The Office of Applied Science within the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hiring an Associate Quantitative Ecologist to join the Wildlife Population Monitoring Research Team. The position will be responsible for evaluating and improving population monitoring protocols and support the development of population metrics using multiple data sources (e.g. harvest registration, hunter survey, trail camera, telemetry). The position includes developing decision support tools and data communications products to inform management of Wisconsin’s game species. The position will be based out of Rhinelander, WI. 

Description of goals/duties:

60% Data management, summarization, and analysis

• Manage biological sample collection and preparation from harvested species
• Analyze wildlife population data using a range of models, i.e. spatial capture-recapture, survival analyses, occupancy models, integrated population models   
• Manage and use multiple statewide spatial data layers to develop models that inform species management    
• Manage satellite telemetry data from marked animals to develop habitat use and selection models       
• Data simulation and power analyses to inform study design

35% Develop decision support tools and data visualization/communications products

• Develop predictive models for evaluating management alternatives       
• Conduct literature reviews or analysis of available data to parameterize decision models       
• Visualize data and model outputs spatially and temporally     
• Create and manage interactive data dashboards 

5% - Other duties as assigned

Job Details

This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and will not automatically lead to permanent state employment or be entitled to the same benefits as permanent employees. 

More about LTE positions:

• Offer a great opportunity to gain experience and learn about careers at the WI Department of Natural Resources.
• Provide opportunities for individuals to enhance their resumes with skills learned on the job.
• May accommodate flexibility for part-time or full-time work hours and seasonal schedules. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.
• Allow individuals to hold multiple LTE appointments concurrently. If both LTE positions are at the same agency, the positions must be bona fide different positions. Each individual LTE position allows for maximum of 1039 hours in a twelve-month period.

Special Requirements:

1) Background Checks: The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants prior to a job offer. Please note that a criminal charge or conviction on your record will not necessarily disqualify you from state employment. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the DNR does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

2) Eligible to work in U.S.: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. The Department of Natural Resources does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility I-9 form upon hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The DNR is an equal opportunity employer that promotes and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications below, the selected candidate must be eligible to drive a state vehicle and meet the following criteria:       

• Have a valid driver’s license       
• Be at least 18 years of age       
• Have a minimum of two years of licensed driving experience       
• Have not had three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years     
• Have no OWI/DUI violations within the past year  

Required qualifications:       

• Knowledge of wildlife ecology and management       
• Proficiency in data management and organization       
• Proficiency with analyzing wildlife population data (e.g. spatial capture-recapture, survival analysis, population matrix models, occupancy models, N-mixture models)
• Proficiency in conducting spatial analyses and visualizations, preferably in program R 
• Proficiency with data wrangling and analysis using program R       
• Experience with data visualization and report writing with R Markdown (or similar)       
• Experience with Bayesian approaches for analyzing data using R and NIMBLE (or similar)

Preferred Qualifications:       

• Exposure to data visualization and app building (R Shiny apps)       
• Exposure to decision science (i.e. structured decision making