Duties Description The Biologist 1 (Wildlife) position for New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) resides within the Wildlife Unit of the Division of Environmental Stewardship & Planning (DESP) and is located in OPRHP’s main office in Albany. This role will assist in applying ecological and conservation biology principles to wildlife management activities within the New York State Parks System.
Under the supervision of the Biologist 2 (Wildlife), the Biologist 1 (Wildlife), designs, conducts, and assesses scientific information and management programs to evaluate health, status, and distribution of wildlife populations. This position utilizes scientific expertise in the biological characteristics and conservation of selected wildlife species to recommend actions to secure wildlife populations and habitats. All tasks involve communicating closely with the Wildlife Unit Lead (Biologist 2 Wildlife), regional biologists and other DESP staff, as well as other OPRHP staff and partners.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Planning, implementing, or assisting with the implementation of on-the-ground wildlife-related stewardship projects and agency programs (e.g., hunting programs).
- Assisting in the conservation of rare, threatened, and endangered species in State Parks.
- Inventorying and documenting the condition of wildlife habitats.
- Applying principles of ecological resource management including protecting and restoring specific species and/or habitats and evaluating environmental conditions.
- Leading the development of wildlife plans and efforts to promote and develop habitat connectivity and conservation efforts.
- Promoting public appreciation and recreational use and enjoyment of wildlife resources.
- Responding to and assisting with varied regional wildlife issues and needs.
- Collaborating with others on conserving rare, threatened, and endangered wildlife species.
- Reviewing and preparing management plans, guidance documents, and policies related to wildlife.
- Updating wildlife information on agency inter-and intranet pages.
- Identifying threats to native biodiversity and rare species in the parks, making recommendations based on scientific data.
- Conducting field investigations to compile information pertaining to environmental impacts of various projects and actions as needed.
- Maintaining close communication with other staff on matters pertaining to wildlife protection and fostering communication throughout the regional offices and facilities.
- Analyzing data, writing reports, and developing presentations.
- Reviewing, analyzing, and making recommendations on project proposals to minimize impacts on wildlife populations and critical habitats.
- Monitoring the effectives of wildlife strategies and adapting management appropriately.
- Supervising, training, and evaluating subordinates.
- Attending meetings.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications If you have previous or current employment at a NYS agency, to be considered for this position, a review of your state history is needed. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information in your response, a representative from our office may contact you.
If Civil Service Eligible list(s) exist, they will be canvassed. Candidates must be reachable on the current eligible list(s) to be considered for appointment. You may also apply if you are eligible for appointment or reinstatement by one of the following qualifications:
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).* To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55-b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:
Biologist Trainee 1 (Wildlife), SG 14:
A bachelor's or higher degree including or supplemented by 18 semester credit hours in advanced big game management, advanced wildlife management, agriculture and wildlife, animal behavior, animal physiology, animal population modeling, behavioral and physiological ecology of wildlife, behavioral ecology, biology and management of waterfowl, biology of birds and mammals, biology of the vertebrates, bird biology and conservation, conservation biology (wildlife), concepts in habitat selection and foraging behavior, dynamics of animal populations, ecology of animal populations, ecology of freshwater mussels, ecology of freshwater wetlands, endangered species, entomology (insects), environmental and natural resources policies, environmental conflict and citizens participation, environmental law and policy, ethology, field biology, field natural history, field ornithology, forest entomology, forest ecology or silvics, forest wildlife ecology, forest wildlife management, freshwater mussels biology, freshwater mussel identification, freshwater wetland ecosystems, game birds and mammals, habitat analysis, habitat ecology, habitat inventory and evaluation, herpetology (amphibians, reptiles), introduction to quantitative and population genetics, introduction to wildlife biology, invertebrate zoology, management of wildlife habitats and populations, management of wildlife populations, mammalogy, mammalian ecology, natural resources management, natural resources policy, planning and administration, ornithology, plant and herbivore interactions, population dynamics and introductory modeling for biologists, population ecology, population genetics, population evolution, predator ecology and management, principles of conservation, principles of fish and wildlife management, principles of wildlife management, radio telemetry in fisheries and wildlife research, research in wildlife science, terrestrial community ecology, upland wildlife ecology, urban fish and wildlife management, urban wildlife, vertebrate ecology, vertebrate zoology, waterfowl and wetlands seminar, waterfowl biology and management, wetland ecology, wetland resources, wildlife, wildlife biology, wildlife conservation, wildlife ecology, wildlife ecology and management, wildlife habitat analysis, wildlife habitats and populations, wildlife habitat management, wildlife management, wildlife management internship, wildlife management laboratory, wildlife philosophy, policy and public relations, wildlife policy, wildlife population, wildlife health, wildlife population dynamics, wildlife problems, wildlife techniques, world wildlife, wilderness wildlife management.
Examples of Non-Qualifying Courses: animal histology; comparative anatomy and physiology; principles of evolution; zoology; introductory or survey courses such as general biology; general zoology; courses that focus on farm, non-native captive or zoo animals; population demographics or dynamics of people; or horticultural/landscape architecture.
For Biologist Trainee 2 (Wildlife), SG-16 you must also have:
Either 1. One year of professional experience in wildlife; OR
2. I have a master’s degree in natural science or natural resources.
Biologist 1 (Wildlife), SG-18 you must also have:
Either 1. Two years of professional experience in wildlife; OR
2. A PhD in natural science or natural resources; OR
3. Certification by the Wildlife Society as a Certified Wildlife Biologist.
If you are a veteran or an individual with a disability and would like to apply for the Department of Civil Service’s 55-b/c Program, please visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/ for more information.
Subsequent 55-b/c Qualifications:
A subsequent 55-b/c appointment may be considered if you have at least one year of permanent or contingent-permanent qualifying service and have a current Civil Service 55-b/c letter of eligibility.
70.1 Transfer Qualifications:
One year of permanent competitive service as a Biologist 1(Marine), Biologist 1 (Aquatic), Biologist 1 (Wildlife) or Biologist1 (Ecology) for transfer in accordance with Section 70.1 of Civil Service Law.
Note: The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.
For all transfers noted, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at: https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.
Additional Comments Benefits:
The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation offers a generous benefits package that includes but is not limited to:
Paid Time Off:
- PEF: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
- PEF: Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development.
Health Care Benefits:
- Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs.
- Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.
- Health Insurance Opt-Out: This program may be available to eligible employees who have other employer sponsored health insurance coverage.
Additional Benefits:
- New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
- NYS Deferred Compensation
- Health Insurance coverage in retirement
- Health Care Spending Account (HSA)
- Dependent Care Advantage Account
- Adoption Advantage Account
- Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
- Tuition Assistance programs for CSEA/PEF and M/C employees
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- Paid Parental Leave
To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx.
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a permanent non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024 and June 11, 2025. You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective June 12, 2025 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.
This position may require a background check and/or medical exam prior to appointment.
Depending on each applicant's experience and/or current salary if employed by New York State already, the appointment may be made to the Biologist Trainee 1 (Wildlife), Biologist Trainee 2(Wildlife), or the Biologist 1 (Wildlife) titles. Included below is a breakdown of the salary at each level of the traineeship:
Biologist Trainee 1 (Wildlife), SG-14: $53,764 - $68,630/yr
Biologist Trainee 2 (Wildlife), SG-16: $59,994- $76,359/yr
Biologist 1 (Wildlife), SG-18 - $66,951: $85,138/yr
Note: For all transfers noted, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
