CPW Wildlife Technician IV - (Fort Collins, CO)

CPW Wildlife Technician IV - (Fort Collins, CO)

Salary

$56,628.00 - $73,620.00 Annually

Location

Larimer County, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

PMA 02167 09/26

Department

Department of Natural Resources

Division

Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Opening Date

09/14/2026

Closing Date

9/28/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address

Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Patrick Warnes patrick.warnes@state.co.us

Salary Note

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.

Type of Announcement

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.

Hiring Pay Rate

Please note that all employees new to the State Personnel System are paid on a bi-weekly basis.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

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.

This is a term-limited position. Funding cannot be guaranteed beyond October, 2029. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.

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 Colorados natural resources.

Wildlife Health conducts disease monitoring and surveillance for all terrestrial wildlife species, as well as rigorous scientific-based original research deemed valuable to CPW in order to better understand and enhance the health, management, and conservation of Colorado's terrestrial wildlife resources; the program also provides field and laboratory services and training to CPW staff, as well as captive wildlife research support and captive wildlife holding for other CPW research and management programs.

Description of Job

The position exists to: (a) provide technical support for necropsy services through statewide coordination of necropsy submissions, assistance during necropsy procedures, and maintenance of the necropsy laboratory; (b) provide technical support in executing statewide chronic wasting disease and other disease surveillance; (c) provide technical support for necropsy and laboratory services by maintaining records, filing paperwork, maintaining databases, and summarizing data (d) provide technical support for management or research projects conducted in the field or at the Foothills Wildlife Research Facility.

Provide technical support for necropsy services through coordination of necropsy submissions, assistance during necropsy procedures, and maintenance of the necropsy laboratory

Coordinate transportation of carcasses or tissues to the Wildlife Health Laboratory, including travel to retrieve carcasses when necessary. Coordinate sample submissions, and accession and process samples as they arrive at the Wildlife Health Laboratory. Adhere to protocols for ongoing disease surveillance projects. Maintain adequate facility and supplies/inventory for necropsy and other diagnostic services. Maintain clean and sanitary work, freezer, and cooler spaces, including timely disposition of tissues after processing either through disposal at a landfill or via incineration. Monitor freezers and coolers for adequate temperature control. Monitor hazardous waste tanks and coordinate disposal of hazardous material as needed. Provide support during necropsy including dissection, tissue removal, assessment of tissue integrity/disease, radiology, photography, proper sample handling for diagnostics or archival, and submission to external and internal laboratories for testing. Mail coolers back to submitters. Take personal responsibility for the use of personal protective equipment when dealing with potentially hazardous tissues or chemicals. Maintain archives of samples, photographs, reports, and other documents pertinent to casework. Special care must be taken for forensics cases that may provide evidence for legal investigations.

Provide technical support to the laboratory technologist in executing statewide chronic wasting disease and other disease surveillance

This position will also perform duties related to CWD surveillance and other disease surveillance. Duties may include, but are not limited to Construct and mail out supplies for CWD sampling (CWD kits). Provide training for CWD sampling. Process CWD samples as they arrive at the Wildlife Health Laboratory. Extract CWD samples from whole head submissions. Assure sample quality for submissions. Organize samples for submission to the diagnostic laboratory. Submit samples to the diagnostic laboratory. Enter data and provide quality control for data entries in the CWD database. Communicate with field personnel and other staff to assure quick resolution of any issues. Accession and process samples arriving at the lab for purposes other than CWD or necropsy (for example blood or tissue samples received from research staff). Properly archive samples in accordance with existing protocols.

Provide technical support for necropsy and laboratory services by maintaining records, filing paperwork, maintaining databases, and summarizing data

This position will manage paperwork from necropsy and sample submissions to the wildlife health laboratory and develop mechanisms to organize and track diagnostic data.

Provide technical support for management or research projects conducted in the field or at the Foothills Wildlife Research Facility.

Assist veterinary staff, researchers, managers, and biologists with ongoing projects including animal care and husbandry, observation, veterinary care and support, sample collection and handling, data collection, or other duties to support this work. Travel may be required.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

Four (4) years of relevant experience in wildlife health, processing biological samples, post-mortem tissue handling and sampling or an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position. You must adequately demonstrate your experience in your application as it relates to the duties of this position.

OR

A combination of related education in wildlife biology, natural resources, animal science, biology and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years.

Substitutions

Appropriate education in wildlife biology, natural resources, animal science, biology, laboratory science or a related field of study will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

You must adequately demonstrate your experience in your application as it relates to the duties of this position.

Class Code: TECHNICIAN IV

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or former Colorado Parks & Wildlife work or volunteer experience is considered.
• Experience collecting and processing a wide array of biological samples.
• Experience managing detailed records and quality control of data.
• Experience working with strong smells and decaying tissues with varying amounts of maggots or other insects.
• Experience collecting post mortem samples.
• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.

Required Competencies

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong level of written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to use and operate computers and email and basic data management (e.g., Excel, Access).
• Ability to strictly follow laboratory protocols and procedures.
• Ability to move smoothly between highly variable tasks.
• Attention to detail and quality assurance during sample processing.

Conditions of Employment

• Will be required to operate a State vehicle. Must possess and maintain a valid drivers license.
• Occasional assistance with field work may require travel.
• Must willing and able to obtain record of rabies vaccine for consideration of employment.
• Employee will be exposed to biological materials as well as formalin, a hazardous chemical must be fit for a respirator (such as an N95 face mask) as they will be exposed to animal carcasses positive for infectious diseases such as rabies, highly pathogenic avian influenza, plague, and tularemia PPE during necropsy activities.
• Employee must be capable of lifting up to 50 pounds and performing varied physical tasks such as bending, crouching, lifting, and reaching.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
• Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.

To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who:

• Have an assigned State fleet vehicle

• Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position

• Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle

APPEAL RIGHTS:

It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the department's action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

The Assessment Process

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.

• Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.

• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.

• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.

• This recruitment may be used to fill more than one vacancy at this level and reporting location.

A salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis.

We are committed to increasing a "Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a "Colorado for ALL" drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us.

ADAAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

E-Verify

DNR uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll-Free Applicant Support - Technical Help

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agencys contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Current and former State Personnel System employees who were disciplinarily terminated, resigned in lieu of termination, or who were deemed to have resigned without notice (Board Rule 7-5, Automatic Resignation) must disclose this information on the application.

• I am not a current or former State of Colorado classified employee.
• I am a current or former State of Colorado employee but have NEVER been disciplinarily terminated, resigned in lieu of termination, or deemed to have resigned without notice (Board Rule 7-5, Automatic Resignation).
• I am a current or former State of Colorado employee and have been disciplinarily terminated, resigned in lieu of termination, or deemed to have resigned without notice (Board Rule 7-5, Automatic Resignation). NOTE: Failure to disclose this information and/or falsification of Application materials may result in being removed from consideration for this position.

02

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose this information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify you application from the current position: (if not applicable, please enter "N/A")

03

Do you have prior Colorado Parks & Wildlife work or volunteer experience? If yes, please explain.

04

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

05

Please select which range most accurately reflects your years of work experience in wildlife health or an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position:

• No experience yet
• 1 to 3 years
• 3 years but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06

Please describe your work experience in wildlife health or an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position:

07

If you are using education to meet or substitute for qualifications, please explain how your degree relates to the position.

08

Please explain your experience conducting post-mortem tissue handling and sampling, managing biological samples, maintaining detailed records, assuring quality and accuracy of records, and/or maintaining supplies).

09

Do you possess any additional skills or experiences that may be useful for this position? Please explain:

10

This position works extensively with animal carcasses in various stages of decomposition. You will be required to wear personal protective equipment and work in an environment with strong odors and possible insect (maggot) activity. You will also be required to perform potentially unpleasant duties such as discarding carcasses in a landfill or incinerator. Do you still feel that this is the right position for you?

11

Please briefly describe why youre interested in working for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

12

All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts. Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions since responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication. This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.

• I acknowledge this receipt of this notice.

13

Have you reviewed and understand the conditions of employment.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer State of Colorado

Address See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website https://careers.colorado.gov/