NRES Career Information

Resources related to careers in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

We are dedicated to working with Wisconsinites while preserving and enhancing the natural resources of Wisconsin. In partnership with individuals and organizations, DNR staff manage fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air and water resources while promoting a healthy, sustainable environment and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

The Wisconsin DNR is hiring an LTE – Natural Resources Research Technician located either in Rhinelander or Madison, Wisconsin.

This dual LTE appointment is comprised of two 20-hour positions for an expected work schedule of 40 hours per week. The intention is to hire one candidate on both positions. See below for more information on the positions.

Position 1: 

This researcher will work with a team of scientists on a variety of wildlife research projects in Wisconsin.  Main duties include animal capture and marking, and assisting in the deployment of trail cameras. This position requires a valid driver's license. The selected candidate must be able to drive a state vehicle.  Candidates with three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years, or who have an OWI/DUI violation within the past year are barred from driving state vehicles.

25% - Trail camera grid deployment and maintenance
- Navigate to trail camera locations to change batteries, switch out SD cards, and replace equipment.
- Collect data in the field, enter data online, and upload photos to WDNR

25% - Deer Capture and Collaring 
- Determining sites for deer capture 
- Prepping and maintaining sites for deer capture 
- Maintaining vehicles and equipment used for deer capture 
- Capturing, handling, collaring white-tailed deer

25% - Bear capture 
- Maintaining bear capture equipment and supplies
- Capturing, handling, collaring bears
 
25% - Duck capture
- Maintaining duck capture equipment and supplies 
- Capturing, handling, and attaching transmitters to ducks

Position 2: 

This researcher will work with a team of scientists on a variety of wildlife research projects in Wisconsin.  Main duties include processing biological samples, classifying trail camera photos, and other duties as assigned.  This position requires a valid driver's license. The selected candidate must be able to drive a state vehicle.  Candidates with three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years, or who have an OWI/DUI violation within the past year are barred from driving state vehicles.

40% - Photo classification 
- Expertly classify wildlife trail camera photos, including identifying individuals based on antler characteristics

20% - Biological sample processing
- Process samples from harvested animals, maintain databases, and submit samples for lab analyses
- Develop and implement data quality control/assurance protocols, monitor protocol effectiveness
- Extract and process teeth from furbearer and bear skulls, catalogue teeth and identifiers in the database, and facilitate further lab processing for aging analysis 
- Conduct counts of scars on reproductive tracks of bobcats and assist in collection and preparation of furbearer carcasses for biological processing

20% - Data entry and management
- Enter data into electronic databases
- Perform quality checks of data
- Run database queries
- Conduct basic data summaries

20% - Other duties as assigned

$17.64 per hour

This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position. LTE positions do not automatically lead to permanent state employment or enjoy the same benefits as permanent employees; however, these positions do offer valuable work experience and an opportunity to learn more about career opportunities with the Department of Natural Resources and the State of Wisconsin.  

LTE employees are limited to working 1039 hours per position within a twelve-month period.

In order to be considered for this position, you must be a resident of the State of Wisconsin.

All state employees are required to report their COVID vaccination status, whether vaccinated or not, and must provide supporting documentation if vaccinated. Newly hired employees will be required to submit this information within their first two weeks of employment.

The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants before they can be offered a position.  Please note that a criminal charge or conviction on your record will not necessarily disqualify you from state employment. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the DNR does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire.  The DNR does not sponsor work visas, thus, in compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.

The DNR is an equal opportunity employer that promotes and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Required:
- Able and willing to work outdoors for long hours in sometimes inclement weather (including extreme heat and cold) 
- Able to demonstrate past competency conducting field work in remote environments  
- Methodological attentiveness such as detailed data collection and consistent implementation of protocols
- Excellent organizational and time management skills  
- Familiarity with trail cameras, field navigation with a map and compass, GPS units, navigating to GPS coordinates.  
- Prior experience live-capturing and banding birds 
- Able to work well both independently as well as with others 
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
- Able to consistently lift loads of 50 pounds
- Possess a valid driver's license
 

Preferred:
- Formal academic training in wildlife ecology
- Prior experience capturing waterfowl during the breeding and post-breeding season and attaching auxiliary devices, such as satellite transmitters or geolocators
- Previous authorization from the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory to mark waterfowl with auxiliary devices
- Experience using trailers, snow machines, ATVs, and UTVs
- Proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, etc