Wildlife Management Area Equipment Operator

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife needs a senior farm and equipment position on the 3,500-acre William S. Huey Wildlife Management Area near Artesia in the southeast corner of the state. The operator plants, cultivates, irrigates and applies pesticides to build agricultural, wetland and upland habitat for wintering waterfowl and other wildlife, and manipulates moist soil units using flood and pivot sprinkler systems fed by an irrigation well. The job runs and maintains heavy equipment including backhoes, bulldozers, road graders and wheel loaders plus farm tractors, planters, tillage tools, sprayers, grain drills, discs and mowers. Fence building and repair, wildlife water development, road grading and facility upkeep are regular duties. The operator helps write habitat and agricultural plans and assists the area manager in directing crew work and tracking project costs.