Easter Seals Jobs

Working Title: Wildlife Action Plan Biometrician

Job Class: Research Analysis Specialist Senior

Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

• Job ID : 83181

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 1/10/2025

• Closing Date : 1/30/2025

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources

• Division/Unit : Ecological & Water Resources

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $31.92 - $47.05 / hourly; $66,648 - $98,240 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees / MAPE

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position exists to provide high-level technical research, monitoring, and survey project design and data analysis expertise to the Division of Ecological and Water Resources (EWR) Nongame Wildlife Program (NWP).The work supports the conservation of Minnesota Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) as outlined in Minnesota’s Wildlife Action Plan.

Duties Include:

• Analyze existing data (internal or external to DNR) to determine more about species’ trends and likelihood of persistence over time. Identify for which SGCN species current data are sufficient to track trends in distribution and/or population levels. Work will focus on all major taxonomic groups.

• Work with staff to design research frameworks and propose studies to answer questions about SGCN responses to habitat changes due to restoration, management actions, and climate change. The objective is to determine best habitat management practices to positively influence SGCN populations in the context of a changing environment. The work will inform larger scale future efforts for SGCNs, such as projects outlined in future grant proposals.

• Advise and assist biologists seeking statistical advice. Advise on projects such as: sampling plans for surveys, monitoring, and research of SGCN species; research design to test important hypotheses; methodology to estimate population parameters with adequate precision; and use of techniques such as power analyses to optimize investment in future data collection.

• Keep up to date on innovations in research, statistical modeling, population modelling, spatial analysis, and special techniques (such as environmental DNA) so that best practices may be applied in existing and future efforts.

• Collaborate with other team members to effectively implement strategies and actions outlined in the Wildlife Action Plan and associated Nongame Wildlife Program planning documents. Within the team, take the lead for study design and statistical analysis. As appropriate, contribute to and/or lead writing of peer-reviewed publications.

This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete an annual telework agreement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree wildlife, biology, ecology, biometrics/statistics, or closely related field.

• 3 years of professional experience in scientific, experimental, research, monitoring, and survey techniques pertaining to natural resource conservation and management. An advanced degree in a related field may substitute for one year of experience.

• Knowledge of statistical methods of analysis sufficient to apply parametric or non-parametric approaches in animal populations and habitat data research, monitoring and survey projects.

• Experience in statistical analysis software and programming languages, such as JMP, SPSS, R, Python.

• Experience with spatial statistics and spatial software, (ESRI GIS or equivalent).

• Experience working with data management systems such as Microsoft Access, Oracle, and SQL databases.

• Experience working with wildlife and habitat practitioners to apply statistics to inform adaptive management.

• Experience with participating in and implementing structured decision-making framework for resolving wildlife conflicts and prioritizing conservation actions.

• Teamwork and communication skills sufficient to enable successful collaborations with a variety of partners.

• Project management skills sufficient to ensure that projects are completed in a timely way, and contracts and service level agreements are fulfilled.

• Leadership skills and abilities to work collaboratively with other scientists and lead technical working groups.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree wildlife, biology, ecology, biometrics/statistics, or closely related field.

• 3 years of experience in statistical analysis software and programming languages, such as JMP, SPSS, R, Python.

• 3 peer-reviewed publications of statistical analysis of wildlife and/or ecological data, including trend and habitat analyses such as relevant statistical methods papers.

• Experience working with large, complex data such as nationally available datasets.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate advanced statistical topics to lay audiences and assist colleagues in interpreting complex analysis and results.

• Documented project leadership including hypothesis development, project design and implementation to completion.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in collaborating with other scientists by designing studies and providing advice on study design.

• Knowledge sufficient to develop of project or grant-level budgets and conduct billing and contracting.

• Successful participation of the State of Minnesota Star of the North Fellowship program.

Additional Requirements

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. All job offers are contingent upon passing the following components:

• Employment Reference Check

• SEMA4 Records Check

• Criminal History Check

• Conflict of Interest Review

• Education/license verification

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.