Seasonal Ecologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Introduction
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 (Limited Term Employee) Forest Ecology and Management Research Specialist at our offices, in Rhinelander, WI.
This recruitment may be used to fill future similar vacancies.
To see all opportunities currently available at DNR, follow this link: DNR (wisc.jobs) .
Position Summary
The highly applied and collaborative nature of the Forest Ecology & Management Team requires a Forestry Specialist with experience assisting with study development, particularly as it pertains to time, staff, techniques, and equipment requirements in the field to meet study objectives and timelines. Current forest ecology studies include but are not limited to an assisted migration study in collaboration with USFS to determine viable techniques to combat climate change impacts on our forests, a study of deer impacts on forest regeneration, a managed old growth study, and studies to understand the impacts of invasive species on forests. These projects will assist with the development and evaluation of current and future policies, procedures, guidelines for application to silviculture and forest ecology. This position will assist with developing maps and protocols for forest ecology study implementation and data collection. Additional duties will include assisting with development and annual updates of progress reports for each current study, developing work plans for seasonal field crews, estimating staffing needs to accomplish field work for each project, and assisting with data summarization for each project.
This position will be based at the Wisconsin DNR Forestry Headquarters in Rhinelander, WI. Some overnight travel is required.
40% Summarize forest ecology data and project progress
• Lead data entry, QA/QC, and cleaning
• Assist with the development of progress documents and timelines for each study
• Assist with annual updates to progress documents
• Assist with data summarization for each project, annually
30% Develop protocols and data collection documents for forest ecology studies
• Assist the project leaders with development of field data collection protocols
• Develop datasheets
• Create maps and other navigation aids for each forest ecology study
20% Develop workplans for field crews
• Estimate time and effort required for each project, annually
• Develop and maintain a fieldwork calendar
• Develop and/or maintain safety documents, procedures, and devices (e.g., SPOT devices)
10% Other duties, as assigned.
Salary Information
This position pays between $24.15 - $27.68 per hour and is in the Natural Resources Research Scientist - Senior classification in pay schedule and range 15-03. Compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.
Job Details
This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and will not automatically lead to permanent state employment or be entitled to the same benefits as permanent employees.
More about LTE positions:
1) Offer a great opportunity to gain experience and learn about careers at the WI Department of Natural Resources.
2) Provide opportunities for individuals to enhance their resumes with skills learned on the job.
3) May accommodate flexibility for part-time or full-time work hours and seasonal schedules. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.
4) Allow individuals to hold multiple LTE appointments concurrently. If both LTE positions are at the same agency, the positions must be bona fide different positions. Each individual LTE position allows for maximum of 1039 hours in a twelve-month period.
Special Requirements:
1) Residency: To be considered for this position, you must be a resident of the State of Wisconsin.
A Wisconsin resident is a person who:
a. Has established a residence, as defined in s. 6.10(1), in this state not less than 10 days earlier;
b. Has resided in this state for not less than a total of one year out of the immediately preceding 5 years;
c. Is eligible to register to vote in this state; or
d. Is the spouse of a person meeting the requirements of par. (a), (b), or (c)." s.230.03(12), Wis. Stats.
2) Background Checks: The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants prior to a job offer. 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.
3) Eligible to work in U.S.: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. The Department of Natural Resources does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility I-9 form upon hire.
Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.
Qualifications
In addition to the required qualifications below, the selected candidate must be eligible to drive a state vehicle and meet the following criteria:

• Have a valid driver's license
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have a minimum of two years licensed driving experience
• Have not had three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years
• Have no OWI/DUI violations within the past year

Required Qualifications:

• Proficiency in forestry research data collection techniques and methods
• Proficiency in navigation using compass, GPS, and paper maps
• Experience with data collection for research purposes
• Experience as a member of a field crew
• Strong communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Experience using ArcGIS and GPS

Preferred Qualifications:

• Educational background in forestry, environmental, geographical, or natural sciences
• Experience leading field crews on forest ecology (or related field) field research projects
• Experience with statistical software such as R

How To Apply
If viewing this posting on an external site (such as indeed.com, etc.), please visit Wisc.Jobs and search for this Job ID: 21849 to complete your application for this posting. Current state employees, including those with Career Executive status, must apply through STAR ESS. Former permanent classified state employees must apply through Wisc.Jobs.
From the Wisc.jobs announcement, click the "Apply for Job" button and follow the directions. You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.
Please note that the Wiscjobs system will time you out after 30 minutes of activity, so be sure to save your work often to avoid having to re-start the application process.
For any position-related questions, please feel free to contact Kori.Schroeder@wisconsin.gov .
For technical questions and troubleshooting related to the Wisc.Jobs site, please visit Commonly Asked Questions. Keep in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am - 4:30 pm.
Your resume and letter of qualifications are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here .
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by 11:59pm, Central Time, on September 7 th , 2026 in order to be considered.