A Day in the Life:

The Seasonal Natural Resources Workers perform duties related to the survey, biological monitoring, and/or control of property natural resources. Seasonal Natural Resources Worker positions and their essential functions are as follows:

• Resource Management Techs: Assists with the control of invasive plant species natural area restoration trail maintenance, brush and tree removal, signage, timber marking and/or timber stand improvement based on the property.
• Laborers: Work to maintain and repair property buildings, grounds, and facilities. Laborers perform various duties based on property needs. Possible duties may include landscaping, mowing, firewood processing, structure maintenance, sign creation, trail upkeep, carpentry, and plumbing, based on property needs.
• Clerks: Perform a wide variety of tasks to support property staff. Duties may include inventory, stocking, reporting, budgeting, and assisting with other administrative duties.
• Office Assistants: Answer inquiries about the property and provide quality customer service to the park visitors. This position also assists property management with operations and administrative functions. 
• Nature Preserves Steward:  Assists Regional Ecologists to implement habitat restoration and management plans for native plant and animal communities, including endangered, threatened, or rare species.  Duties may include physical or chemical removal of invasive plant species, natural area restoration, controlled/prescribed burns, trail maintenance, brush and tree removal, signage, timber marking and/or timber stand improvement. 
• Biological Naturalist Aides: Assist District Biologists with future succession control, food plot plans, fish, wildlife, and vegetation surveys.  Duties may include data collection, species monitoring, mowing, planting, and managing habitats for wildlife.
  • Creel Clerk: interview anglers, collect biological information and tissues from various fish species, and enter data on relevant forms and/or systems.
• Wildlife Science Tech: Assist Wildlife Science Biologists with research and management activities focused on a species or group of species. Duties may include developing and conducting surveys, building, and maintaining traps, equipment maintenance, coordinating volunteers, entering data, staffing check stations, and processing carcasses.
• Disease Surveillance Coordinators: Assists State Health Biologists in conducting fish & wildlife response and surveillance activities. These duties can include a significant amount of in-state travel, working with potentially diseased and/or dead animals, data entry, database management, and volunteer management.  
• Shooting Range Officers: Monitor the activities of visitors using the shooting range while providing quality customer service and education on safe gun handling. This role will enforce shooting range standard operating procedures and provide basic maintenance to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

What You'll Need for Success:

• High school diploma, GED, or one (1) year of work experience.
• Individuals may be expected to work afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Individuals may be required to wear a DNR-provided uniform.
• Individuals may be required to travel to different properties.
• Individuals may be required to have a valid driver’s license.
• Individuals may experience working with DOC work release crews.
• Individuals may perform duties in a variety of different environments, including an office environment, field environment, rugged terrain, and various adverse weather conditions (extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, sleet, etc.).
• Individuals may work around potentially dangerous heavy equipment (e.g. tractors, disks, mowers, planters, etc.).
• Some positions may require:
  • Completion of some college coursework in wildlife management, natural resources, biology, ecology, forestry and/or related areas of study is required.
  • Ability to understand and apply through on-the-job training and using previous, relevant experience basic biological principals, ecological variables and interactions, plant identification, herbicide application, invasive plant management techniques (of conservation biology, the management of forests, wetlands, and prairie habitats), and life histories of invasive plants.
  • Ability to lift equipment, tools, or materials up to 50 lbs.
  • Ability to sustain periods of strenuous physical activity.
  • Ability to carry out assignments with general instruction and limited supervision.