District Natural Heritage Biologist, Opt. 4

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking to hire a Natural Resources Specialist for the Office of Resource Conservation.  This position will serve as Lead for species recovery including assessing status, planning to address threats and limitations to the species, and implementing conservation actions; apply herbicide and pesticide as a management practice to control invasive and exotic plants and pests; prepare and implement prescribed fire plans and technically administer all aspects of the prescribed fire plan; prepare and/or distribute information through various methods including scientific publications, media inquiries, presentations, and through other outreach events.  We welcome qualified and interested applicants who would like to be part of this team to apply today.

Essential Functions

• Under general supervision of the Regional Manager, serves as District Natural Heritage Biologist and administers, manages, and implements the Division’s natural heritage programs in north-eastern Illinois. 
• Conducts stewardship of natural communities and species habitats. 
• Facilitates program-oriented research, surveys, and investigations. 
• Prepares and reviews resource management plans and protection documents. 
• Participates in establishing district and regional goals and objectives. 
• Advocates for natural heritage resources.
• Serves as designated lead worker. 
• Performs other duties required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental ability equivalent to a master’s degree in natural heritage resource management, or a directly related biological science; or requires a bachelor’s degree in natural heritage resource management, or a directly related biological science, supplemented by two years of directly related professional experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers a master’s degree in a wildlife, botany, ecology, or zoology focused major.
• Extensive knowledge on managing flora and fauna and threatened and endangered species management.
• Two (2) years of professional experience involving ecological processes and modern habitat management techniques using specialized conservation equipment.
• Two (2) years of experience prioritizing and managing multiple projects with minimal direct supervision.
• Two (2) years of experience collecting information and assisting in analyzing and evaluating technical data/reports.
• One(1) year of experience in providing task-related direction and assistance to seasonal or intermittent employees, volunteers, landowners, or the general public. 

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires valid Illinois class D driver’s license.
• Requires ability to travel in performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Ability to obtain pesticide operator’s license within 6 months of employment.
• Ability to work under adverse environmental conditions.
• Ability to lift, carry and transport loads exceeding sixty pounds.
• Ability to traverse rough and broken terrain on foot without mechanical assistance.
• Ability to negotiate a variety of natural obstacles carrying a variety of technical equipment.
• Ability to obtain Illinois Burn Boss Certification.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

Agency and Division Statement

DNR Agency Statement

Charged with preserving, protecting, and promoting Illinois’ natural resources, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) employees oversee water, wildlife, wetlands and oil wells, parks, historic sites – and everything in between. Employment opportunities vary greatly, often providing employees the chance to work indoors and out in a dynamic yet relaxed environment. Working for the State of Illinois, IDNR employees receive excellent benefits, including health, vision and dental insurance; a retirement plan and deferred compensation options; state holidays and other time off; as well as pre-tax benefit programs; flexible/remote work schedules may be available for certain positions.

Division of Natural Heritage

It is the mission of the Division of Natural Heritage to protect, restore, manage, and promote the responsible use of the Illinois' native flora and fauna, natural communities, wildlife habitat, and ecosystems; and through our leadership, ensure for future generations of the greatest social, environmental, and economic benefits that can be provided through healthy ecosystems.

We work with our sister programs, the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, to protect and manage remnants of our original natural heritage and to restore degraded natural areas.

The Natural Heritage Division is responsible for Identification, Protection, Stewardship, and Defense of our state's Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage is all of the flora, fauna, ecosystem types, and geological features inherited from past generations and maintained in the present, to be passed on to future generations.