Education and Experience: Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in wildlife or fish management or closely related field and experience equivalent to one year of full-time professional wildlife resources work; qualifying full-time professional wildlife or fisheries experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of one year.

 Other Requirements:

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must: 

1. Be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons;
2. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
3. Be a citizen of the United States;
4. Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
5. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
6. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
7. Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;
8. Have no conviction for a felony or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces;
9. Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
10. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
11. Have visual acuity of 20/100 in each eye, separately without glasses, and each eye corrected to 20/30 or better with corrective lenses;
12. Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions;
13. Upon appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy or have successfully completed the equivalent of the prescribed course.

Necessary Special Qualifications 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 apply only to those positions required to carry a firearm.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

 Job Overview:

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional wildlife or fish management work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the working level class in the Wildlife Biologist sub-series. An employee in this class is responsible for planning, participation in, and coordination of a regional or other non-statewide program or project for fish and wildlife management or research. Work involves planning, conducting, and interpreting biological studies; developing and coordinating regional or other non-statewide program activities; and giving consultation to field personnel on specific programs. This class is flexibly staffed with and differs from that of Wildlife Biologist 1 in that an incumbent of the latter acts in an entry level capacity learning the methods and procedures of performing professional wildlife or fisheries management work. This class differs from that of Wildlife Biologist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for a statewide program.

 Work Activities:

Interacting with Computers:

1. Uses standard desktop PC, laptop, smart devices and required software while performing general administrative duties.
2. Uses GIS (Geographic Information System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) mapping software for management planning.

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Follows protocol for protecting sensitive information.
2. Submits all required reports to the appropriate supervisor.
3. Prepares the project budgets for assigned programs; monitors expenditures and maintains an inventory of equipment, materials and supplies.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Informs and educates agency staff and the public in the application of state laws, rules, and policies for hunting, trapping, fishing and conservation.
2. Presents biological or other justifications for rules, regulations and agency policies to the public.
3. Informs and responds to the public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant/animal identification, hunting/fishing regulations, and nuisance wildlife.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Reviews construction, mining, and other operations to determine their impact on the fish and wildlife environment.
2. Identifies, locates, preserves, and protects fish and wildlife species and their habitats.
3. Studies fish and wildlife in their habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
4. Compiles and analyzes data and prepares reports using statistical methods; uses data to make recommendations on seasons, limits, and hunting and fishing rules and regulations.
5. Assess current events and situations, formulate a plan, execute the plan, and analyze results.
6. Determines resource deficiencies and develops detailed habitat management plans using accepted habitat practice standards designed to achieve desired management goals, upon receiving stakeholder request.

Getting Information:

1. Attends and or participates in appropriate meetings, seminars, conferences and trade shows to maintain knowledge of current information, methods and trends.
2. Reads/reviews current print and electronic material related to hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoors related activities, to maintain knowledge of current information, methods and trends.
3. Incorporates appropriate internal/external educational opportunities in support of continual self-development.
4. Seeks and receives information from other agency divisions related to hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoors related activities, to obtain knowledge of current information.
5. Studies characteristics of animals such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories and diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
6. Analyzes characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.
7. Conducts ecological surveys; investigates and assists in determining feasibility of stocking/controlling fish and wildlife in appropriate habitat.
8. Conducts biological and environmental data collection on population, migration, distribution, food, and life history studies as they apply to fish, wildlife and their associated habitats.
9. Inventories and/or estimates plant, fish and wildlife populations using accepted scientific techniques such as electro-fishing, mist nets, thermal imaging, etc.

Monitoring Process, Materials, or Surroundings:

1. Monitors the outbreak of wildlife diseases and coordinate with other agencies.
2. Reviews hunting/fishing recommendations from public and agency personnel.
3. Assesses and reviews agency annual hunting and fishing publications before release to the public.
4. Assesses and monitors fish and wildlife populations on private and public lands and waters.
5. Assesses and monitors fish and wildlife habitat conditions and proposed modifications on private and public lands and waters.

Organizing, Planning and Prioritizing Work:

1. Attends required or designated meetings and participate in goal setting and action planning.
2. Identifies, prioritizes and adapts daily work activities based on real time situational events, assuring that commitments and expected work outcomes are met utilizing an irregular work schedule.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures and Material:

1. Maintains assigned equipment in clean, operable condition and secured.
2. Stores all herbicides/pesticides/scheduled drugs according to label, safety and security protocol.
3. Maintains required documentation, administrative control and certification for scheduled drugs.

Selling and Influencing Others:

1. Promotes agency programs and provide appropriate information to stakeholders, local clubs, schools, and other organizations or governmental agencies.
2. Maintains a professional demeanor and appearance in accordance with administrative directives.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

1. Establishes and maintains important personal contacts through telephone, correspondence and personal appearances with agency and other governmental officials, media representatives, business representatives and the public to interpret, explain and promote agency programs and services.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

1. Utilizes appropriate social media to distribute agency information.
2. Makes presentations to schools, clubs, groups, and organizations regarding wildlife and conservation issues.
3. Coordinates local workshops on wildlife and habitat management.
4. Disseminates information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and interpretive programs.
5. Makes recommendations on management systems and planning for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.
6. Responds to requests by owners/managers of private, public, and industrial lands and waters for technical assistance to improve fish and wildlife habitat.

Documenting/Recording information:

1. Collects and dissect animal specimens and examine specimens under microscope.
2. Prepares collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for species identification and study of development or disease.
3. Maintains long term biological data sets.
4. Completes and submits required accomplishment reports.

 Competencies (KSA's):

Competencies:

1. Integrity and Trust
2. Problem Solving
3. Time Management
4. Priority Setting
5. Written Communications
6. Composure
7. Decision Quality
8. Conflict Management
9. Organizing
10. Planning
11. Action Oriented
12. Approachability
13. Ethics and Values
14. Presentation Skills

Knowledge:

1. Biology
2. Geography
3. Mathematics
4. Mechanical
5. Clerical
6. Communications and Media
7. Computers and Electronics
8. Customer and Personal Service

Skills:

1. Critical Thinking
2. Science
3. Writing
4. Speaking
5. Reading Comprehension
6. Active Learning
7. Active Listening
8. Time Management
9. Equipment Maintenance

Abilities:

1. Deductive Reasoning
2. Oral Expression
3. Oral Comprehension
4. Written Comprehension

 Tools and Equipment Used:

1. Personal Computer
2. Boat/Trailer
3. ATV
4. Tractor
5. Inboard/Outboard Motor
6. Law Enforcement Equipment (For LE Commissioned employees only)
7. Scuba Gear
8. Prescribed Burn Equipment
9. Farm Implements
10. Water Qualify Instruments
11. Electro-Fishing Equipment
12. Chemical Immobilization Equipment
13. Surgical Dissecting Equipment
14. Wildlife and Fish Sampling Gear
15. Global Positioning System Equipment
16. Thermal Imagers
17. Shop Equipment/Hand Tools
18. Truck/SUV
19. Telephone
20. Fax Machine
21. Printer
22. Video/Audio Equipment