THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Please remember to attach the required documents Cover Letter, Supplemental Questions and Resume listed in this announcement. Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on March 26th, 2023. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees scheduled at least half-time for more than 6 months consecutively are also provided paid health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.
Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and answers to supplemental questions.

Question 1:

Describe your understanding of Montana's private land access programs and their essential functions? What are your personal experiences with these programs?

Question 2:

Describe a situation when you had to resolve conflict with a member of the public or co-worker who was frustrated. Explain the situation and what you did to diffuse it. What was the outcome?

Regional Information:
This position is based out of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 5 headquarters at Lake Elmo State Park in Billings, Montana. Billings is Montana's largest city with a metropolitan area population over 166,000. Located in south-central Montana, Billings hosts two major hospitals, two colleges, and an international airport. Billings has activities from indoor and outdoor concerts, art walks, live theatre, professional indoor football, shooting ranges, many other personal interest organizations. Region 5 is home to Granite Peak, the highest peak in Montana, located in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area, and the driest desert in Montana located south of the Pryor Mountains. The area neighbors Yellowstone National Park and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. There are a wide variety of recreational opportunities such as 47 miles of walking/biking trails in the city, nearby skiing, world class fishing and hunting, bird and wildlife watching, a variety of local, state and national attractions including parks with historic significance such as Chief Plenty Coup Park, Pompeii's Pillar, Custer Battlefield, and Pictograph Parks. The region has six mountain ranges with unique flora, fauna, and geology blending into diverse prairie ecosystems. The Yellowstone River is a defining feature-flowing through both Billings and the region. It offers a wealth of opportunity for camping, floating, fishing, waterfowl hunting and more. For more information of the area visit: Visit Billings Montana's Trailhead.

Job Duties:
The Access Resource Specialist focuses on public use planning, implementation, field operations, and administration of private land access programs in the region. This position assists with the administration and implementation of all FWP private land access programs within a region.
Understanding of Montana's hunting heritage, recreational opportunities, natural resource rules and regulations is advantageous. Applicant must have aptitude for building and maintaining interpersonal relationships, preferably with private landowners, the public, and partner agencies. Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with a wide variety of people and personalities including ranchers, farmers, biologists, game wardens, hunters, anglers, and other recreationalists. Must have excellent customer service skills and a desire to help people. Must be tactful, courteous, and professional in communication approach. Should have ability to learn and understand hunting and fishing regulations, public use rules, and natural resource management. Applicant must be capable of learning and explaining department principles and concepts in a simple, clear, and effective way to members of the public. Must have ability to work independently with little to no daily supervision in both an office setting and from remote field locations. Must be able to navigate the landscape and administrative boundaries by using a GPS and maps depicting private and public land ownership. Knowledge of Montana and understanding of agricultural practices is advantageous. A positive outlook and demeanor are required.

REGIONAL ACCESS PROGRAM OPERATIONS
Assists with planning, administration, and implementation of private land access programs and processes. Translates access agreements into public information documents. This may include building, editing, and maintaining regional access program public rules documents and/or maps by using ArcGIS Pro, word, adobe acrobat, or other applicable computer programs. Helps to ensure that the intent of program policies, guidelines, and landowner agreements are accurate, clear, and understandable to the public, and that public information has minimal errors when released. Performs administrative duties to keep the regional access programs running smoothly for areas of direct responsibility. Collects, tabulates, summarizes, and maintains public use information, program records, and program databases. Assists with issuing public access area permission resources. Assists in the preparation and maintenance of public hunting and other recreational access field resources. Assists with patrolling access areas for user compliance and monitors user impacts. Maintains assigned office equipment, vehicle, field equipment, etc.

REGIONAL ACCESS PROGRAM PUBLIC SERVICE
Provides FWP access program information to the public and landowners. Provides information and resources necessary for users to appropriately and safely utilize areas open for public recreational use. Responds to inquiries about diverse situations related to fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. Provides public information to users about historical, cultural, and other recreational resources. Responds to a high volume of inquiries from landowners, hunters, anglers, and other recreational users. Interprets and explains access rules, policies, and laws to the public and landowners. Provides technical assistance and resources for the department, public, landowners, other agencies, and partner organizations when requested. Works collaboratively with regional managers, game wardens and biologists to ensure access programs are implemented in accordance with private land agreement terms, laws, policies, public use rules, and program intent. Helps resolve regional implementation problems and assists the public at the regional office and remote field settings. Assists with the planning, and organization of landowner appreciation logistics and events. This includes planning and hosting annual landowner recognition dinners, program awards, and other landowner appreciation resources.

Physical and Environmental Demands:
The position is based in the regional FWP office but spends time traveling and in the field meeting with landowners, setting up access areas, interacting with recreationalists, and maintaining areas open for public use. Field activities require working independently and driving in inclement weather and on hazardous roads. Must have a driver's license and be able to operate a 4x4 truck both standard and automatic transmissions in all types of weather and road conditions. Incumbent must be able to move heavy objects, utilize basic construction tools such as post pounders, drills, fence stretchers, hammers, etc.
Incumbent also performs work indoors in a typical office environment where the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, and operate a computer and telephone. May sit for extended periods. Position requires ability to move heavy boxes (up to 50 lbs.) containing publications and other materials. Some extended field travel, weekends, and extra work hours may be required. The incumbent may also encounter periodic stressful occurrences.

This is a full-time position with typical workweeks lasting Monday through Friday but may require some weekend workdays. There will be occasional trips that require overnight stays for FWP meetings. Additional hours are earned as the incumbent should expect to receive and manage phone calls from the public and local landowners at odd hours and to conduct field work when field conditions dictate.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through a high school diploma and 3 years experience relative to the position duties. A Bachelor's degree in Recreation Management, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Biology, Forestry, Wildlife Management, or closely related field is preferred. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.