Wildlife Forensics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department Information The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. The successful applicant will be required to live within the area of responsibility: West Slope: The successful applicant will be required to live within the area of responsibility.

The successful applicant must be able to respond to the Grand Junction, CO CPW office in no more than 1 hour. Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It's our mission to manage and conserve Colorado's natural resources for the benefit of people today - and tomorrow.

That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children. We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado's natural resources for today - and tomorrow. The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer: Medical and Dental plans Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans Paid life insurance Short- and long-term disability coverage Employee Wellness programs Flexible Spending Accounts Health Savings Accounts 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources. The Field Services Branch of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is responsible for providing and/or overseeing the delivery of law enforcement programs, services, and trained staff necessary to enforce laws, rules, and regulations required to protect and preserve the state's wildlife and parks resources.

The Law Enforcement Investigations (LEIN) unit of the Branch develops, implements, and oversees intra/interstate and international wildlife investigation programs; provide field assistance to areas and regions, i.e. statewide basis as the technical experts in wildlife and general law enforcement and investigations that require intense and highly skilled investigative work; investigates license fraud by purchasers and license agents; operates and maintains the CPW forensic cell phone and computer lab and liaison with the Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Forensic and Fish Health Laboratory, maintains the statewide wildlife enforcement database/records systems (intelligence, special law enforcement operations, Operation Game Thief, Wildlife Violator Compact, firearms, radio, etc.); handles administrative functions for the Colorado Crime Information System/National Crime Information Computer Systems and Rocky Mountain Intelligence Network; designs, implements, and monitors wildlife law enforcement educational programs; designs, implements and monitors wildlife enforcement research projects; provides intra/interstate and international liaison with local, county, state and federal enforcement agencies on wildlife enforcement issues; provides support to internal and external publics on wildlife law enforcement issues; coordinates interstate wildlife violator compact with currently 47 other states; advises and counsels staff, Leadership Team/Director and other local, county and state agencies on wildlife enforcement matters; coordinates and supervises the CPW responsibilities for the Operation Game Thief and Turn In Poachers programs; represents CPW at local, state, national, and international meetings related to wildlife law enforcement and wildlife investigation issues. Description of Job This position exists to provide law enforcement investigative services and expertise for the line and staff positions within the assigned region(s) specifically, and state-wide for CPW in general

Although not a supervisor or an official Team Lead, this position provides expert knowledge and skills related to law enforcement procedures. This position operates independent of day to day direct supervision. It requires the knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve as subject matter expert in law enforcement matters for CPW field staff.

This position provides law enforcement investigation planning, coordination, and evaluation services to Area, Park, and Region Managers within the region of assignment, and to others on a state-wide basis as needed. This position provides training and coordination for wildlife and parks investigations within the State of Colorado, with other states, with other governmental agencies and internationally. This position manages resources to investigate complex wildlife and parks investigation cases, analyzes complex data, and makes decisions on the direction of investigations.

This position investigates illegal take and commercial operations in both an overt and covert capacity. This position writes and reviews search and arrest warrant affidavits and warrants, deploys needed resources that will provide for the safety of all involved and provides direction to personnel in their assignments before, during, and after the warrant service. This position, along with line supervisors, provides expertise, as a warrant leader, during the service of search and arrest warrants as needed.

This position also writes and reviews court order affidavits and court orders. This position also maintains large volumes of evidence seized as a part of commercial wildlife violations and maintains a chain of custody records. This position also works with and maintains direct contact with all of the District Attorney Offices and acts as an advisory witness and wildlife law enforcement expert on commercial wildlife cases.

This position maintains all DNA database records and submits evidence for testing to state and national forensic crime labs. This position trains all CPW officers in wildlife and parks investigations, arrest, search and seizure, interview and interrogation, intelligence gathering and submissions, and surveillance techniques. Investigations Coordinates and conducts multi-jurisdictional misdemeanor and felony investigations, both intra and inter-regional, interstate and international.

Acts as a case manager and team leader on complex investigations involving the large scale and/or high priority illegal take and commercialization of wildlife and their parts. Coordinates such investigations within the state and/or with other state and federal agencies (i.e. BLM, USFS, USFWS, local sheriff's departments, District Attorneys, DORA, etc.)

Assigns, through line supervisors, and monitors the status of cases assigned to field officers and deploys investigative resources that are needed to complete the investigation. Conducts interviews of suspects and/or coordinates interviews in cooperation with field staff. Arrests and restrains suspected violators.

Issues citations in the form of penalty assessments, summons or indictments as needed. Writes and reviews search and arrest warrant affidavits and warrants, deploys needed resources that attempt to take in all contingencies and will provide for the safety of all officers, subjects and the general public that might be involved. Provides direction to personnel in their assignments before, during and after the warrant service (most of which involve 12 or more commissioned officers).

Coordinates and/or conducts the collection of evidence in criminal investigations, ensuring compliance with applicable rules of criminal procedure and case law. Analyzes criminal histories. Analyzes complex data before, during and after an investigation and makes decisions on the direction and scope of an investigation.

Compiles, organizes and summarizes evidence, reports and documentation in the form of case files and discovery as required by law and provides that information to district attorneys for prosecution. Assists prosecutors with their case preparation, response to defense motions, trial preparation, witness coordination, and presentation. Acts as prosecution expert witness during complex wildlife and park trials.

Testifies during trials as a witness and as an expert witness as needed. Testifies at license suspension hearings with the CPW Commission and hearings examiner. Conducts internal agency investigations, including officer involved use of force situations, and assures compliance with CPW and personnel directives in those investigations, as needed on a yearly basis.

Covert Operations Acts as a case manager when conducting low to high-level covert operations involving the illegal take and commercialization of wildlife, with mid-level covert operations being over 80% of the covert caseload. Acts as a covert operative and/or directs other operatives during such covert operations. In either capacity, this position is required to make decisions that are both legally and tactically correct in extremely stressful and sometimes dangerous situations.

Maintains multiple covert identities. Analyzes complex data and information derived from intelligence and ongoing covert operations and directs the course of such operations to their conclusion. Upon completion of a covert operation, it analyzes the data and determines what violations have occurred and what charges would be appropriate and conducts meetings with the district attorney and advises them on the conduct of the case and the charges to be filed.

Oversees the case through to completion and testifies in court as necessary. Ensures all evidence is cataloged correctly and is presented in a legal and logical manner. Generally, criminal violations will be observed such as illegal drug use or theft along with wildlife violations thus a knowledge of both state criminal law and federal law is essential.

Overall, supervises and manages complex covert wildlife cases. Intelligence Manages intelligence collection system and intelligence entered. Analyzes complex intelligence and screens reports for accuracy, validity, legality, and relationships to ongoing investigations.

After analyzing the data, makes decisions on what resources are needed and deploys the resources as needed. Maintains and analyzes regional and area intelligence and disseminates intelligence to field officers, other regions, Denver Field Services Law Enforcement Investigations Unit, outside state and federal agencies as appropriate. Administration Acts as agency authority for law enforcement issues relating to overall agency mission, which includes working knowledge of state park and wildlife law, state criminal law, and federal statutes pertaining to parks and wildlife.

Reviews and analyzes submitted law enforcement documents and reports to assure adherence to applicable law enforcement procedures and policies. Provides direction to contract and temporary investigators. Reviews, revises, and recommends state-wide agency policies, procedures, regulations and statutes.

Develops law enforcement plans for wildlife check stations as needed. Maintains liaisons and attends meetings with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, District Attorney's offices, and United States Attorney's offices. Answer questions from the public concerning wildlife law enforcement, season structure and dates, wildlife population trends and CPW policies and programs Training Certified P.O.S.T

(Police Officer Standards and Training) instructor that provides law enforcement instruction at CPW training academies, CPW officer survival school, CPW state-wide in-service training, area training, and at regional reality based training. Coordinates, organizes and plans regional and reality based training to ensure learning objectives are met and the safety of all participants is maintained. Instructs law enforcement-related classes in topics such as firearms, arrest control, baton use, patrol techniques, investigative techniques, criminal justice, processing crime scenes, wildlife forensic techniques, evidence collection and handling, search and seizure, arrest and search warrant preparation, specialized weapons/equipment operations, intelligence gathering and submission, Crimentel database operations, CCIC/NCIC terminal operations, TLO database operations, and surveillance techniques.

Forensics Wildlife and parks forensics for the areas and regions of responsibility. Acts as a liaison with the Wyoming Game and Fish Forensic Laboratory, Colorado State University, nationwide with all wildlife forensic laboratories, and Colorado Bureau of Investigations laboratories. Assists officers with technical advice regarding wildlife forensics and computer/technology forensics.

Maintains knowledge and files regarding up-to-date wildlife forensic techniques. Conducts crime scene searches and evidence collection as needed. Assists officers with evidence sampling, lab request form submission, chain of evidence, and transportation of evidence.

Works with district attorneys to help them understand complex wildlife forensic cases involving hair and species identification, age and sex identification, and DNA matching of animal parts or linking subjects to crime scenes. Planning/Budgeting/Evaluation Designs, submits and monitors annual operations for law enforcement units and regional investigations. Procures specialized law enforcement equipment for CPW personnel, and specifically for field personnel, to use in law enforcement operations.

Controls and disburses covert investigations budget within the regions of coverage. Other duties as assigned Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Minimum Qualifications Eight (8) years of law enforcement investigation experience in Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Biology, Aquatic Biology/Fishery Science/Aquaculture/Fishery Management, Ecology, Environmental Science, Outdoor Recreation, Zoology/Animal Sciences, or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. OR A combination of related education (Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Biology, Aquatic Biology/Fishery Science/Aquaculture/Fishery Management, Ecology, Environ...