State Forest Technician

Natural Resources Technician 1 The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application. Join a hands-on, mission-driven team where your work directly shapes the health, sustainability, and future of Iowa's forests. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking a passionate and dedicate State Forest Technician to join our team and help us manage Stephens State Forest, Iowa's largest state forest. Under the guidance of the Area Forester and District Supervisor, you'll play a key role in managing diverse landscapes, supporting conservation efforts, and maintaining high-quality public lands.

What You'll Do:

Forest Management & Conservation Help establish the next generation of forests by planting trees using both hand tools and mechanized equipment. Prepare and restore sites through chemical and mechanical methods to support successful tree growth and direct seeding. Maintain young plantings through mowing, spraying, disking, and fencing to ensure long-term success. Improve forest stands through thinning, tree release, and pre- and post-harvest treatments using chainsaws and heavy equipment such as tractors, winches, and dozers. Support wildfire response efforts and assist with prescribed burns to promote ecosystem health. Contribute to the establishment and management of native prairies and grasslands. Assist with forest health initiatives, including invasive species control, disease prevention, and insect monitoring. Collect native seed for use in the state forest nursery. Forest Operations & Maintenance Maintain forest landscapes by mowing grass and brush with a variety of equipment. Support infrastructure by maintaining forest roads, installing culverts, repairing drainage systems, and applying surfacing materials. Build and maintain trails, including erosion control, surfacing, mowing, and signage installation. Construct and maintain boundary fencing and signage using hand tools and mechanized equipment. Perform general upkeep of buildings, including cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. Maintain access lanes and support improvements to agricultural lands within forest areas. Service and maintain a wide range of equipment—fueling, performing routine maintenance, minor repairs, and keeping detailed service records. Leadership & Team Support Lead and mentor part-time staff, ensuring work is completed efficiently and safely. Assist with data collection and reporting, including tracking attendance, budgets, fuel usage, incidents, and payroll. Support fee collection in accordance with DNR policies and procedures. Stephens State Forest is located in south-central Iowa. It is the largest state forest in Iowa, encompassing more than 15,500 acres across five counties. Established in the 1930s through Civilian Conservation Corps reforestation efforts, the forest today serves as a premier example of sustainable forest management and natural resource stewardship. Stephens State Forest is composed of seven distinct management units and features a diverse landscape of upland and bottomland hardwood forests, prairie remnants, and wildlife habitat. The forest supports a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, horseback riding, camping, hunting, and wildlife observation, while maintaining a more rugged, backcountry experience compared to traditional state parks. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working outdoors, operating equipment, and making a tangible impact on natural resource conservation. Every day brings variety, responsibility, and the opportunity to contribute to something lasting.

Essential Functions:

Operate motor vehicles and a variety of large and small equipment to conduct facility/grounds maintenance and forest/natural resource management. Maintain trails, facilities/grounds and forest landscape and a variety of large and small equipment used for maintenance work. Manage invasive species, conduct prescribed burns and restore forest habitats. Manage data entry and basic analysis for natural resource assessments. Develop and implement land management plans. Provide public education programs related to conservation. Perform physically demanding work that requires stooping, bending and lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds. Perform work outdoors in a variety of extreme weather conditions. Critical Job Competencies Accountability, Integrity, High Productivity, Team Player, Customer Focus, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Common Sense, Self-Management, Technical Skills (forest/natural resource 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 State's 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 Special Requirements:

1. Maintain/obtain valid driver's license. (must obtain upon hire). 2. Obtain a class A driver's license. (must obtain within first twelve months of hire) 5. Pesticide applicator certification (must obtain within first six months of hire) This position requires obtaining and maintaining a valid driver's license upon hire. Additionally, the incumbent must obtain CPR/First Aid and pesticide applicator certifications within the first six months, and chain saw safety and defensive tactics certifications within the first year of employment. 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 State's 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 up-to-date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@govermentjobs.com . 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 the DNR Employment website. The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov . 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 ensure a 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 semi-skilled or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for the required experience. For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description . 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.