Fish Wildlife Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $4,124.00 - $4,737.60 Biweekly
Location : Kotzebue, AK
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 55240
Department: Fish & Game
Division: Wildlife Conservation
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/8/2026 5:00 PM Alaska
Division: Wildlife Conservation
Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only
Bargaining Unit: Supervisory
Range: 16/18
Job Description
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 2/3 located in Kotzebue, Alaska!
What You Will Be Doing:
This position provides research and management support to staff in the Arctic/Western region of Alaska. It offers an unusual opportunity to study wildlife populations and participate in a diverse array of wildlife projects occurring in a large, remote, northern portion of Alaska. The position will be focused on managing and conducting research on the western arctic herd (WAH) caribou population in Region 5. Typical duties will consist of researching movement ecology of caribou, improving survey and harvest monitoring techniques, and attending public meetings to answer questions and share information about the WAH. This position will also assist other area staff with conducting research on other herds or species. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work with big game species in beautiful and remote areas of Alaska while working closely with a several other staff members.
Our Mission, Values and Culture:
The Division of Wildlife Conservation's mission is to conserve and enhance Alaska's wildlife and habitats and provide for a wide range of public uses and benefits. This position is defined by our core services that maintain and enhance opportunities to hunt, trap, and view wildlife because it helps to provide people an opportunity to gain knowledge and appreciation for Alaska's wildlife, its management, and ways to interact with wildlife safely and ethically.
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and well being are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.
Benefits of Joining Our Team:
The benefits of joining the Region 5 team include the opportunity to work in an interesting field among a diverse group of dedicated professionals who support each other and are passionate about their work. If hired at the Wildlife Biologist 2 level, there will be an opportunity to advance to a Wildlife Biologist 3 once sufficient experience and abilities have been acquired.
The Working Environment You Can Expect:
This position is based in Kotzebue, located on a gravel spit a the end of the Baldwin Peninsula in Kotzebue Sound. It is 33 miles north of the arctic circle on the western coast of Alaska. Approximately 3,102 people live in Kotzebue (2020 census). The Kotzebue ADF&G Area office is staffed year round by the Division of Wildlife Conservation and part time by the Division of Commercial Fisheries. The work environment will fluctuate between office and field locations. Field work will include flying in fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, as well as accommodations such as tents, shared waterless cabins, and may requires travel away from the duty station for 5-10 days at a time.
The Wildlife Biologist 2 position will carry out position-specific duties under the direct supervision of the research coordinator, the Wildlife Biologist 3 position will carry out position-specific duties independently requiring less direct supervision, but will still report directly to the research coordinator.

• Requires frequent travel within the management unit and state. Occasional field work may require overnight trips of up to 5-10 nights, and may be up to 20-30 nights per year.
• This incumbent may spend between 100 - 200 hours per year in small fixed-wing aircraft and R-44 (or similar) rotorcraft.

Who We Are Looking For:
We are looking for someone with experience:

1. Designing, planning, and implementing research projects that support management for large mammal populations, including managing budgets, writing research proposals, progress reports, and peer reviewed manuscripts.
2. Developing and maintaining cooperative programs and agreements with other federal, state, and local government agencies.
3. Working with the public through outreach, education, and interacting with advisory committees and special interest groups.
4. Capturing, immobilizing, performing physical examinations, and collecting samples from large mammals.
5. Working from small fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, serving as an aerial observer for flights up to 8 hours, and preparing data summaries based on collected data.
6. Planning wildlife capture projects and activities, including coordinating staff, aircraft and pilots, project logistics, and data collection.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Wildlife Biologist 2/3 please
go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs
Special Note:
A valid driver's license is required.
Applicants should be able to use and possess a firearm.
CPR/First Aid administration certification(preferred; can obtain during 1st year of employment).
Minimum Qualifications
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.
Wildlife Biologist 3
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 full performance professional level biologist experience. The required professional biologist work experience is met by service as a Fishery Biologist 2, Wildlife Biologist 2, Habitat Biologist 2, or Fisheries Geneticist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
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.
Additional Required Information
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Please provide at time of application submission:

1. Cover letter;
2. Transcript, (unofficial copies are acceptable);
3. and Resume/CV.

If selected, please provide the following at the time of the interview:

1. At the time of interview you will be asked to supply a sample of writing;
2. and 3 professional references with current contact information.

COVER LETTER
A cover letter is required and will be used to determine which applicants advance to the interview round. In the cover letter, the applicant shall address their knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to the 6 statements listed in the "Who We are Looking For" section. A well-organized candidate will list each competency and concisely explain how their knowledge, skills, and abilities exhibit this strength, and will also point to the section(s) of their Workplace Alaska application in which this skill was utilized/demonstrated. Please attach the cover letter before submitting you application. If you have trouble attaching the cover letter please email to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this recruitment.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
For your application to be evaluated you must answer the Supplemental Questions. Your responses will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process.
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.
Flexible Staffing
This position is flexibly staffed. The level of the job offer will be based on the selected candidate's eligibility. If hired at the lower level, you will be promoted to the higher-level job class after completing the training plan and meeting the minimum qualifications.
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