The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Habitat has an exciting Habitat Biologist IV opportunity to lead the Large Projects Team in their Anchorage area office. The position is a unique opportunity to conduct independent field research and protect important fish and wildlife habitat, in concert with responsible resource development in Alaska. Excellent communication and coordination skills are required to influence resource protection during review of proposed development projects. The successful applicant must have both a professional and an educational understanding of the ecological relationships among plants, animals, and their environment and of the impacts of human activities on fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
Key responsibilities include: * Lead the Department's review of proposed large development projects; current examples include the Pebble Project and the Chuitna Coal Mine. The position will review and conduct fish, wildlife, hydrology, and habitat baseline studies, review and comment on National Environmental Policy Act documents, review and comment on environmental mitigation, water management, and project development plans, and represent the Department on the State's Large Mine Permitting Team. * Communicate and coordinate project review among all Divisions within the Department, other state and federal resource agencies, project proponents, and consultants. * Develop and implement appropriate long-term biological monitoring programs for water quality, fish distribution, aquatic habitat, and ecological toxicity in areas potentially affected by large development projects; author Habitat Division Technical Reports and seek opportunities for professional publication. * Manage the Anchorage Office Large Projects Team with jurisdiction of the Southcentral Region of Alaska, including supervision of two Habitat Biologists and project-specific budgeting and reporting. * Review, analyze, issue, monitor, and enforce AS 16.05.841 and AS 16.05.871 Fish Habitat Permits for activities which may impact fish habitat or fish passage and 5 AAC 95 Special Area Permits for activities within a state game refuge, game sanctuary, or critical habitat area. Permitting duties are focused primarily on exploration, baseline studies, and development activity related to large projects. * Conduct site visits to inspect exploration, baseline studies, and development projects and enforce Fish Habitat or Special Area permit requirements. * Review and comment on other state and federal resource agency authorizations, such as Alaska Department of Natural Resources water use permits, U.S. Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act permits, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, and ADEC site-specific water quality criteria, to ensure that land and water use activities are conducted such that the productive capacity of fish and wildlife habitat is maintained and impacts to habitat and fish and wildlife resources are mitigated to the extent practicable. Success at this position will require the following demonstrated strengths: * Experience developing and advocating a course of action on behalf of a resource agency or organization OR experience with environmental compliance for large development projects, preferably in the mining industry. * Professional experience in the review or compliance of resource development projects that may impact fish and wildlife, habitat, water quality, or water quantity. * Demonstrated success funding, planning, implementing, and reporting field research projects. * Professional experience interpreting and applying environmental and water law relating to mining, water resource development, and habitat protection. * Demonstrated understanding of surface water and groundwater hydrology and the interaction between them. * Demonstrated understanding of ecological toxicity and water quality standards. * Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including organizational and negotiating skills. * Demonstrated success working effectively with others whose views are contrary to yours without conflict to accomplish habitat protection objectives. * Experience in managing projects, budgets, and personnel to achieve project objectives on time and within budgetary constraints. Please contact Mike Daigneault at michael.daignea...@alaska.gov for more information about this recruitment and check out the recruitment link below. If you think this position might be what you are looking for in your next career move, apply today! Recruitment Bulletin: Habitat Biologist IV (11-6034) <http://notes3.state.ak.us/wa/PostApps.nsf/0/a703f79b1750871689257921006 01809?opendocument>
