Conservation
Officer Career Opportunities
The
New Mexico Department
of Game and Fish offers a diverse choice of career opportunities
in a state that has a tremendous amount of
biological diversity and wildlife. Six of the seven life zones are found in
New Mexico with habitats ranging from desert to alpine. The available diversity
in jobs and work environments allows for an employee to have a uniquely challenging
and rewarding career.
By far the majority of employees enter the New Mexico Department of Game and
Fish as a conservation officer. Once you have completed training as a conservation
officer, you have the possibility to move on to any other position within the
Department, depending on applicant qualifications and job opening availability.
What
Is A conservation officer? -Today's
a conservation officer is more than a "game warden".
They
are wildlife managers that are involved in all aspects of managing the wildlife
populations in their district.
The conservation officer surveys wildlife, participates in public relations,
recommends hunting seasons,
controls wildlife damage and develops recommendations for wildlife habitat.
In addition, the conservation
officer enforces laws that are designed to help conserve, preserve and maintain
wildlife populations.
The
conservation officer is the most visible representative
of the Department in local communities. You
would be the jack-of-all-trades for wildlife issues and would, in some way,
be involved in every wildlife
management topic that occurs in your district.
What
qualifications are required?
What
training will I receive in order to become a conservation
officer?
What
advancements are available and which divisions can I work
in?
How
and when do I apply?
Who
can I contact for more information?
Officer
Checking Angling License
Salaries
are competitive but not high compared to some
other professions. However the State of New Mexico
has a generous retirement system and also provides
other employee benefits.
Conservation officer Requirements-Because
the
Conservation officer position is required
to become a
certified peace officer, you must be able to meet the
following standards for acceptance into the
New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. Prior
to being hired, an applicant must pass the physical
performance test standards established by the New
Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. The test is based
on accepted standards and is adjusted based on gender
and age. Click
Here For Standards
Applicant must also pass; 1) a psychological screening
exam 2) medical screening examination 3)
comprehensive background investigation.
What
qualifications are required?
Education-You
must have graduated from an accredited college
or university with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science, Wildlife
Management, Wildlife Law Enforcement,
Fisheries
Science, Fisheries Management, Biology, Forestry,
Forestry Management, Agricultural Science, Outdoor Recreation,
Environmental Science, Criminal Justice Ecology, Resource Economics,
Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Zoology, Range
Science, Behavioral and/or Social Science, Animal Science in
order to work as a conservation officer
for the Department.
Committment-The
field of wildlife management, whether as a
conservation officer or a wildlife biologist, requires
a strong
personal commitment. You must be a self-motivated person
who is willing to work in remote locations and accept
the additional demands placed on you by a career in this
field.
The job allows for a tremendous amount of freedom. It also
requires
that you be willing to take the responsibility for completing
the job
properly with very little direct supervision. Duties and
hours may be
arduous and you often work alone in remote areas on a regular
basis.
The job is physically demanding and requires that you maintain
good
physical and mental health. The conservation officer occupation
like
nearly all wildlife management jobs involve working with
the public.
Conservation officers give oral presentations, teach hunters
education and even write news items for distribution.
Officer
Checking Elk License
BACK
What
training will I receive in order to become a conservation officer?
After
being hired, you will be assigned to a training officer for
about a 1 year time period. The
training period is a demanding time in which you will be exposed to many new
and exciting
activities. You could be checking anglers or flying big game surveys one-day
or on horseback
in a wilderness area to trap bighorn sheep, the next day training is as diverse
as the job for a
conservation officer.
During
the first year, you will attend the New Mexico Law Enforcement
Academy for 20 weeks
and the Department Recruit School for up to 6 weeks. Included in the Department's
Recruit
School are training in: wildlife laws and regulations, interviews and interrogations,
crime scene
analysis, search warrants, firearms, officer survival and other classes that
will help you become
a professional conservation officer.
Training
in skills such as wildlife capture techniques, wildlife survey
methods and field activities
related
to wildlife and fisheries management are also part of the overall
curriculum. You
will
also become a certified Hunter Education instructor, often teaching in local
communities.
All
of this training will be with experienced officers and biologist in order
to help you to acquire
the skills necessary to succeed as a conservation officer.
When
hired you will be assigned to a District. The Department tries to
match district assignments with employee preferences and/or Department needs.
What
advancements are available and which divisions can I work in?
After
an initial assignment to a district, a conservation officer
has a wide choice in career paths.
A conservation officer has the ability to remain on district or apply for other
openings. It is
common for people to move back and forth between divisions and locations in
the state during
their career. This allows for the person to gain experience in a variety of
jobs and habitat types.
It also allows for a truly varied and challenging career.
FIELD
OPERATION DIVISION
WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT DIVISION
FISHERIES
DIVISION
CONSERVATION
SERVICES DIVISION
LAW
ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
PUBLIC
AFFAIRS DIVISION
Conservation
Officer At Day Time Roadblock
What
are the pay and benefits?
- The
starting salary range for a conservation officer is $24,346 to $43,103
per year. The
actual salary offered is based on an individual’s education
and experience.
- The
average starting salary for a trainee at this time is around $27,500
- Please
go to the State Personnel Website for details on State Employee benefits,
ranges and other hiring information. www.state.nm.us/spo/
- The
normal workweek is 40 hours. However, hours are often irregular and
include
working weekends.
- After
completing training, you will receive a pay increase. The salary
range for officers
who have successfully completed training varies from $26,520 to $47,155
per year.
- Comprehensive
benefits package includes paid vacation, sick leave and retirement
plan.
- Also
available are group life, health, dental, vision and legal insurance
plans.
- New
Mexico offers a 25-year retirement plan. You can retire with 75%
of the average
of your 3 highest years of salary. You can retire with 80% of your average
high 3 years
salary after 26 years 8 months of service (certain limitations and restrictions
apply -
Please consult PERA for complete details).
How
and when do I apply?
- All
open jobs are listed on the New Mexico State Personnel
Office web page and
applications can also be found there. Follow the application procedures
described
in the job announcement or on the NMSPO web page.
- Applications
may only be submitted when the job is being advertised.
- Conservation
officer openings are normally advertised in early July
and early
February but could occur at any time. The next projected advertisement
for hiring
conservation officers is in February 2004.
- Other
positions can be advertised at anytime.
- Position
announcements are open for approximately 2 weeks.
- Current
N. M. Game and Fish Job Opportunities Page Or
Visit State Personnel www.state.nm.us/spo/
Who
can I contact for more information?
- Bob
Culp, Training Coordinator
Email: rculp@state.nm.us
Phone: (505) 326-3168
- Becky
Bozone, Personnel Department
Email: bbozone@state.nm.us
Phone: (505) 476-8028
Please request information from Becky Bozone by sending your address and
request to bbozone@state.nm.us
