Department Information

We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Mammals Research Program conducts rigorous scientific-based original research deemed valuable to Colorado Parks and Wildlife to enhance the management and conservation of mammals and their habitats in Colorado. This Program may address critical ecological concerns about species and/or develop new methods, techniques, or systems to assess, maintain, enhance, and monitor the status of Colorado’s wild mammals and their habitats. The Program synthesizes existing information, produces new information/knowledge, interprets information, and facilitates integrating information into agency programs and decisions that affect game, non-game, and threatened and endangered mammals and wildlife populations.

Description of Job

This position is responsible for conducting research on wild mammals to enhance wildlife management in Colorado. The position designs and conducts original scientific research that is of management priority to CPW and of such quality and rigor as to be suitable for publication in established peer-reviewed scientific journals pertaining to applied ecology and wildlife conservation and management. The position develops knowledge by testing scientific hypotheses and/or by testing new methodologies or models. The position facilitates incorporating information about mammal ecology and management into Division management programs and decision processes and serves as an agency expert for mammal ecology. The position manages all aspects of the research process including identification of information needs and study objectives, development and implementation of study design and methods, developing and managing budgets, supervising support personnel, and communicating results of research via oral and written communications/publications to the Division and scientific profession. Related responsibilities should be expected to include applied research topics on ungulates and/or carnivores representing high management priority for CPW.

Design Research Projects and Programmatic Plans
Designs research projects using the most appropriate experimental, analytical, and scientifically rigorous approaches available to test ecological hypotheses, or develop new methodologies commensurate with management needs and priorities of Parks and Wildlife. Develops long-term plans that identify anticipated future information needs pertinent to mammal ecology.

Conduct Research Projects
Completes designed research projects by implementing, supervising, and being responsible for all aspects of day-to-day work schedules, methods, personnel supervision, data acquisition, database management, and data analyses.

Communicate and Publish Research Results
Provides periodic written progress reports and oral communications to Parks and Wildlife personnel and professional peers to inform these groups of the significance and application of ongoing research results and to elicit input for improving research outputs. Publishes final results of research projects in a timely manner in peer-reviewed scientific journals appropriate to applied ecology, landscape ecology, conservation biology, and wildlife management.

Support Agency Policy, Decisions, & Program Development
Provides an assessment of available techniques, methodologies, and scientific information and helps integrate that information into Parks and Wildlife policy, decisions, and program development to improve the scientific basis for wildlife management in Colorado. Serves as a source of expert knowledge and advice for Parks and Wildlife on mammal ecology and analyses related to wildlife research and management. Maintains scientific expertise for assigned subject matter area by routinely reading peer-reviewed scientific literature; communicating with peers in other states and countries; attending seminars, workshops, and professional meetings; and participating in relevant formal educational opportunities.

Periodically conducts workshops, seminars, and other types of communications to inform and train Parks and Wildlife personnel on mammal ecology methods, applications, and results.

Supervise temporary employees/ graduate students, prepare and monitor budgets
Recruits, trains, and supervises all temporary employees or graduate students associated with assigned projects and adheres to State of Colorado hiring and supervising guidelines. Provides temporary employees with professional advice and evaluations of their performance to aid in the development and recruitment of new individuals into the profession of wildlife management and research. Prepares all aspects of project operational budgets under guidelines established in the work unit. Routinely monitors status of expenditures to assure compliance with budgetary limits, economic efficiencies, and State purchasing procedures.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology, landscape ecology, spatial ecology or closely related field AND three years of professional experience in wildlife research, wildlife management or closely related field.

Substitutions

• Appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis
• Appropriate experience will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph D degree and additional experience (more than three years) in ecology of mammal populations, with emphasis and interest in applied research for management application.
• Experience with software, remote sensing method and techniques, and analysis methods used in animal ecology (e.g., R, SAS, GIS, database and spreadsheet programs).
• Experience with various field methods used to monitor mammals and other wildlife populations.
• Experience with study design, data management and analysis, and publication of results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Experience in working collaboratively with other wildlife scientists, managers, and stakeholders.
• Experience addressing controversial research questions that required enhanced social intelligence to address concerns of interested participants.
• Experience conducting aerial surveys for monitoring ungulate populations.

Required Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate through all avenues of communication (e.g., email, phone, website, in person, etc.)
• Ability to multitask and process high volume environment
• High attention to detail
• Ability to problem solve independently and as a team member
• Being reliable and punctual
• Ability to perform under pressure and on a deadline

Conditions of Employment

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license if operating a State vehicle.
• Position has statewide responsibilities and will routinely travel to areas around the state where research activities are being conducted. Regularly attends meetings and workshops in various Regions, as well as presentation of research results at professional meetings out-of-state.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).

APPEAL RIGHTS:
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

Supplemental Information

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
• Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.
• This recruitment may be used to fill more than one vacancy at this level and reporting location.