TEMPORARY YIP Intern –Education Outreach Intern – Durango

Full Job Description

The mission of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources is to develop, preserve, and enhance the state's natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future citizens and visitors. In an effort to build diversity and inclusion we welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.


COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE (CPW)
Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources. Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Requirements

The YIP intern will work alongside full time Customer Service Representatives at the CPW Durango Service Center. The intern will also support Area 15 staff by working as an education liaison in Area 15, educating the public on living with wildlife, being “bear aware”, helping with school programs, outreach to home owner associations and
collaborating with local organizations on wildlife issues. The intern will have opportunities to assist Area 15 terrestrial biologist, aquatic biologist, and district wildlife managers with projects as needed. Potential projects would include archery and fishing clinics, aquatic and terrestrial surveys, and hunter education/recruitment events.
The intern position would be specifically for Area 15 and will help with crucial customer service and education work on the front lines. The intern will have opportunities to work at some of the local State Parks in the area - Navajo, Mancos and Ridgway State Parks - gaining experience with park activities and operations.

Job Duties and Associated Training

• Job Duty: Initiate public education outreach to inform the public on living with wildlife and reducing wildlife conflicts in Area 15 (La Plata, San Juan, Dolores, Montezuma, and Archuleta counties)
  • Engage communities in Area 15 by providing education on living with wildlife and addressing conflict mitigation techniques for bear, lion, elk, deer, and other wildlife
  • Provide education and respond to office phone calls regarding wildlife conflict issues
  • Help with school programs, answering calls for service, outreach to home owner associations, canvassing neighborhoods, and collaborating with local organizations (e.g., La Plata County
  • Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, Bear Smart Durango, Manna Soup Kitchen, City of Durango, Visit Durango, and San Juan Mountains Association) on wildlife issues
  • Intern will shadow DWM's and field staff on active wildlife management activities which can include trapping and processing of live bears/lions, engaging community members through outreach efforts, and attending collaborative community group meetings
  • Trainings that we will provide to prepare the intern for this activity:
    • Introduce the Bear Wise program and Living with Wildlife programs, provide education materials (Project Wild, conflict mitigation, education training put on by the agency, etc.) for the intern to review, work alongside veteran staff familiar with the programs
• Job Duty: Provide customer service at the Durango Service Center
  • Essential functions and responsibilities:
  • Assist the Durango Service Center with customer service activities
  • Assist with mandatory checks, handle wildlife, both alive and dead, gathering biological information such as measurements, tooth extraction, DNA samples, and CWD samples
• Training that we will provide to prepare the intern for this activity
  • Intern will work alongside staff to learn the iPAWS system, will shadow incoming calls to learn techniques and content for answering customer questions relating to wildlife conflicts (bear/mountain lion reports, nuisance wildlife, etc.), hunting and fishing questions (regulatory information, etc.), and will receive additional training for field activities as they arise.
  • Intern will complete mandatory check training, CWD sample training, and shadow staff through the check process.
• Job Duty: Initiate public education outreach to inform the public on living with wildlife and reducing wildlife conflicts in Area 15 (La Plata, San Juan, Dolores, Montezuma, and Archuleta counties)
  • Engage communities in Area 15 by providing education on living with wildlife and addressing conflict mitigation techniques for bear, lion, elk, deer, and other wildlife
  • Provide education and respond to office phone calls regarding wildlife conflict issues
  • Help with school programs, answering calls for service, outreach to home owner associations, canvassing neighborhoods, and collaborating with local organizations (e.g., La Plata County
  • Living with Wildlife Advisory Board, Bear Smart Durango, Manna Soup Kitchen, City of Durango, Visit Durango, and San Juan Mountains Association) on wildlife issues
  • Intern will shadow DWM's and field staff on active wildlife management activities which can include trapping and processing of live bears/lions, engaging community members through outreach efforts, and attending collaborative community group meetings
  • Trainings that we will provide to prepare the intern for this activity
  • Introduce the Bear Wise program and Living with Wildlife programs, provide education materials (Project Wild, conflict mitigation, education training put on by the agency, etc.) for the intern to review, work alongside veteran staff familiar with the program.
• Job Duty: Perform Biological Checks on Wildlife
  • Assist field staff with biological checks on wildlife including mandatory checks for bears, lions, sheep, goat, moose, and bobcats
  • Assist with taking Chronic Wasting Disease samples from deer, elk, and moose
  • Trainings that we will provide to prepare the intern for this activity:
  • Provide training material (videos, ID guides, etc.) for the intern to review
  • The intern will shadow field staff as they complete the checks

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must have a current & valid drivers' license or reliable transportation OR Must have a current & valid driver’s license required for operating a state vehicle
• The work-site will provide some uniform items, however the employee may be required to purchase limited uniform items at their own expense.
• Applicants may be subject to successful completion of a comprehensive background check.
• Must be willing and able to work 40 hours per week. Flexibility with hours will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Must be available to work evenings and weekends.
• Must be available to work varied shifts.
• Preference may be given to applicants with or working towards a Natural Resources degree or similar education.
• Previous experience in handling money and working with the public is preferred.
• Possess strong [interpersonal communication skills] to deliver excellent customer service.
• Basic computer skills [preferred] (MS Office Suite, Google App Suite)
• Ability to work with limited supervision and work well within a team.
• Must be willing and able to climb in and out of vessels and under trailers to perform job functions.
• Must be willing and able to work outside which may involve inclement weather.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly during the course of a workday.

Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.
To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who:

• Have an assigned State fleet vehicle
• Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position
• Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle

Additional Information

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services.

Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.

The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them.

Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us

ADAAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment.

To request an accommodation, please contact Anna Kargobai-Murray at anna.kargobai-murray@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation.

You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed.

Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

E-Verify employer:

The Department of Natural Resources participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program's Right to Work for all newly-hired employees.

Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility.

You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you are required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S.

Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll–Free Applicant Support - Technical Help

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it. The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with these types of technical issues.