Salary

Employees hired in this role will be placed at $25.205 per hour ($52,426 annually) for their first year of training. Upon completion of Recruit Training, officers will be placed in their district at a starting rate of $29.279785 per hour ($60,901 annually).

 Why does the job exist?

Conservation Officers enforce hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) laws. The main goal is to protect wildlife; duties include patrolling assigned fishing and hunting areas, collecting data, investigating complaints, and prosecuting violations.

How does it get done?

The Associate Conservation Officer position is the entry-level of the Conservation Officer Series.  Incumbents in this position will train as a recruit for approximately one (1) year to become a certified and commissioned Conservation Officer for the State of New Mexico. The Conservation Officer Recruit will spend a significant amount of time in an approved Law Enforcement Academy, New Mexico Department of Wildlife sponsored Conservation School, and an additional fourteen (14) week Department of Wildlife Field Training Program.

Ideal Candidate

The field of wildlife law enforcement demands a strong personal commitment, self-motivation, and a vested interest in Wildlife Conservation. Officers are responsible for a variety of different tasks with little direct supervision, and they must have the ability to work independently. Candidate must have physical and mental toughness and be comfortable working in extreme conditions. Wildlife law enforcement is a unique profession, and it requires officers to be open minded to adaptive change and a strong willingness to learn new skills. Candidate must have good knowledge of fish and wildlife management practices including habitat and forage requirements and behavior and identification of various wildlife species. Candidate must be willing to participate in and to instruct hunting, fishing, and trapping activities.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any field with at least twelve (12) credit hours that pertain to the essential duties and responsibilities of this classification. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling four (4) years may substitute for the required education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conservation Officer Recruits participate and assist in wildlife management.
• Employees may assist in providing information on wildlife education, wildlife law enforcement, management, and research.
• Employees will be enforcing wildlife regulations and laws.
• Employees may have contacts with the public to provide simple information on wildlife regulations and laws.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver’s License. Employment fitness, psychological and medical screenings are required as part of the recruitment process.  Candidates who successfully pass the physical assessment may be required to stay in Albuquerque, NM for further testing to include psychological and medical screenings.   Positions are designated as safety-sensitive and subject to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol screening. Employment is subject to a pre-employment background investigation and is conditional pending results.  Must possess and maintain current New Mexico Law Enforcement Certification. Individuals without current New Mexico Law Enforcement Certification must complete the New Mexico Law Enforcement Basic Police Officer Training (BPOT) Academy or certification by waiver training, within 1 year of employment as set forth in 29-7-6B NMSA 1978.

Working Conditions

Irregular hours, overtime, travel and overnight trips. Weekend and occasional holiday work. The job requires working outdoors, often in inclement weather.  There will be periods of standing, walking, running, and sitting.  A patrol uniform and standard law enforcement equipment (handheld radio, body armor, body camera, duty belt, firearms, baton, OC spray, handcuffs, flashlight, and other miscellaneous equipment) is required to be worn and/or utilized each day.  Game, fish, and furbearer species will be handled, restrained, or even field dressed and loaded in vehicles or transport trailers.  Must be able to drive 4×4 vehicles, All-terrain or Utility-terrain vehicles, on unmaintained road surfaces, during inclement weather, and participate fully in all aspects of law enforcement duties. Depending on the area of responsibility, you must be able to operate a boat or watercraft in various lakes, streams or rivers or ride stock (horse or mule) on unmaintained landscapes or trails to participate fully in all aspects of law enforcement duties.