Intermittent Natural Resources Technician 1 (Put-In-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center)

Who we are:

Did you know Ohio operates 76 state parks, manages over 750,000 acres of diverse wildlife land and more than 2 million acres of water? That’s just the tip of the iceberg of what we do at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as we seek to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all!

Across our 12 divisions and support services, we employ office staff, law enforcement officers, geologists, biologists, engineers, attorneys, communicators, managers, and so much more. Whatever your passion, we likely have a position to fit it and pathways for advancement!

Working at ODNR is a special experience. Our employees are afforded opportunities to participate in public events at parks, nature preserves, wildlife areas, and annually at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair! We routinely have Lunch and Learn events at our Assembly Center which are streamed on Teams Live as are monthly updates with our Director.

What we need:

We are seeking energetic, passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to play a key role for the position of seasonal, intermittent Natural Resources Technician 1 (2 positions available) within the Division of Wildlife, headquartered at the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center, assigned to Ottawa County. The address is 310 State Route 357, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456. To learn more about the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center, please visit the Put-In-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center website.

Why this job is elite…

This is a rare opportunity to work on Lake Erie’s islands in a hands-on conservation and education setting. As a seasonal Natural Resource Technician 1 you will gain real-world experience in animal care, public engagement, conservation education, and outdoor skills instruction—all while working for a professional wildlife agency and engaging with visitors from across Ohio and beyond.

While working at our Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center, an interactive education facility on South Bass Island, you’ll help connect visitors with Lake Erie’s fish, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems.

You’ll build practical, resume-ready experience, strengthen public-facing communication skills, and work in one of the most unique natural and tourism environments in the state.

What you will do…

Intermittent Natural Resource Technician 1 team members support daily operations, animal care, and public programming at the Aquatic Visitor Center. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide daily care and maintenance of animal displays and aquaria, including feeding and husbandry of fish, reptiles, and amphibians
• Conduct daily interpretive tours, free fishing activities, and visitor engagement experiences
• Assist visitors by answering questions and providing guidance related to fishing licenses, equipment procurement and proper use
• Support special programs, events, and scheduled group tours
• Perform light janitorial duties and general facility upkeep
• Assist with landscaping, exhibit enhancement, and minor building maintenance, including use of power tools, pressure washers, and herbicide Application
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Receive an hourly pay of $19.47/hr.

Duration…

• May 2026 – October 2026, with specific start and end dates to be discussed during the applicant interview process
• This is a maximum duration, 1000-hour intermittent (unclassified) position for the Division of Wildlife

Work hours and conditions…

• Variable schedule, up to 32 hours per week
• Typically 8-hour days, with occasional extended days up to 12 hours
• Weekend work required
• Primary work location is the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor center; some programming may occur at off-site locations
• May occasionally include unusual working hours (e.g., holidays, early mornings and/or late evenings)
• Individuals in this role will be expected to work in inclement weather conditions

Housing and transportation information…

• On-island housing is available for seasonal team members for the duration of employment. Housing details and expectations will be discussed during the interview and hiring process
  •    If commuting daily to the work location on South Bass Island, team members must purchase a ferry service season pass at their own expense

Preferred qualifications…

• Be able to lift at least 35 pounds

Please note…

This intermittent position will remain at step 1 of the pay range. This intermittent position is not eligible for benefits (e.g., vision, dental, life, health insurance, holiday pay, leave accruals [vacation, personal, sick], any other paid leave, shift differential, pay supplements, etc.).

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

Formal education in arithmetic that includes addition, subtraction, multiplication & division & in reading & speaking common English vocabulary; valid driver’s license; valid Commercial Driver’s License required if motor equipment is of type & size regulated by Section 4506.01 & 4506.12 of Ohio Revised Code. 

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Natural Resources

Supplemental Information

Application Requirements:

Please ensure your online application clearly indicates how you meet minimum qualifications (MQs). Transcripts are required for all coursework, degrees or educational accomplishments claimed on the application. Applicants must submit a transcript (can be unofficial until point of selection) by the posting deadline (attach in the Additional Attachments section of the application submission Step 6). Should you have issues attaching, please email to: hr@dnr.ohio.gov. “See resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education sections of the application. Applications that fail to demonstrate how they meet minimum qualifications will not be considered. 

To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Mohammad Yakubu, EEO Regional/Program Administrator at 614-265-6992 or mohammad.yakubu@dnr.ohio.gov.

Effective July 1, 2015 applicants must apply online for positions at all state agencies except the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD).

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. 

STATUS OF POSTED POSITIONS: Applicants can view the status of this position by logging into their user profile on the Ohio Hiring Management System (OHMS) Home page at the following link careers.ohio.gov, and selecting “My Profile”. 

NOTES: 

Please do not upload attachments that have an anomaly or are password protected.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.