The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.
Learn important skills and gain valuable experience for a career in Fisheries while working alongside biologists and technicians with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Seasonal Fisheries Aides or Interns perform a variety of duties related to fisheries research, management, culture, or aquatic invasive species. Successful candidates for these positions may be required to work weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings, but exact schedules will vary by location. Most positions require being outdoors in all types of weather and may require travel overnight. This position announcement covers multiple openings across the state of Iowa. A single application will be used for any desired positions and locations which will be determined during the interview process.

These are full-time positions (i.e., 40 hours/week), but the dates of employment vary with each position. Three-month positions typically run from mid-May through mid-August, depending upon college semester dates. Six-month positions start March 31, 2023 and end October 12, 2023.

Depending upon availability, positions may be open in any or all of the following sections:

FISHERIES RESEARCH: Assist a biologist and/or technician in collecting information about special projects dealing with Iowa’s fish populations and waters, which may include collecting and analyzing water quality data, performing fish population evaluations using a variety of gear types including fyke nets, gill nets, and electroshocking equipment, or working in a laboratory environment observing and monitoring experiments. May be required to enter and analyze data using computer software, answer questions and interact with the public, and operate outboard motors using safe boating practices.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: Assist a biologist and/or technician with the duties of managing lakes, rivers and streams within a multiple-county district, which includes conducting population surveys using a variety of gear including fyke nets, hoop nets, electroshocking, gill nets, trawls, and seines. Duties may also include stocking of hatchery fish into desired waters, conducting fishing clinics, entering data and operating boats. Travel may be statewide as well as within the confines of the assigned district.

FISH CULTURE: Assist a biologist and/or technicians in the daily care and rearing of a variety of fish species that will be stocked into Iowa’s waters. Duties can include spawning of adult fish, feeding, measuring growth, observing behavior of juvenile fish, daily cleaning of rearing units, collecting forage for use as fish food and entering daily data into spreadsheets that calculate growth and adjust feed amounts. Assist with harvest and distribution of species, answer questions and give tours to the public as needed, and assist with collecting fish for aquarium displays.

AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES UNIT:
SURVEY CREW: Assist with summer field work in the area of aquatic invasive species management. The main duty of these positions is to conduct aquatic vegetation and Asian carp surveys in lakes and rivers across the state of Iowa. Additional duties include zebra mussel sampling, watercraft inspections, maintaining boat, motor, and sampling equipment in working order, and entering survey data. Limited opportunities will also be available to assist fisheries biologists and technicians in management and research projects. Extensive travel across the state of Iowa is required. Applicants must be able to work independently or with a team without close supervision.

MANAGEMENT UNIT AIS CREW: Assist with summer field work in the area of aquatic invasive species management. The main duties of these positions are to conduct watercraft/angler inspections and access point surveys within a multiple-county fisheries management district. Limited opportunities will also be available to assist fisheries biologists in management projects. Travel within the fisheries management district, weekend work, and good communication skills are required. Applicant must be able to work independently or with a team without close supervision.
Essential Functions:
Assist full-time Fisheries Bureau employees with a wide variety of fisheries and AIS projects and tasks.
Work independently and as a member of a team.
Perform physically demanding work, such as lifting, bending, or hauling.
Learn important skills and gain valuable experience for a career in Fisheries.

Critical Job Competencies
High Productivity, Communication Skills, Team Player, Attention to Detail, Interpersonal Skills, Customer Focus, Technical Competence, Accountability, Integrity, Computer Skills, Critical Thinking, Self-Management

Must: have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license; be a minimum of 18 years of age; have graduated from or currently enrolled in or on break between semesters of college or having a keen interest in a biological, conservation or environmental science program, or about to enter first semester of college from high school; be able to work alone, with the public, in all conditions, on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required; and follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers.

The following are POSSIBLE locations of employment for 2023.

FISHERIES RESEARCH POSITIONS
Rathbun
Spirit Lake
Cold Springs
Polk County

FISH CULTURE POSITIONS
Big Spring
Rathbun
Spirit Lake
Decorah
Manchester
Fairport

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT and AIS UNIT POSITIONS
Lake View
Spirit Lake
Clear Lake
Decorah
Manchester
Mt. Ayr
Boone
Cold Springs
Lake Darling
Rathbun
Lake Macbride
Guttenberg
Bellevue
Fairport

The salary for these positions will be $13.00-14.00/hour based on fisheries experience.

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.
The Department of Natural Resources invests in its workforce through diversity, equality, justice, inclusion, and accessibility.

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.

This is a non-merit temporary position with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

No specific education or experience is required.