Jobs

JOB TYPE: Full Time
LOCATION: Natural Resources
REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Natural Resources
SALARY RANGE: $56,000 to $84,000

No background check required.

Any individual who receives an offer of employment or will receive a payroll check are required to submit to a drug and alcohol test as a condition of obtaining employment.
Mille Lacs Band Member/American Indian preference applies

SUMMARY:
The Director of Fisheries will be responsible for organizing, planning, and scheduling fisheries work/operations. The Director of Fisheries will supervise fisheries/aquaculture technicians, aquaculture biologists, and temporary/seasonal workers. This position is responsible for obtaining external (non-tribal) funding sources, equipment, and formulating budgets. The Director of Fisheries also implements scientific investigations/studies and interprets complex scientific data to tribal leadership. The Director of Fisheries is also responsible for meeting with various government agencies to develop fisheries management plans and to mitigate fisheries conflicts/issues. The Director of Fisheries will oversee aquaculture (operations) and develop/review plans for the future fish hatchery. In addition, the Director of Fisheries is also responsible for public outreach educational efforts and holding community meetings to discuss fisheries topics.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university in wildlife/fisheries ecology/biology or in wildlife/fisheries conservation/management or a directly related field required.
• Able to conduct research or coordinate with Colleges or Universities to conduct research that effects Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe territories fish habitat.
• Three (3) years of experience in natural resource management and game and fish management required.
• Five (5) years of work experience directly related to fisheries, habitat and wildlife research.
• Previous supervisory experience is required.
• Knowledge of fish sampling techniques such as extracting otoliths, population estimation, seasonal fisheries surveys, and laboratory processing required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required.
• Ability to formulate and maintain annual/long term budgets is required.
• Knowledge of Ojibwe culture and language preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of aquatic invasive species, life cycles, and preventative measures preferred.
• Strong personal computer skills.
• Strong statistical analysis and statistical modeling skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Geographic Information System (GIS – map making) experience required.
• Must have current driver’s license, reliable personal transportation, proof of current insurance coverage and insurability under the Band’s Auto Insurance Policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug & alcohol test.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Directly supervise the Aquaculture Biologist, Fisheries Technician, Interns, and Temporary staff.
• Train Mille Lacs Band staff on complex fisheries surveys, research, sampling, and analytical techniques.
• Conducts fisheries & wildlife biological studies, investigations, and research projects.
• Conducts tribal resource inventories pertaining to fish, wildlife, plants, birds, etc. by collection, compiling and analyzing data.
• Performs fisheries evaluations and ecological surveys; compiles, interprets, and reports findings and observations.
• Collection of biological and harvest data on fish species in Lake Mille Lacs, reservations waterbodies, and fisheries in the 1837 Ceded Territory.
• Carrying out specific fish stock assessments with various monitoring equipments such as bottom set gillnets, fyke nets, backpack shockers, electrofishing boats, seines, etc.
• Analyzes and summarizes data. Compiles, interprets and reports findings and observations.
• Formulates preliminary recommendations to tribal leadership related to resource management.
• Provides technical assistance and recommendations to the Mille Lacs Band tribal natural resources and associated activities.
• Holds community meetings regarding fisheries decisions/updates and gives PowerPoint presentations. Also, in charge of fisheries educational outreach efforts to the local and academic community.
• Investigates environmental impact of construction, dredging, channel maintenance, stream bank stabilization, soil and water conservation projects, gravel mining and related operations on fisheries and natural resources management.
• Coordinates and implements fisheries management program goals and objectives. Recommends resource preservation and enhancement practices and conservation management methods and techniques.
• Prepare and conduct fisheries and wildlife development, management and restoration projects on reservation streams, wetlands and forests. Stream rehabilitation and restoration projects.
• Works with federal, state, tribal or local agencies and conservation organizations.
• Provides technical assistance to DNR management, community organizations, and the general public in resource management, habitat improvement, and determination of harvest quotas.
• Prepares technical and non-technical reports from limited research projects, and surveys and field data; assists in compiling annual harvest information; fishing and recreational participation; resource usage; resource pressures, etc.
• Utilizes computer-based programs to enter research, survey and field data.
• Assist with program budgetary duties as needed.
• Maintains property inventory of field and facility equipment assigned to project.
• Pursue alternative sources of funding for program projects and research activities per grants department guidelines.
• Represent tribal interests at meetings and maintain cooperative working relationships with other resource agencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Work involves both field and office work.
• Work in the field often requires walking and climbing over rugged terrain under adverse conditions and prolonged exposure to hot and cold weather.
• Protective equipment may be required under certain circumstances. Otherwise, little threat of personal danger or risk.
• Nature of work is such that incumbent experiences limited periods of modestly-highly stressful situations as a result of workload demands.
• Hours are typically 8-5, but possibly with some extra hours.
• Late night and weekend work required.
• Local travel is required; travel outside the state is very limited.