Position Description

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING
Position Number: 50654934	Description Activated On: 3/21/2024 9:01:21 AM

Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively.

The Wildlife Biologist II works statewide in an office and field capacity within the Wildlife Health Division of the Bureau of Wildlife Management to fulfill the objectives of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Wildlife Health Program.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Serves as project lead or assistant to the Wildlife Veterinarian for the agency’s Wildlife Health Program activities and in direct support of all statewide agency activities that involve wildlife health, wildlife capture or handling, or biological specimen collection from wildlife (hereafter, ‘wildlife health’).

Provides direct technical field support to agency personnel during statewide agency research projects or surveillance activities involving wildlife health; integrates seamlessly and consults with agency personnel to determine related training, protocol, management plan, and resource needs; in collaboration with the Wildlife Veterinarian and agency personnel, develops, organizes, and dispenses statewide trainings, protocols, management plans, or resources for the Wildlife Health Program or wildlife health components of other agency initiatives; directs agency personnel or external partners to fulfill wildlife health objectives within all agency management or research activities; interacts with agency personnel or external partners in development and execution of wildlife health research initiatives.

Manages supply inventory and procurement for the Wildlife Health Division and provides guidance to agency personnel or external partners in supply procurement for management or research activities involving wildlife health; provides support for or independently conducts wildlife health event investigations, specimen collection and processing, and communication with and submission to diagnostic laboratories; assists Wildlife Veterinarian in the development of formal reports or other correspondence, and formal agreements or contracts with external entities, to fulfill Wildlife Health Program objectives.

Coordinates the agency’s wildlife health database; in consultation with the agency’s Wildlife Veterinarian and Bureau of Automated Technology Services, oversees database development, testing, and deployment; determines data requirements, sources, parameters, and organizational structure; troubleshoots database issues and conducts quality checks of data entries; contacts database users for clarifications or to address incomplete or inaccurate data; leads database trainings and solicits feedback from users; conducts analyses, prepares reports, and generates correspondence for wildlife health data requests from agency personnel or external partners; leads development of data visualizations and other tools informed by the wildlife health database to track agency surveillance efforts and diagnostic findings; provides support to agency personnel in the development and testing of additional databases used by the Wildlife Health Division, including the pharmaceutical accounting and permitting systems.

Monitors wildlife health inquiries from agency personnel or external partners, the agency’s dedicated wildlife health email account, and the agency’s public wildlife health reporting tool; coordinates responses to wildlife health inquiries and develops wildlife health informational programs or resources for stakeholders; conducts education and outreach to various sectors.

Collaborates with the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and coordinates program activities to fulfill Wildlife Health Program objectives; represents the agency and the Wildlife Health Program at multi-state and national technical working group meetings and conferences.

***Continuation of Essential Functions***
11. Works in potentially dangerous conditions across various seasons involving uneven terrain and obstacles.
12. Occasionally works outside regular work hours in remote locations requiring long transit times and overnight stays.
13. Carries objects weighing up to and sometimes exceeding 50 pounds.
14. Works independently and as part of a team.
15. Maintains required membership and registration.
16. Passes required clearance checks.

Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

While conducting trainings, providing field support, or upon receiving wildlife health inquiries from agency personnel or other entities in an office or field setting, this work involves independently formulating responses that require comprehensive wildlife health knowledge to provide appropriate guidance that must align with the policies and practices promoted by the agency and its Wildlife Health Program. Consultation with the Wildlife Veterinarian should be reserved for sensitive or unique scenarios, if further clarification is required, or if end products must be delivered by the Wildlife Veterinarian.

While managing the Wildlife Health Division supply inventory, this work involves directly communicating with vendors to independently purchase medical, laboratory, and field supplies. During the course of responding to potential wildlife health events, this work, while guided by the Wildlife Health Program’s Wildlife Health Surveillance Plan, involves making decisions to collect certain data, information, or specimens, or forego investigating altogether, without interfacing with the Wildlife Veterinarian. During the course of any investigation, this work may require independent communication with diagnostic laboratories or other wildlife health content experts, and guidance may need to be provided without delay directly to field personnel to safeguard human, wildlife, domestic animal, or environmental health.

In the development of agreements, contracts, management plans, or formal correspondence or reports, this work will require drafting documents for approval by the Wildlife Veterinarian. In the development and testing of the wildlife health database, this work will involve independently determining data requirements and extensive testing within the staging environment. Prior to any deployment that includes significant additions or revisions to the database, this work requires briefing the Wildlife Veterinarian for their approval. Similarly, the development and testing of data visualizations or other database tools occurs independently but the Wildlife Veterinarian must approve prior to deployment.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:

This position is required to register as a researcher with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to possess controlled substance for the chemical immobilization of wildlife and have no conviction of felony offense related to controlled substance or have at any time had an application for a registration with the DEA denied, revoked or surrendered.

This position is required to maintain membership in the Wildlife Disease Association.

Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1.   Class C Driver's License

2.   N/A

3.   N/A

4.   N/A

5.   N/A

6.   N/A

Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.

1.	Applies knowledge of wildlife anatomy, biology, ecology, physiology, population management, research concepts and principles, diseases of North Ame
2.	Performs wildlife health activities which may involve exposure to potentially dangerous wildlife and zoonotic diseases or pathogens.
3.	Uses and maintains wildlife capture equipment and firearms safely and responsibly.
4.	Uses and maintains laboratory, medical, and other equipment, tools, and supplies safely and responsibly.
5.	Effectively interacts with agency personnel, external partners, and the public regarding wildlife health activities, events, issues, and informatio
6.	Effectively oversees the wildlife health database while promoting comprehensive quality data collection.
7.	Utilizes knowledge of Pennsylvania wildlife and environmental laws (Title 34 and Title 58).
8.	Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
9.	Adheres to agency policies, rules, and regulations as outlined in SOPs and Commonwealth guidelines.
10.	Operates and maintains Commonwealth equipment and vehicles safely and responsibly.