Land Acquisition Assistant (IF&W Senior Resource Biologist)

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DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

LAND ACQUISITION ASSISTANT

(IF&W SENIOR RESOURCE BIOLOGIST)

Opening Date: February 03, 2026

Closing Date: End of day February 17, 2026

Location: Augusta*

*Hybrid remote/in-person work is possible in this position with management approval.

Position Number: 200024723

Class Code: 9387

Grade: 28 (Professional/Technical Unit)

Salary: $58,344.00 - $78,582.40 Per Year

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is seeking a Land Acquisition Assistant (IF&W Senior Resource Biologist) to work as part of the Land Acquisition Program. The mission of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) is to preserve, protect, and enhance the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the state as well as enable and promote the safe enjoyment of Maine’s outdoors. As part of this mandate, the Department acquires land for the management and protection of fish and wildlife habitats and to support and improve opportunities for public access. The Department also achieves this mandate through partnerships with other conservation entities and by supporting the work of state conservation granting programs such as Land for Maine’s Future and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The position will support IF&W’s land acquisition goals and initiatives and will also assist with the Program’s habitat grant management and administration responsibilities. Work will be conducted primarily in the office, with some related field investigations as needed. The position is located within the Habitat Conservation Section and is based in IF&Ws Augusta office.

Position duties include:

• Assisting with the review and assessment of potential land acquisition projects, including IF&Ws initiative to identify and acquire land to be managed as deer wintering areas
• Assisting with land acquisition due diligence requirements, including contracting for and reviewing appraisals, surveys, title work, and environmental hazard analyses
• Field visits of properties to assess habitats, public access opportunities, and site conditions
• Drafting, reviewing, managing and/or administering grants for IF&W and conservation partners
• Use of programs such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, and Microsoft Access for mapping and data management
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Land Acquisition Program Supervisor, Habitat Section Supervisor, Division Director, or Commissioner’s Office.

For questions related to the position, please contact Flora Drury by phone at (207) 215-6398 or by e-mail at [email protected]

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Fisheries or Wildlife Management, or related field -AND- two (2) years of progressively responsible related laboratory or field research and/or management experience. Equivalent experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preferences will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience in land acquisition or real estate law; knowledge of land conservation and management policies and procedures; experience developing and managing grants and grant reporting; and those with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS: The questions below MUST be answered and submitted with your application.

1. Describe in general your experience with natural resources and fish and wildlife conservation.

2. Describe your specific experience with land conservation including completing land acquisition and conservation easement transactions. To what extent have you participated in land acquisition projects? Please provide some examples.

3. Please describe your experience and relationships working with landowners, attorneys, surveyors, appraisers, and realtors to complete land acquisition projects.

4. Please summarize your experience applying for and/or administering state and federal grants to complete land acquisition and/or habitat restoration projects.

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. 
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.  
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.  
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. 
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. 
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. 
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness. 

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work.  Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness.  We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you.  Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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