Job Posting
Department: 23-Game Commission
Organization: 234260-Srvy and Ststcl Spt Sectn
Job Code/Title: 620900-Wldlfe Biometrician
Position Number: 48538
Announcement Number: 2009-48
County: Dauphin
Work Location: 2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg PA 17110
Type of Job: Civil Service
Union: AFSCME
Bargaining Unit: B4
Seniority Unit:
Type Position: Permanent / Full Time
Salary Range: $48,215 - $73,233
Pay Schedule / Range: ST / ST08
Posting Length: 15 days
Posting Dates: 11/4/2009 - 11/19/2009
Contact Number: (717)787-4250 ext:3114 or sgraybill@state.pa.us
Information: Working hours: 7:45 to 4:00
Description of Duties: This Union covered position is subject to the promotion provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.

1. Manages and coordinates statewide survey and statistical support program. Work includes development, coordination and supervision of specific wildlife research and social survey projects on an inter-agency and intra-agency basis for the entire program. Develop and recommend long- and short-range program goals, objectives and priorities. Prepare research and social survey proposals, and review those submitted by agency biologists. Develop operational policies, procedures and an annual survey and statistical support section budget, track budget costs and develop work schedules to assure objectives are met. Plan, organize and assign work to the subordinate biologist within the section. Prepare annual work standards and annual performance reports for each employee supervised. Approve leave, and authorize/assign overtime.
2. Coordinates the hunter and trapper game and furbearer harvest surveys. These are mail surveys to a random sample of >20,000 license purchasers. Duties include design of the survey instrument, analysis of survey results to estimate harvest and hunter-days, and preparation of an annual technical report and popular article explaining the results.
3. Serves as statewide coordinator for the USFWS woodcock singing ground and mourning dove call count surveys. Duties include coordinating survey activity with the USFWS and agency survey participants, training agency personnel as to proper survey techniques, distributing survey materials and coordinating reporting of results.
4. Coordinates habitat and land access trend survey. Duties include preparing data forms, coordinating field data collection, analyzing data and reporting results on changes in wildlife habitat and land access within the state.
5. Conducts surveys and/or coordinates contracts to gather public and stakeholder knowledge and attitude data on wildlife conservation issues. These are conducted on a periodic and an as-needed basis in support of agency and bureau programs. Various hunter and furtaker surveys are routine. Duties can be diverse and include contract preparation, survey instrument design, sample design, coordination of data collection, data analysis and preparation of results.
6. Serves as agency coordinator with the USFWS for the National Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation survey.
7. Conducts analyses and assists field biologists with population modeling, study design, database development, statistical analysis and presentation graphics for wildlife research projects. Analyses may include simple descriptive statistics, inferential statistics (e.g., ANOVA, regression analysis, multivariate analysis, categorical data analysis, nonparametric statistics, etc.), estimation or enumeration statistics (e.g., population density estimation, survival analysis, etc.), time series analysis and spatial analysis. Must be familiar with and have a working knowledge of commercial statistical packages including SAS and SYSTAT, as well as wildlife statistical software such as CAPTURE, DISTANCE, JOLLY-AGE, RELEASE, SURVIV and MULT.
8. Evaluates the efficiency and accuracy of surveys conducted by research and management staff to ensure that results are statistically valid. Recommends changes to improve survey procedures. Develops research projects to validate wildlife survey and population estimation and monitoring techniques.
9. Represents the bureau as computer user and GIS liaison. Assists the Bureau of Automated Tech. Services in developing bureau computer user needs, & implementing a plan to develop an agency GIS for wildlife research and management.
10. Identifies biologist training needs in the statistical and quantitative aspects of wildlife management. Periodically conducts training to instruct biologists in statistical analysis, population modeling and statistical design. Provides instruction to WCOs on fundamentals of population ecology, wildlife management, and survey procedures.
11. Attends workshops on statistical methods, applied statistics and statistical programming to remain current. Maintains knowledge of current biometric and wildlife ecology literature.
12. Assists with reserach and other field activities within the bureau such as data collection at bear check stations and aging hunter-killed deer.
13. Prepares technical reports for scientific, peer-reviewed publications and popular, non-technical articles on wildlife-related topics. Presents presentations at professional workshops and conferences, sportsmen's club meetings, and Game Commission meetings
Essential Functions: 1. Supervise subordinate biologists
2. Prepare annual budgets and track costs
3. Develop program goals, objectives and priorities
4. Assign work, monitor progress, complete annual employee performance reviews
5. Develop, design and initiate wildlife research, wildlife population surveys, and social surveys
6. Extensive knowledge on population modeling and statistical techniques
7. Effective use of computers and WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS, POWERPOINT, population modeling and statistical software.
8. Establish, maintain effective working relationships with other biologists, professional personnel, Commissioners, other government officials
9. Prepare clear, concise and well organized reports and correspondence, and communicate effectively orally
10. Ability to travel within and out-of-state, including overnight stays.

Last Date Job Applications Will Be Accepted: 11/19/2009

THIS IS AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION
Recruitment Method(s):

Applicants must meet one (or more) of the following methods(s) to be considered for this vacancy:
Civil Service Lists (Fill by examination in accordance with collective bargaining.)
Transfer
Reassignment
Voluntary Demotion
Eligibility - all candidates
Meet the minimum experience and training required for the job: Two years of professional experience in wildlife research involving biometric analysis; and a master’s degree in any of the biological sciences which includes or is supplemented by 18 semester credits in statistics or biometrics.
Be a resident of Pennsylvania
Be eligible for selection in accordance with Civil Service rules.
How to apply - all candidates:

The following materials must be mailed and postmarked on or before 11/19/2009:
Completed Civil Service application, Form SCSC-1 (need not be notarized)(www.scsc.state.pa.us) The application must provide details of experience and training as related to the minimum experience and training requirements for the vacancy so eligibility can be determined.

PA Game Commission Vacancy Bidding Form obtainable from (www.pgc.state.pa.us)

Most recent Employee Performance Review

ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY OR U.S. POSTMARKED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THE JOB OPENING (APPLICANTS USING THE INTEROFFICE MAIL SYSTEM MUST ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSING DATE). LATE AND/OR INCOMPLETE BID PACKAGES SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

FAXED BID PACKAGES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

IF YOU ARE CONTACTED FOR AN INTERVIEW AND NEED ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW DUE TO A DISABILITY, PLEASE ADVISE THE INTERVIEWER OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS YOU REQUIRE WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE SCHEDULED DATE.

If interested in applying by mail, please send above specified materials to:

PA Game Commission
2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg PA 17110
ATTN: Sherry Graybill

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.