GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

Address:  5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086

Hiring Salary Range: $48,000 - $55,000 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 09/07/2026

WILDLIFE SPECIALIST 2
“Terrestrial Wildlife Research Biologist”
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION / RESEARCH BRANCH / PHOENIX, AZ BASED
FLSA- Exempt / SALARY GRADE 21 / HIRING SALARY RANGE $48,000-$55,000
CLOSING DATE: 09/07/2026

Joining this workforce means entering an environment that values its employees, fosters teamwork, and provides a stable, highly rewarding career path.

Your Mission in the Wild

Wildlife Impact: By designing research studies, collecting data, and publishing results, your work directly addresses the agency's critical wildlife management needs.
Hands-On Conservation: Your fieldwork—which could include trapping, marking, and tracking wildlife—provides the raw insights needed to protect Arizona’s wildlife species.
Shaping Scientific Knowledge: By analyzing data and drafting peer-reviewed manuscripts, you contribute to the global body of wildlife science, ensuring Arizona stays at the forefront of conservation.
Fostering Future Conservationists: By supervising technicians, interns, and volunteers, you directly mentor and shape the next generation of wildlife professionals.
Community Engagement: Making scientific and public presentations ensures the agency's research findings are transparently shared with the communities working with and relying on wildlife.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in wildlife science or a closely related field.
Experience: Three years of professional wildlife research or management experience (an advanced degree can replace one year).
Skills: Proficiency in study design, statistical and spatial data analysis, and field data collection.
Requirements: Valid driver's license and passing a post-offer physical exam.

The Wildlife Specialist 2 will work under the direction of the Terrestrial Research Program Manager to plan, organize, and conduct wildlife research studies in a field, office, or lab setting. This includes preparing draft study plans, leading field work to collect data, conducting data analysis, and preparing draft scientific manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Research studies may include projects focusing on wildlife survey methods, population dynamics, harvest analysis, habitat evaluations and relations, predator-prey interactions, special studies, environmental inventories, or the effect of management or development actions. The Wildlife Specialist 2 prepares reports and documents to disseminate research findings, and is expected to make public presentations. The Wildlife Specialist 2 may be assigned to conduct wildlife research studies on a statewide or regional basis, and may work and camp in the field in remote areas for extended overnight periods.

This position supervises subordinate staff, interns and/or volunteers to complete assigned work projects. This position operates a variety of specialized equipment common to wildlife work and may be required to drive long distances. This position requires in-state and out-of-state travel including overnight multiple-day field trips, and weekend and holiday work will be occasionally required.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Major duties include:

- Conducting field surveys for various taxa including large mammals, small mammals, herpetofauna, and avian species. This position will also require conducting vegetation surveys and camera trap surveys. Major duties can also include trapping, marking, and tracking wildlife using aerial and/or ground telemetry techniques.
- Designing wildlife research studies and writing draft study plans to address wildlife management information needs.
- Collecting field data and analyzing data using statistical software. Prepares draft reports and scientific manuscripts.
- Making public presentations on wildlife research studies.
- Working in remote locations and camping in primitive conditions for up to 8 continuous days. Handles logistics for camps and fieldwork. Manages and maintains field equipment.
- Operating four-wheel drive vehicles and ATVs in rough terrain.
- Entering, managing, and analyzing data using laptop computers and statistical software.
- Supervising subordinate personnel, including wildlife technicians, interns, and volunteers.
- Performing other duties as assigned.

The candidate must have knowledge of the southwest, wildlife ecology, scientific methods, wildlife research and management techniques, data collection methods, statistical analysis, scientific report and manuscript preparation, and proper operation and maintenance of field equipment and various vehicles, e.g. four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicles. In addition, must be knowledgeable and experienced with working, navigating, and camping in remote and harsh environments. Candidates must be skilled in collecting and analyzing field data, preparing and writing reports and scientific manuscripts, and presenting research study results. Must have the ability to use office equipment and perform both manual labor and office-related duties. Candidates must be able to communicate verbally and in writing and work alone and as part of a team. Must be able to work in remote locations for extended periods where overnight camping will be required. Must be able to work nights and weekends depending on field work needs. Must be able to fly in an airplane or helicopter to conduct surveys, captures, or habitat assessments.

The preferred candidate will have a graduate degree in wildlife sciences or a closely related field and experience with planning, designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting on scientific research projects.

The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

Position requires possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment.

Employment is also contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits package including:
● 13 days’ of vacation
● 12 sick days
● 10 paid holidays
● Tuition Reimbursement Program
● Participation in the nationally recognized Arizona State Retirement System
● Superior health care options
● Vision care, dental care, pharmacy benefits, and flexible spending account (options available)
● Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance options are available
● Many more benefit programs are available

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Milani Barron at mbarron@azgfd.gov for assistance. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is an Equal Employment Opportunity agency.