, secures and administers public grants and private philanthropic funding, and develops new projects to implement DU’s Living Lakes Initiative conservation plan and strategies.  This position assists DU land protection projects in southern Minnesota and Iowa including facilitative land acquisitions, conservation easement acquisition and monitoring, and other land protection opportunities, including restoration of lands protected. This position is responsible for project budget management, public grant proposals and administration, and managing private contractors.  This position reports to DU’s Regional Biologist in central Minnesota and works closely with other DU conservation staff and DU fundraising staff in both Minnesota and Iowa.  This position requires significant interaction and coordination with DU members, volunteers, and private landowners, and occasional evening and weekend tasks.  The position requires strong interpersonal communication and coordination skills with DU staff, private landowners, and conservation partners, and good public speaking and presentation skills.  The position also assists DU volunteer events, major donor fundraising and stewardship, public policy efforts, and the development of outreach, education, and communication materials.  This position requires frequent outdoor work, possibly in inclement weather, and may require physical exertion or lifting as needed.  The position routinely requires travel in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, including infrequent overnight travel.

Minimum Qualifications:
Must have a Bachelor of Science in a wildlife or related field from an accredited university.  A Master of Science degree in a natural resource field is preferred, ideally focused on waterfowl, wildlife, wetlands, and/or prairie.  At least two years of professional work experience is preferred, with knowledge of prairie and wetland habitat restoration planning and delivery highly preferred.  Experience with shallow lake enhancement and management a plus.  Experience with land protection, funding proposal writing, and grant administration, regulatory permitting process, and strong GIS mapping skills preferred. This position requires frequent work out-of-doors, possibly in inclement weather, and may require physical exertion or lifting as needed.  Strong communication skills and ability to work professionally with a variety of people and personalities with a confident, extroverted, outgoing demeanor in both office and field situations.

To apply internally as an employee, log into https://workforcenow.adp.com with your employee credentials, click MYSELF, TALENT, CAREER CENTER and follow the prompts to APPLY by October 17, 2021.  For more information regarding this position, please contact Jon Schneider, Manager of Conservation Programs - Minnesota, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., 311 East Lake Geneva Road NE, Alexandria, MN 56308; Phone: 320-815-0327 or email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions),  sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression,  age (40 or over), disability (physical, mental or visual), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), military and veteran status, immigration status, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.