Regional Program Manager - Wildlife Damage

Job ID: 30899

Agency: Department of Game, Fish and Parks

Location:Ft. Pierre, SD

Salary: $27.49-$34.36 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: J

Closing Date: 04/09/2025

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. For more information on the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, please visit https://gfp.sd.gov/ .

This position is located in Fort Pierre, but other locations in Central South Dakota may be considered.

Why the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks?

Working for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is not just a job. It is a life passion. It is about working together as a team with colleagues, customers, landowners, and partner organizations to ensure that our state’s outdoor heritage lives on for the next generation. Providing exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities for people to enjoy is one of the best jobs in state government. Our atmosphere empowers professional success and team building, while fostering relationships to build a culture focused on our four strategic plan goals.

• Provide outdoor recreational opportunities
• Serve as stewards of our state’s natural resources
• Inspire confidence
• Foster professional excellence
  
  

All We Need Is You To Join Our Team! Sound Like a Good Fit So Far? As a South Dakota Department Of Game, Fish And Parks Employee, Here Is What You Will Experience

• Innovation – the GFP team is consistently revolutionizing enhancements to outdoor recreation in terms of technology and customer experience. We invite new ideas and interaction from our employees.
• Collaboration and Communication – our employees work with various teams, programs and divisions within the agency, outside state and federal agencies and public stakeholders. We want all employees to know that their voice will be heard as we continuously work towards our future goals.
• Professional Development – We provide training and support for you to become an expert in the field and obtain the skills necessary to be successful in your position.
• Task Diversity – the work duties are never boring. Your duties may include meetings with coworkers, collaborating with other government representatives, representing the Department at Commission meetings and national conferences, visiting one of our state parks and recreation areas or working to enhance habitat on a game production area. The outdoors provides for a pretty nice corner office!
  
  

Who We’re Looking For?

• Do you have experience with coyote or beaver trapping?
• Do you have experience dealing with ungulate depredation?
• Do you enjoy working with South Dakota Ranchers and Producers?
• Do you have a high degree of professional ethics and integrity?
• Are you excellent at organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks and projects while maintaining a positive attitude?
• Do you welcome the opportunity to tackle problems and think quickly to find innovative solutions?
• Are you an effective, outgoing communicator who enjoys providing superior service to customers, leadership, and other employees?
  
  

What You Will Do

Serve as the Regional Program Manager for Wildlife Damage Management in the Division of Wildlife's Administrative Region 2, which includes 20 counties located in central South Dakota. Counties in Region 2 include: Corson, Dewey, Stanley, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Todd, Tripp, Gregory, Charles Mix, Douglas, Brule, Buffalo, Hand, Hyde, Hughes, Sully, Potter, Walworth, and Campbell. This position directs the work of seven permanent Wildlife Damage Management staff over a very large geographic area (Central South Dakota). The incumbent will be responsible for the implementation of programs and management activities associated with animal damage control, wildlife damage management, and wildlife health and disease issues. The Wildlife Damage Management Program Manager will work with a broad cross-section of agency staff, landowners, sportsmen and sportswomen, and other agencies to effectively address wildlife damage. Duties will require routine in state travel. The position is supervised by the Regional Terrestrial Resources Supervisor.

Licenses And Certifications

Incumbent will be required to obtain - A South Dakota driver's license, A South Dakota Department of Agriculture Commercial Applicators license with certifications in categories 12 (rodenticide) and 13 (M-44 device), and complete ATV/UTV Training, safety training, or other similar requirements.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• extensive experience with a variety of methods used in removing predators in depredation situations;
• working knowledge of theories and methods used to address wildlife damage concerns;
• experience with wildlife damage management activities including but not limited to wildlife live trapping and transfer operations, wildlife removal practices including both live catch and kill-type traps as well as extensive knowledge and experience with the use and operation of a variety of methods commonly used for predator removal.
  
  

Knowledge Of

• methods used to remove predators depredating livestock including but not limited to calling, trapping, snaring, M-44's, aerial control and denning;
• the principles and practices of wildlife damage abatement techniques, animal damage control, and wildlife diseases;
• techniques and tactics used to effectively manage wildlife and wildlife depredation;
• ecology of game and non-game species, and socio-economic factors affecting habitat and populations;
• personnel and fiscal management;
• basic principles and terminology of data processing.
  
  

Skill To

• effectively communicate and train staff in the methods for predator removal using a variety of methods;
• work effectively with agency staff, diverse members of the public, conservation organizations, landowners, and livestock producers in managing the state's diverse wildlife populations;
• operate computers and needed programs.
  
  

Ability To

• effectively engage and communicate with diverse publics regarding wildlife damage management programs and challenges;
• interact with the public, resource management agencies, and wildlife resources;
• collaborate with other agency staff to develop effective program guidelines, projects, surveys, and wildlife damage strategies;
• implement urban wildlife management programs in and around urban or metro areas;
• write effective reports;
• organize and analyze information and draw sound conclusions;
• effectively evaluate agency programs and services and collaborate with others to improve them;
• to lead and direct agency staff and supervise all program functions;
• effectively plan, assign, and organize work activities and prioritize task completion to meet deadlines;
• recommend budget, material, and equipment needs.
  
  

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1E2

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"