GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION / REGION 1 / EAGAR, ARIZONA BASED
Sipe Wildlife Area - Forest Road 57 off of HWY 180/191 MP 404.7 Eagar, AZ 85925

Salary: $17.1820/hr 

Grade: 17

Closing Date: 4/10/2026

WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSTRUCTION TECHNICIAN
“Wildlife Area Construction Technician”
FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION / REGION 1 / EAGAR, ARIZONA BASED
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT / FULL-TIME / END BY 11/6/2026
FLSA-NON-EXEMPT / GRADE 17 / HOURLY RATE $17.1820/hr

Are you passionate about habitat restoration, land stewardship, and the hands-on work that keeps Arizona’s wild places thriving? The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking a dedicated Wildlife Area Construction Technician to help manage and enhance the vital resources of Region I in Northeastern Arizona.

In this dynamic and rewarding role, you will be the boots-on-the-ground force behind the conservation of our state’s diverse landscapes. You will support the Wildlife Area Manager in maintaining the infrastructure and habitats that over 800 species call home. From operating machinery to managing irrigation systems and wildlife food crops, your work ensures that Arizona’s wildlife areas remain productive for nature and accessible for outdoor recreation.

What You’ll Do:
• Restore and Maintain Habitats: Provides assistance in habitat management, monitoring, and improvement projects.
• Manage Infrastructure: Assist in the operation and maintenance of buildings, fences, dams, dikes, and irrigation systems across Department-owned properties.
• Master the Machinery: Operate and maintain a variety of equipment, including farm tractors, heavy machinery, ATVs, and small engines.
• Build the Future: Perform essential construction tasks including rough carpentry, cement pouring, and plumbing to improve public-use facilities.
• Engage the Community: Act as a face of the Department by interacting with hunters, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, sharing knowledge of the area’s natural history.
• Navigate the Wild: Work across rough terrain and in isolated areas, ensuring the safety and functionality of roads and backcountry facilities.

The ideal candidate must be physically resilient, capable of lifting over 75 pounds and hiking through Arizona’s geographic and weather extremes. You should be comfortable working irregular hours—including weekends and holidays—and be willing to camp in remote locations to get the job done.

In this position, you will directly contribute to the stewardship of Arizona’s rugged beauty. Your hard work ensures that current and future generations can continue to enjoy fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching in a well-managed environment. If you’re ready to apply your technical skills and love for the outdoors to meaningful conservation challenges, we invite you to join us!

This position will serve as staff for Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region I wildlife area operation and maintenance activities. The Wildlife Area Construction Technician will assist the Wildlife Area Manager and Wildlife Area Construction Technician on all wildlife areas, managed property, and Department/Commission owned property. Implements the operation and maintenance of wildlife habitat improvements, work unit equipment, infrastructure, public use facilities and other features associated with the Department's wildlife areas in Region I. The position will be responsible for maintenance of farm equipment, various other small and large engine equipment, landscaping, buildings, fences, dams, dikes, irrigation ditches, and roads. This position also interacts with wildlife area visitors; including hunters, self-guided individuals and those participating in organized outdoor activities. It is highly encouraged that the candidate be willing to learn an overall general knowledge of the natural history of the wildlife areas and properties. This is a temporary appointment expected to end no later than November 6, 2026.

Major responsibilities include:

• Conducts day to day operations and maintenance of facilities, equipment, and resources on assigned wildlife areas; completes project records; plants and maintains wildlife food crops and habitat features; recommends and implements corrective actions as necessary.

• Maintains equipment according to prescribed schedules; Maintains roads, fences, water deliver systems, etc. in a good working order; Maintains shop and other out-buildings in clean working order suitable for project functions and activities;

• Prepares some project records and documents such as, equipment maintenance records, supply inventories, and miscellaneous communications and reports. May occasionally conduct procurement and purchasing activities. Completes standard departmental administrative paperwork such as payroll documents.

• Provides assistance in labor and material to other work units and projects as necessary and available. Cooperates with other Regional and Departmental work efforts to integrate the achievement of goals and objectives.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

The candidate will have knowledge of/in: safe and effective use of tools and equipment to be used in outdoor construction; operation and minor maintenance of automotive equipment (ATV) and heavy equipment; techniques used in the construction of wildlife habitats; farming techniques; basic record keeping, time and travel reporting, and expenditure procedures.

The candidate will be skilled in operating and maintaining farming/ranching equipment/machinery; plumbing, cement pouring and finishing, fence building and maintenance and rough carpentry.

The candidate will have the ability to perform a variety of construction, maintenance and operational needs at the wildlife areas; apply mathematics to compute job layout; hike, backpack, and lift/carry over 75 pounds for extended periods over rough terrain; camp and survive in isolated areas in Arizona’s geographic and weather extremes; potentially work irregular hours including weekends and holidays. 

The preferred candidate will have a high school diploma. Our work environment offers training opportunities and encourages career development.

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

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, and the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on State business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

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).

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Nicole Baker at nbaker@azgfd.gov for assistance.