Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Mentor, Minnesota
Salary: $48,566-$68,465/year
Application Due Date: August 21, 2025
Overview:
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides outdoor recreation activities and manages Minnesota’s natural resources to create economic opportunity and a sustainable quality of life. We are driven to find talented, innovative employees to help us carry out this mission.
The DNR is currently seeking a Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Crew Technician in Mentor, MN. This position is an integral part of the DNR Wildlife’s Habitat Enhancement Crew. The primary duties of this position are to provide technical and labor support in developing and implementing wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration activities on public lands open to public hunting primarily with the Northwestern portion of Minnesota and occasionally statewide. This position specializes in natural resource habitat management on prairie, wetland, and forest habitat. Activities include but are not limited to prescribed burning; fire break construction; prairie restoration, enhancement, and management; wetland development and construction, enhancement, and management; woody vegetation removal utilizing chainsaws, brush saws, or heavy equipment; forest stand management; conservation grazing infrastructure construction; and the operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used to accomplish these activities
The nature of the work may require a high degree of flexibility in hours and days worked on a seasonal basis. Extensive day and occasional overnight may be required. During the prescribed burn season, crew members will be conducting burns on a weather dependent basis, which means possible weekends and extended/long hours.
Responsibilities:
Assuring responsibility for safety and accountability for safety performance so that employee will perform tasks according to established safety procedures and reduce injuries and equipment damages.
Conducting prescribed burning preparation, planning, writing, and field operations under the direction of the Habitat Crew Supervisor or Rx Burn Boss on state or federal hunting lands in the region. Executing prescribed burns as a burn boss when directed.
Providing technical and logistical support and labor needed to conduct wetland, forest and grassland habitat restoration and enhancement operations on state or federal hunting lands in the region.
Coordinating with the Habitat Crew Supervisor in the administration and operational responsibilities so that wildlife habitat management activities performed by the Crew are smoothly and efficiently implemented according to plans, policies, and legal mandates.
Conducting regular and required maintenance on facilities, fleet, and specialized resource management power equipment as well as on hand tools so that they function properly, provide safe use, are functional for the anticipated life cycle of the equipment, and in top operating condition at all times.
Keeping current in maintaining prescribed fire qualifications, pesticide, GIS, and equipment training as coordinated.
This position requires the ability to perform strenuous physical labor, work in hot, smoky conditions, walk long distances transporting up to 50 pounds of fire gear, and periodically work long days while performing prescribed burn operations, often in adverse weather and environmental conditions.
This job requires the ability to pass a moderate fitness test based on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Work Capacity within 6 months of your start date and then on an annual basis. The test consists of walking 2 miles with a 25-pound pack within 30 minutes.
Minimum Qualifications:
One (1) year experience performing similar work which will include skills and applied knowledge of habitat management techniques; prescribed fire or wildfire suppression techniques and methods; construction techniques and materials; landscaping methods and materials; safe equipment operation; and directing the work of others
Position requires a Class A Driver's License (CDL), passing a pre-employment drug screen and participation in the DNR ongoing random screening program. Otherwise qualified applicants who do not have a valid Class A will be allowed up to six (6) months to acquire one, as a condition of employment. Employees who are required to retain this license will be included in the DNR Drug and Alcohol Plan. This will require the employee to be pre-employment drug tested and be included in a random drug and alcohol testing program.
Knowledge of botany, forestry, prairie, wetland and forest ecology, zoology, biology and soils, inventory and assessment, and ability to identify native and exotic species.
Experience in applying wildland fire techniques and equipment including the incident command system, ignition and fire suppression techniques, fire behavior, pumps, and hand tools.
Qualified as NWCG FFT1 (Fire Fighter Type 1) or MFIRB (MN Firing Boss).
Faller 3 chainsaw operation certified or moderate chainsaw operation experience.
Ability to pass the moderate level Work Capacity test (physical ability) in the first 6 months of employment as a condition of employment.
Ability to perform strenuous physical labor, work in hot, smoky conditions, walk long distances carrying fire gear, and periodically work long days while performing prescribe burn operations.
Ability to work independently without direct supervision.
Knowledge and applied skills in the safe operation, transportation, maintenance and minor repair of, , equipment and tools that include but are not limited to common types of agricultural, construction and vehicular equipment (tractors with loaders, skid steers, tracked vehicles, on highway vehicles, ATV/UTVs, pumps, trailers, fire equipment, tillage, planting and harvesting equipment).
Knowledge and applied skills in basic equipment operation, maintenance and repair of power tools (chainsaws, brush saws, ATV's, sprayers, seeding drills, construction power tools).
Experience using GPS and GIS.
Working knowledge of computers, email, word processing, and spreadsheet software applications.
Ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Writing skills sufficient to communicate technical information, keep records, and write reports.
Ability to communicate (written and oral) and interact positively while directing labor crews, or while associating with adjacent landowners, sportsmen, farmers, and the general public.
Leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills to direct, develop, and engage staff, address complex and confidential issues, and work as a productive member of teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
Current possession of a valid Class A Driver’s License (CDL).
Two (2) years or more experience performing similar work which will include working knowledge of habitat management techniques; prescribed fire or wildfire suppression techniques and methods; construction techniques and materials; landscaping methods and materials; safe equipment operation; and directing the work of others.
Two (2) years of experience in safely operating farm, construction, and other similar equipment such as but not limited to: agricultural tractors, skid steers, dozers, dump trucks, equipment trailers, boats, and UTV/ATVs.
Current Faller 1 or 2 chainsaw operation certification.
Qualified as any NWCG Single Resource Boss (ex: Firing Boss, Engine Boss, Crew Boss, Heavy Equipment, Felling, Helicopter).
Qualified as NWCG ICT4 (Incident Commander Type 4) or higher.
Qualified or a trainee as MRXB3 (MN Burn Boss 3), MRXB2 (MN Burn Boss 2), RXB3 (NWCG Burn Boss 3), RXB2 (NWCG Burn Boss 2), or higher.
Currently certified Pesticide applicator and pesticide application experience.
Working knowledge of soil types and their capabilities, wetland restoration techniques, weed control methods, and prairie reconstruction techniques.
Working knowledge of computer programs such as ArcGis Pro, Excel, Word, Adobe Pro, and photo editing software.
Skills in maintaining or repairing agricultural or construction type of equipment, power and hand tools.
See the “Learn More” link below for more information.
