Natural Resources Technician 1 NRT1

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Iowa DNRs Parks Forests and Preserves Bureau is currently seeking a dedicated and passionate Natural Resource Technician to join our team at Yellow River State Forest. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about natural resource management committed to maintaining the health and diversity of our Forest and eager to engage with the public to promote our Bureau mission.

This position plays a key role assisting the Area Forester in all aspects of operations to manage and maintain Yellow River State Forest. Yellow River State Forest is a beautiful area which includes 8990 acres of forest streams and prairies. It is in the Driftless Area and landform region with steep and hilly topography. It has two cold water streams regularly stocked with trout. It is adjacent to the Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and Effigy Mounds National Monument and is at the core of a Globally Significant Bird Conservation Area as designated by the Audubon Society. The area is popular with hunters anglers hikers backpackers bird watchers horseback riders mountain bikers and campers.

This position will work under the direction of the area forester or District Supervisor. In this role youll perform an array of technical tasks to fulfill goals of the forestry management plan including timber stand improvement tree planting tree plantation maintenance tree removal invasive species removal and prescribed fire in forests and prairies. Additional related duties will include mowing spraying disking harvesting/collecting seeds for the State Forest Nursery fencing and installing/maintaining culverts and drainages.

Your responsibilities will extend to maintaining trails parking areas and vertical infrastructure; and will include training and directing seasonal employees and volunteers. The needs of this vast resource area requires the successful candidate to operate large equipment including tractors and a excavator operate chainsaws to fell trees and operate and maintain other equipment and tools to maintain buildings and grounds.

Essential Functions

Operate and maintain power tools and equipment used to maintain buildings and landscapes.

Operate heavy equipment including tractors and excavators.

Work outdoors and withstand physically demanding work such as stooping bending and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds.

Use PCbased software to complete work. Fiscal skills to track expenditures. Spreadsheet skills to create modify and manipulate data.

Effectively communicate verbal and written information about DNR programs policies and processes to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Critical Job Competencies

Accountability Integrity High Productivity Team Player Customer Focus Interpersonal Skills Communication Skills SelfManagement Technical Skills (park management).

What You Get From Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation 457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision cellular fitness recreation season passes travel counseling)

• The States total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30 of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits please visit the DAS website for more information.

• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).

Comments

1. Pesticide license (must obtain within first 12 months of hire)

2. Possession of valid Drivers license at time of hire

3. CPR/First Aid certification (must obtain within first six months of hire)

4. Chainsaw Safety Certification (must obtain within first year of hire)

5. S130/S190 Firefighter Training Qualification (within first year of hire)

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months and then annually (if applicable). The States total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30 of your total compensation.Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Ensure you are kept uptodate of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices please visit theDNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Iowa DNR Mission

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensurea legacy for future generations.

The equivalent of two years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing electrical and/or heating and cooling or semiskilled or technical work in a biological horticultural conservation or natural resources program;

• Certain designated positions in this job class require applicants to obtain: a Commercial Drivers License and endorsements; and/or certification as a water and wastewater system operator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.
• Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.