CPW WILDLIFE MANAGER III / Wildlife Damage Specialist (Hot Sulphur Springs, CO)

• 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.

CPW is statutorily liable for certain damages caused by big game (pursuant to Article 3 of Title 33 C.R.S) and damages to livestock caused by wolves (pursuant to Article 2 of Title 33 C.R.S).  The primary purpose of these positions is to respond to, investigate, and resolve damage caused by wildlife for which the state is liable (such as livestock depredations), to arbitrate CPW’s liability for damages, and to reconcile any damage claims submitted as a result of those damages.  

These positions will also function to support CPW staff, private land owners, and agricultural producers by representing CPW at various stakeholder meetings across the Region/Areas and providing technical assistance to landowners and livestock owners regarding livestock depredations and CPW compensation programs while working with those owners to develop wildlife damage mitigation plans, wolf-livestock conflict site vulnerability assessments both proactive and reactive, to reduce wildlife-agricultural conflicts within the Region/Areas.  A product of these positions will be technical damage experts who will proactively work to resolve potential and immediate wildlife damage conflicts within the region/area. Further, this position will be the project lead in coordinating efforts across agencies and NGOs working on wolf-livestock conflicts, ensuring that the level of response to conflict is orchestrated using all available resources.

Prevent or minimize wildlife damage by employing and evaluating a variety of prevention techniques (hazing, deterrents, prevention materials, hunts, kill permits, etc.), prepare cooperative wildlife damage mitigation plans or proactive/reactive site vulnerability assessments (where excessive wolf damage is occurring and is expected to continue to occur) to minimize future damages. Monitor and maintain accurate inventories/records of damage prevention materials (i.e. apiary stashes, pyros, elk panels, etc.) stored or controlled by the Area and requests additional materials.

This includes being the subject matter expert on range rider programs, carcass removal programs and the coordination of all resources available to lead projects and level of agency response to wolf depredations.

Conducting lethal removal of wildlife when deemed appropriate by the Division, laws, and policy. This will require firearms training and maintaining proficiency standards.

Meet regularly with representatives from various local stakeholder groups to discuss wildlife damage prevention/minimization strategies and CPW compensation programs, engage individual agricultural owners to inform them of CPW compensation/prevention programs, attend monthly and bi-annual multi-agency livestock depredation meetings, and represent the Region/Areas by preparing and providing legal written and oral expert testimony in court cases and/or Commission hearing proceedings.

Develop relationships with agricultural associations, private land owners, livestock producers, wolf advocates, NGOs and other state and federal government agencies.

• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Colorado POST certification is not required but would be beneficial.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Experience providing customer service.
• Experience leading/mentoring others.
• Experience with public speaking/presenting and/or facilitating meetings.
• Knowledge of or experience with Wildlife Management  techniques and/or principles.
• Ability or experience working in a team environment.
• Knowledge of or experience with working in outdoor conditions, including principles of safety in the outdoors, camping, wilderness first aid.
• Ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles, all terrain vehicles and use of trailers.
• Experience with using horses/mules in the backcountry.
• Strong written skills with an understanding of legal and regulatory concepts and language.
• Knowledge of CPW’s big game and wolf damage prevention and compensation programs.
• Knowledge of non-lethal conflict minimization techniques  for ungulates and carnivores.
• Knowledge or experience of agricultural business and ranching operations.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Experience with Wolf-Livestock conflict minimization.
• Predator Damage Investigations (emphasis on wolf damage).
• Experience with wildlife or livestock necropsies.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with public speaking/presenting and/or facilitating meetings.
• Knowledge of or experience with working in outdoor conditions, including principles of safety in the outdoors, camping, and wilderness first aid.
• Ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles, all terrain vehicles, and use of trailers.
• Experience with non-lethal conflict minimization techniques for wolf-livestock conflict OR experience in wolf-livestock depredation investigations.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. 

• State of Colorado residency is required at the time of application.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license if operating a State vehicle.
• Law enforcement training requirements if applicable (only if commissioned as an officer). Firearms training and meeting proficiency standards of use for the lethal removal of wildlife.
• Position must be able to legally possess and use firearms as part of their duties in the hazing or lethal removal of wildlife.
• On-call status at the discretion of Region/Area.
• Use, Handling or Exposure to CPW issued pyrotechnics.
• Use of non-lethal deterrents such as rubber buckshot, bean bags and cracker shells. 

• Use of firearms for conducting the lethal removal of wildlife (example: shotguns and  rifles)

• Travel throughout the region including overnight.  Some multi-day assignments out of region and/or out of state.
• Colorado POST certification is not required but would be beneficial.
• 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).
• Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle. 
  To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who: 

  • Have an assigned State fleet vehicle

  • Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position

  • Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle

• 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.