Conservation Officer

Please Note: Applications will be accepted through 4:59 PM MDT on the posting end date.

Protect Idaho's wildlife, become an Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Conservation Officer!

Conservation Officers work and patrol in Idaho's mountains, high deserts, on rivers and lakes protecting Idaho's fish and wildlife. They utilize snow machines, horses, jet boats and 4x4 vehicles. This is not an 8 to 5 job, but rather one that is varied; one that often allows you to adjust your schedule so that you can make your child's soccer game. Conservation Officers work in country where most people only vacation. Yes, this is your office.

A Conservation Officer's primary duty is to gain compliance with fish and game laws and investigate wildlife crime. They work together with biologists to collect biological data for wildlife studies, conduct population studies and trap, tag, and transplant wildlife. They work with landowners to minimize and resolve wildlife damage problems.

Conservation Officers also have hundreds of contacts yearly with the public including sportsmen, sportswomen, landowners, and other citizens where they inform and educate about wildlife. They must be able to relate to our customers, primarily anglers and hunters; therefore, they need to be a good listener and communicator.

Please note, the ideal candidates for these positions will have a bachelor’s degree or higher in fish and/or wildlife management from an accredited college or university. 

Prior to being hired, all applicants must pass an extensive background check that will include credit, work, criminal history, and reference checks. Applicants must pass psychological, medical, and physical fitness examinations.

This is an entry level position. The starting salary for this position is $26.62 per hour. Conservation Officers who successfully complete their first-year probationary period (2,080 worked hours) which includes successful completion of the Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) Academy, and the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) will be considered for upgrade to a Conservation Officer, Senior with a starting salary of $29.70 per hour.

Work Location:

Applicants for Conservation Officer positions must be willing to work anywhere in Idaho. Assignments are dependent on department staffing needs. Patrol area transfer requests are typically not considered for two years from time of hire.

Why IDFG?

We are a premier natural resource agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho's fish and wildlife for this great state. We are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence as we cultivate opportunities for our customers to engage with our natural resources and become resource stewards for future generations. We are highly dedicated to our mission, committed to our team, and we know how to balance work/life commitments while loving the work we do. 

What We Offer: 

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance - employee only coverage for PPO is $65/month for medical and vision & $11.82/month for dental; family plans are also available
• Participation in one of the Nation's best state retirement systems
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start (accumulate approximately 3 weeks of vacation the first year, and increasing with state longevity)
• Eleven paid holidays in a year
• Eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Multiple optional saving plans - 401k and 457 plans
• Group Life Insurance/Disability Insurance/Supplemental Life Insurance - state provided basic life insurance coverage and affordable supplemental plans
• Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness (eligibility requirements may apply)
• Employee Assistance Program - confidential support, information, and resources for all of life's challenges
• State and Department Wellness Programs
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Potential flexible schedule 

Responsibilities:

• Enforcement: conduct field patrols to detect and investigate fish and game law violations; check licenses and bag limits of sportsmen in the field; issue citations and make arrests; operate short-term check stations; monitor license-vending activities; assist other law enforcement agencies when requested; testify in court regarding offenses; act as a relief officer for other patrol districts. Conservation Officers are required to be proficient with department issued firearms, meeting POST qualifications annually with a rifle and biannually with a handgun. Officers are required to pass the POST physical fitness requirement biannually. Work a varied schedule which may include patrolling on weekends, nights, and holidays.
   
• Fish and game management: collect biological data for wildlife studies; trap, tag, and transplant animals, birds, and fish; conduct wildlife feeding programs; evaluate habitat for wildlife; investigate, resolve, and make reports on wildlife depredation complaints; dispose of deceased, dead, or injured animals.
   
• Information and education: participate in wildlife education and youth mentoring projects; conduct hunter safety programs; assist in search and rescue operations; write news articles; participate in news programs; attend meetings and conferences regarding fish and game practices and problems.

Minimum Qualifications: (These qualifications are required.)

• Good knowledge of fish and wildlife management practices including habitat and forage requirements, behavior and identification of various wildlife species, and wildlife population dynamics. (Typically gained by successful completion of at least 12 upper division (300-400 level) credits in fish, wildlife, biology, or a closely related natural resources field from an accredited college or university by the targeted hire date that is listed on the job announcement.)
• Experience: interpreting and applying biological data; writing technical reports on fish and wildlife issues; making oral presentations. (Typically gained by at least one year of work experience or experience through education that required one to interpret and apply biological data; write technical reports on fish and wildlife issues; and make oral presentations on fish and wildlife related topics.)
• Willingness to participate and to instruct in hunting and fishing activities.
• Must be able to meet the entrance requirements for the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council (“POST”). For more information about the Idaho POST entrance requirements, please see the information in the following link - https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/11/111101.pdf.
• Idaho Law requires that peace officers be certified by Idaho's Peace Officer Standards and Training Council ("POST"). The statutes and regulations of POST require that every peace officer be a citizen of the United States, and that citizenship must be established through one of the following: A birth certificate issued by the city, county or state and filed within one year of birth; Naturalization Certificate; U.S. Passport; Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth; or Certificate of Citizenship
• POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
  o NOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02 An applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
  o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
  o The term “Conviction” shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant’s appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.
• POST Requirement one of the following:
  o High school graduate from a school accredited as a high school at the time of graduation by the recognized regional accreditation body;
  o Have passed GED or IBM Assessment Test in subject areas required by POST;
  o Have successfully completed a high school equivalency program and obtained a state-issued certificate;
  o Have successfully completed a minimum of fifteen (15) academic credits at a U.S. regionally accredited college (please see IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.053.01.d for a list of the POST-accepted regional accreditation agencies.);
  o Completed a course of study, either in a formal school setting or through homeschooling if the program is recognized by a state or by a local school district within a state as having met that state’s high school graduation requirements.
• Be at least 21 years of age by the date of hire.
• Valid driver’s license from your state of residence and that you qualify for an Idaho driver’s license.
• Physical Fitness Standards must be met twice a year by all Conservation Officers. Listed below are the exercises that will be assessed and the required minimum passing score for each exercise:
  o Vertical Jump - Minimum Passing Score = 14 Inches
  o Sit-Ups (in one minute) - Minimum Passing Score = 15 Repetitions
  o Push-Ups (no time limit) - Minimum Passing Score = 21 Repetitions
  o 1.5 Mile Run/Walk - Minimum Passing Score = 17:17 Minutes/Seconds
  o 300 Meters Run - Minimum Passing Score = 77 Seconds 

Automatic Disqualifiers:

• POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
• o NOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02 An applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
  o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
  o The term "Conviction" shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.
• Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of domestic violence from carrying a firearm.
• Any felony convictions
• Marijuana usage, which is considered illegal in the state of Idaho, within the last year.
• Drug usage, excluding marijuana, which is considered illegal in the state of Idaho within the last three years.
  o The term "used" is defined as any intentional or unintentional testing, smoking, injecting, absorbing, sniffing, or inhaling of any drug not prescribed, administered, or provided to the applicant by a licensed physician, their authorized agent, or practitioner allowed to do so by statute.
• Drug conviction within the last three years.
• Served in the military and been given any of the following military discharges: Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD), Dishonorable Discharge (DD), or Administrative Discharge of other than Honorable (OTH). 

Tentative Time Frames:

• Initial Video Interviews – September 2024
• In-Person Interviews – October 2024
• Background Checks/Screening - this will begin immediately after the in-person interviews conclude through November 2024
• Conditional offers of hire and invitations to psychological, medical, physical exams will be sent out at the end of October 2024. Please note that the exams will be conducted in Boise on November 4, 2024, through November 6, 2024.
• Hire Date – December 8, 2024
• POST Academy – December 2024 or April 2025 depending on availability 

How to Apply:

Please apply online at the URL listed below.

URL:

Conservation Officer in Statewide, Idaho, United States OR https://statecareers.idaho.gov/jobs/14669623-conservation-officer 

To learn more about becoming an IDFG Conservation Officer and the Department, please see the following:

• Become a Conservation Officer | Idaho Fish and Game
• (Video) Idaho Fish and Game - We Make It Happen

Salary:

$26.62 per hour, Plus Competitive Benefits

Additional Comments:

• EEO/Veteran's Preference.

Thank you for applying with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game!