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Work for Indiana
Grow your career with the State of Indiana! With more than 50 executive branch agencies, the State of Indiana is a diverse workforce offering employees stimulating and challenging projects across a broad scope of career opportunities. As a State of Indiana employee, you impact the well-being of Indiana’s communities every day.
At the State of Indiana, we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion – Our goal is to create a welcoming, accessible, and equitable workplace, with a workforce that is representative of the State of Indiana population. As a proud equal opportunity employer, reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to interview and to perform the essential functions of a role.
About the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources protects, enhances, preserves, and wisely uses natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana’s citizens through professional leadership, management, and education.
About the DNR Vallonia Nursery:
Vallonia Nursery produces and distributes high-quality tree seedling stock to Indiana landowners for conservation plantings. Conservation plantings include timber, windbreaks, wildlife food and habitat, watershed and soil protection, reclamation, and education.
Role Overview:
Seasonal Helpers provide a broad range of supportive work for the nursery. You will work 3 – 4 days each week, with a flexible schedule. You will assist with collecting, weighing, testing, bailing, and raiting the grade of seedlings for quality and use. This role also packages tree seedlings and fulfills customer orders, surveys, plant monitoring, property upkeep, and daily nursery activities.
This is a great position for those who enjoy plants, nature, environmental education, and resource management. Seasonal Helpers enjoy breaks during non-peak periods and can return each year to build on their knowledge and support of Indiana’s natural resources.
A Day in the Life:
Seasonal Helpers fulfill many functions at state parks, forests, nurseries, and recreation areas. You may provide support in one of these areas:
General Resource Management Technicians assist 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.
Nature Preserves Stewards assists Regional Ecologists to implement habitat restoration and management plans for native plant and animal communities, including endangered, threatened, or rare species. Further, this role assists with the control of invasive plant species through physical or chemical removal, and natural area restoration (including controlled/prescribed burns). Stewards also assist with trail maintenance, brush and tree removal, signage, timber marking and/or timber stand improvement based on the property.
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.
Wildlife Science Technicians assist Wildlife Science Biologists with research and management activities focused on a species or group of species. Duties may include developing and/or conducting surveys, building and maintaining traps and other equipment, coordinating volunteers, entering data, staffing check stations, and processing carcasses.
Entomology and Taxonomy Identifiers sort through samples of exotic forest or tree pests of specific concern. Survey samples are collected from high risk sites to determine locations of exotic insects and pathogens in Indiana. Samples of concern are processed and forwarded to a certified taxonomist for further identification and classification.
Nursery Workers collect, weigh, test, bail and grade seedlings for quality and use. This role also packages tree seedlings and fulfills customer orders.
Creel Clerks interview anglers, collect biological information and tissues from various fish species, and enter data on relevant forms and/or systems.
Classified Forest Program Interns primarily conduct field inspections of forestlands and complete associated reports. Duties may include assisting with forest inventories, timber marking, educational programs, and timber stand improvement.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.
What You’ll Need for Success:
Candidates shall have a high school diploma or GED or one (1) year of work experience. A valid driver’s license is required. Completion of some college coursework in wildlife management, natural resources, biology, ecology, forestry and/or related areas of study is required for some roles.
Additional Skill and Ability Preferred:
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.
Basic knowledge of scientific methods, procedures and theories applicable to the management of invasive plant populations
Ability to lift equipment, tools, or materials up to 50lbs
Ability to sustain periods of strenuous physical activity
Ability to carry out assignments with general instruction and limited supervision.
Additional Comments:
This role may be required to work afternoons, evenings, weekends and holidays.
Individuals may experience working in potentially inclement weather.
Individual may be required to wear a DNR provided uniform.
Individuals may experience working directly with offenders.
May be required to travel to additional properties.
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.).
May be required to work around potentially dangerous heavy equipment (e.g. tractors, disks, mowers, planters, etc.).
Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:
This role does not provide direct supervision to direct reports.
Salary:
This position traditionally starts at $10.35 per hour. Salary for this position may be commensurate with education and job experience.
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.
