Conservation Technician

Job Description

Job ID: 30690
Agency: Game Fish & Parks
Location:Chamberlain, SDSalary: $18.56-$23.20 Hourly, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: F
Closing Date: 03/13/2025

This is a Full-Time position with the Game Fish & Parks. For more information on the Game Fish & Parks, please visit https://gfp.sd.gov/ .

Working for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is not just a job. It is a life passion. It is about working together as a team with colleagues, customers, landowners, and partner organizations to ensure that our state's outdoor heritage lives on for the next generation. Providing exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities for people to enjoy is one of the best jobs in state government. Our atmosphere empowers professional success and team building, while fostering relationships to build a culture focused on our four strategic plan goals.

• Provide outdoor recreational opportunities
• Serve as stewards of our state's natural resources
• Inspire confidence
• Foster professional excellence

All we need is you to join our team! Sound like a good fit so far? As a South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks employee, here is what you will experience:

Conservation Technicians:

• implements wildlife and land management projects as assigned and equipment as assigned; and may act as a project leader over seasonal employees and trusties.
• participates in management planning, prioritize annual projects, delegate projects to project leaders and function as their team leader, and monitor project completion.
• participates in habitat development on state-owned, -leased, and -managed land to provide feed for wildlife, enhance habitat, and reduce or prevent wildlife depredation on privately owned land.
• prepares plots for planting; and plants, maintains, and harvests crops.
• participates in site selection, prepares tree-planting sites, plants trees, and provides follow up care such as trimming, removing weeds, and replanting.
• tracks known weed problem sites on habitat areas, sprays noxious weeds to prevent them from spreading, and completes field reports.
• harvests timber to enhance wildlife forage and cover, and to provide building material for department needs.
• transports machinery to and from job sites, and troubleshoots and makes repairs in the field.
• trains seasonal crews and trusties in equipment operation and maintenance, and work methods and procedures.
• performs preventive maintenance on buildings such as painting, repair and replacement of electrical switches and fixtures, replacing plumbing fixtures, and rough to finish carpentry.
• does concrete work by preparing sites, building forms, and mixing and finishing concrete.
• builds, repairs, and removes fences by marking boundaries, preparing areas for fencing, installing fences according to specifications, and posting and replacing signs.
• prepares facilities for winter by draining water and sewer lines, pouring anti-freeze in drain traps, and covering windows and vents; and reverses the process in the spring.
• maintains grounds, campgrounds, roads, beaches, and trails by operating specialized equipment and performing related maintenance procedures.
• prunes and trims trees and removes those that may present hazards.
• assists in laying out and building new trails by cutting trees, clearing rocks, adding surfacing such as rocks and chips, and putting up signs.
• participates in landscaping projects, e.g., seeding, tilling, leveling ground; applying fertilizer and herbicides; planting ornamental shrubbery and trees, etc.
• maintains and repairs vehicles and equipment to make sure they are operational, safe for the operator, and efficient to run.
• performs regular preventive maintenance such as changing oil, rotating tires, lubrication, cleaning equipment, etc.
• troubleshoots equipment for major repairs and preventive maintenance during the off-season; makes repairs or schedules repairs locally.
• repairs broken machinery and fabricates parts using a variety of welders and welding materials.
• recommends replacement of equipment and assists in writing specifications.
• modifies and fabricates equipment to fit the needs of the division.
• performs other work as assigned.

Licenses and Certifications:
Valid Drivers License with the ability to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL); certification as a chemical applicator. ATV/UTV certification.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Valid driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); certification as a chemical applicator. ATV/UTV certification.

Knowledge of:

• diagnostic and repair methods for a wide variety of vehicles and equipment;
• safe-operating guidelines for equipment;
• noxious weeds;
• chemicals for spraying weeds, methods and rates of application, safe use and handling practices, and spraying equipment;
• farming and harvesting practices;
• seed, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides;
• farm tractors and implements and their functions;
• janitorial and sanitation procedures, chemicals, materials, and supplies;
• welding;
• timber harvesting equipment;
• fence-building;
• landscaping;
• carpentry, plumbing, painting, and electrical repair;
• record keeping and report writing;
• practices of human resources management sufficient to provide daily training and work direction to temporary employees and answer their questions.

Ability to:

• provide on-the-job training to assigned employees;
• assign tasks to others based on evaluation of their capabilities;
• organize and complete assigned projects;
• diagnose and repair vehicles and equipment;
• operate a variety of farm tractors and implements;
• use a variety of hand and power tools;
• weld;
• drive trucks;
• operate boats;
• identify tree and weed species by sight;
• handle and transport chemicals safely;
• recognize and spawn ripe fish;
• understand and follow instructions, and compose required reports;
• communicate sufficiently to convey instructions and information about assigned work.

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: h ttps://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=18S
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

#LI-Onsite