Job Description
Salary: $1,999.50 - $2,296.50 Biweekly
Location : Palmer, AK
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 53317
Department: Fish & Game
Division: Wildlife Conservation
Opening Date: 03/26/2026
Closing Date: 4/6/2026 5:00 PM Alaska
Division: Wildlife Conservation
Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only
Bargaining Unit: General Government
Range: 14/16
This position is open to Alaska Residents only.
Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation is recruiting for a Wildlife Biologist 1/2 located in Palmer, Alaska! What you will be doing: In this flexibly staffed position, the Wildlife Biologist 1/2 will be responsible for daily operation and maintenance of a wildlife nutrition laboratory and will be second-in-command for the overall facility, including care of captive moose and caribou. The incumbent will share animal care and husbandry duties with other staff; these duties include daily welfare and health checks, provisioning food and water, administering medications, contributing to facility maintenance and improvements, etc. Lab duties include preparing vegetation samples for nutritional analyses and performing those analyses; operating and maintaining lab equipment including drying ovens, freeze drier, bomb calorimeter, fiber analyzer, elemental analyzer, automated solvent extractor, muffle furnace, etc.; ordering and maintaining stocks of lab supplies; data quality control and assurance; database management; programming in R; running statistical analyses; and contributing to research through publications, presentations, and outreach.
Our mission, values, and culture: The mission of the Division of Wildlife Conservation is to conserve and enhance Alaska's wildlife and habitats and provide for a wide range of public uses and benefits. Much of our work focuses on research to inform conservation and management of large game species in an effort to support subsistence and recreational harvest opportunities.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and respectfully.
Benefits of joining our team: The incumbent will have opportunities to support science-based management and address applied and novel ecological questions on ungulates. In addition to contributing to ongoing projects and assisting with developing new projects, the incumbent also will have opportunities to work on existing data spanning several decades. Publication is encouraged and expected of all members of the team and will be collaborative.
The working environment you can expect: The position is based in Palmer, AK. The Wildlife Biologist 1/2 will work as part of a team of staff, including a Wildlife Physiologist 2 and seasonal fish and wildlife technicians, at the ADFG wildlife nutrition lab and captive animal facility. The incumbent will be on site daily for work, which will include work in the lab as well as outdoor work with animals and maintenance of their enclosures. Outdoor summer work will occur in all weather conditions and outdoor winter work will occur in snow, wind, and cold temperatures. Hours can be irregular and will include some weekends (1-2 per month depending on seasonal staffing levels), evenings, and holidays to cover animal care needs. Incumbents are expected to be willing to work as needed to meet animal care needs. Requires frequent travel for field work (at least twice a year for 10 days at a time).
Who we are looking for: We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:
- Experience working with large animals in captive settings.
- Interest in and knowledge of ungulate foraging and nutritional ecology and techniques and methods for studying foraging and nutritional ecology in lab and field settings.
- Experience with nutritional assays, lab equipment, and managing large databases, including quality control and assurance.
- Experience using statistical techniques and programming (e.g., R, Python) to manipulate, visualize, and analyze data.
- Experience writing and publishing reports or peer-reviewed articles.
To view the general description and example of duties for a Wildlife Biologist 1/2
please go to the following link: Special Note: This position may be in possession of, or have access to, firearms/ammunition
Valid Driver`s License is required (Alaska Administrative Code 2AAC 90.210)
Firearm proficiency certification, First Aid/CPR certification, Wildlife chemical immobilization certification ("Controlled Substances Act" U.S. Code Title 21 CFR1300), Wildlife capture and handling certification ("Animal Welfare Act" U.S. Code, Title 7, Chapter 54, Section2131-2157; Code of Federal Regulations Title 9, Chapter 1).
Wildlife Biologist 2 will also need: Deputization as a commissioned Fish and Game Peace Officer (to enforce Fish & Game statutes and regulations) (Alaska Statute, AS 16.05.150, 16.05.160), Procurement Certification, Level I.
Minimum Qualifications Wildlife Biologist 1 A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management.
Substitution:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:
• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.
Special Note: "Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.
Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.
An individual who will complete the educational requirements and obtain the required bachelor's degree within six months may apply and be considered for a vacancy. Such applicants may be given a conditional job offer but may not be appointed until receipt of the required degree has been documented.
Wildlife Biologist 2 A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management.
AND
One year of professional level biologist experience. The required professional biologist experience is met by service as a Wildlife Biologist 1, Fishery Biologist 1, or Habitat Biologist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Substitutions:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:
• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.
A master's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry or natural resource management, will substitute for the required year of professional level biologist experience.
Special Note: "Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.
Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.
Additional Required Information REQUIRED DOCUMENTS If selected, please provide the following at the time of the interview: - A list of three (3) professional references with current contact information (at least one being a current or previous supervisor).
- Transcripts, if using to meet minimum qualifications (unofficial copies are acceptable).
- A list of three (3) professional references with at least one being a current or previous supervisor.
- A Curriculum Vitae
- Writing sample in the form of a peer-reviewed publication where the applicant is the first author. If a peer-reviewed publication is not available, a graduate thesis, manuscripts in preparation for publication, or a professional report (prepared on the job) are suitable alternatives.
FIREARMS This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.
A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.
If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.
EDUCATION To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competences, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts).
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.
It is your responsibility to provide such evidence. WORK EXPERIENCE If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
MULTIPLE VACANCIES This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.
EEO STATEMENT The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats, please call [click to reveal phone number]1-800-587-0430 or [click to reveal phone number](907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or [click to reveal phone number]1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
NOTICE If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains. For information on allowing emails from the 'governmentjobs.com' domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at [click to reveal phone number]1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or [click to reveal phone number](907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to
For applicant password assistance please visit: Contact Information For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager: Kristin Denryter, Wildlife Biologist 4, Research Coordinator
Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits The following information describes
typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.
For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)
Insurance Benefits - Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
- The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See for additional information.
- AVTEC
- Confidential
- Correctional Officers
- Marine Engineers
- Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
- Supervisory
- Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
- Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
- The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
- General Government
- Labor, Trades and Crafts
- Public Safety Employees Association
- Masters, Mates & Pilots
- Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)
Optional Insurance Benefits
- Group-based insurance premiums for
- Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
- Supplemental Survivor Benefits
- Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses
Retirement Benefits
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
- Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
- Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
- Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
- Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
- Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options
See for additional information
Paid Leave & Other Benefits - Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
- Twelve (12) paid holidays a year
Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Work experience placement, Summer work, Seasonal work, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift