Seasonal Natural Resources Worker - Atterbury FWA

About the role

The State of Indiana offers a range of seasonal positions across 60+ agencies, providing competitive compensation, a robust benefits package, and the opportunity to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers.

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area is a 4,950-acre area that includes game habitat, marsh areas, running creeks, and shallow impoundments. It was purchased by the state from Camp Atterbury, an Army training installation, and the State of Indiana coordinates with Camp Atterbury to authorize limited hunting on military property when not in conflict with training operations. Activities include bird/wildlife watching, fishing, hunting, a shooting range, and trapping.

Salary Statement

The hourly wage for seasonal positions varies, starting at $12.25/hour.

A Day In The Life

• Resource Management Techs – 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 – Maintain and repair property buildings, grounds, and facilities. Perform various duties based on property needs, such as landscaping, mowing, firewood processing, structure maintenance, sign creation, trail upkeep, carpentry, and plumbing.
• Clerks – Perform a wide variety of tasks to support property staff, including inventory, stocking, reporting, budgeting, and assisting with other administrative duties.
• Nature Preserves Steward – 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.
• Wildlife/Hatchery Tech – Assist properties with wildlife management activities or Hatchery Biologists with fish production and stocking. Duties may include fish culture, fish stocking, facility and equipment maintenance, wildlife habitat management activities including prescribed fire, planting, mowing, disking, and tree cutting.
• Shooting Range Officers – Monitor the activities of visitors using the shooting range while providing quality customer service and education on safe gun handling. 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.
• Ability to work afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to wear a DNR-provided uniform.
• Ability to travel to different properties.
• Ability to work with DOC work release crews.
• Ability to work 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.).
• Ability to work around potentially dangerous heavy equipment (e.g. tractors, disks, mowers, planters, etc.).
• 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.

Benefits Of Employment With The State Of Indiana

This seasonal position does not offer benefits and is limited to 180 working days in an eleven (11) month continuous period.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov. The State of Indiana has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.