Working Title: Habitat Enhancement Crew Member
Job Class: Laborer-Trades & Equipment
Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources
Job ID : 89821
Location : Mentor
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 11/03/2025
Closing Date : 11/24/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources
Division/Unit : Fish and Wildlife
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
Days of Work : Monday - Thursday (or Friday), Occasional weekends
Travel Required : Yes, Occasionally up to 25%
Salary Range: $25.95 - $29.93 / hourly; $54,183 - $62,493 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 202 - Craft, Maintenance, Labor/AFSCME
Work Area : Mentor
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently seeking multiple permanent, full-time Laborer Trades & Equipment positions located in Mentor, MN. This position exists as an integral part of the DNR Wildlife's Habitat Enhancement Crew to provide the specialized equipment operation and labor skills necessary to assist with construction, restoration, and enhancement projects on public lands. 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 .
This is a great opportunity to carry out habitat enhancement and development projects on wildlife management area, aquatic management areas, scientific natural areas, state forest, waterfowl production areas, national wildlife refuges, and other natural resource lands open to public use.
Responsibilities include:
Operation and Maintenance of Equipment: Operate and maintain a variety of power equipment, power tools, and hand tools such as chainsaws, weed whips, pole saws, ATV's, UTVs, airboats, snowmobiles, and boats; heavy equipment such as tandem truck, skid steer, dozer, tractors, amphibious tracked equipment, terrestrial tracked equipment, and other specialized equipment used for habitat enhancement and development projects. Performs necessary inspections and most maintenance on all pieces of equipment. Performs minor repairs to equipment when necessary.
Technical Support: Apply technical knowledge of landscape development and habitat management techniques. Utilize maps, GPS, native prairie and tree planting plans, prescribed burn plans, wetland enhancement plans, general habitat management plans, and other resources in order to evaluate, improve, or maintain native habitats and prepare for upcoming projects. Ensure maintenance and development ideas are well developed and carried out appropriately.
Other Responsibilities and Duties: Maintain accurate operational records, provide professional service, and complete other duties as assigned by the lead worker or supervisor.
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.
This position requires transporting items of up to 100-pounds maximum with frequent transporting of up to 50-pounds (e.g., bags of seed), and regularly moving objects such as heavy tools, backpacks, field equipment, and file boxes. This job also requires walking to a significant degree on rough terrain or may involve maintaining a stationary position most of the time with pushing and pulling of arm and/or leg controls. This job will require strenuous manual labor including but not limited to digging, shoveling, hauling, moving, pushing, pulling, and ascending/descending, often in adverse weather and environmental conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow, sun, wind and occasionally smoke.
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
Position requires a Class A Driver's License (CDL), passing a pre-employment drug screen and participation in the DNR ongoing random screening program. 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.
Knowledge in methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in native habitat development, trades work, farming practices, and general construction.
Ability and skills to safely operate medium and heavy motorized equipment (e.g., medium pickup - F550 or equivalent) with trailer, dump trucks, farm tractors with loader, tracked skid steers, trucks and trailers, watercraft, dozers, amphibious and terrestrial tracked crawlers, and front-end loaders.
Ability and skills to safely operate and maintain power and hand tools, including chain saws, brush saws, air compressors, carpentry tools, and other equipment/tools as assigned.
Ability to service, perform minor repairs, and make adjustments to tools and equipment.
Ability to obtain a MN Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator license within six (6) months of hire.
Knowledge of prairie, wetland, and forest habitat management and development techniques.
Knowledge and skills in of prescribed fire techniques and operations.
Ability to become National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2) qualified through completing required coursework and field training within six(6) months of hire.
Ability to understand and follow written and verbal directions sufficient to interpret, communicate face to face or by two-way radio, and carry out assignments, safely, and efficiently.
Ability to work with limited supervision and independently solve problems as they arise.
Ability to communicate verbally with wildland firefighters, colleagues, partners, or public.
Ability to solve problems, make decisions, work safely, and effectively with others.
Preferred Qualifications
Current possession of a valid Class A Driver's License (CDL).
Qualified as a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2).
Qualified as a NWCG Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT 1) or higher.
Current possession of a valid MN Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator license.
Two (2) years or more of experience in safe operation and maintenance of equipment such as trucks, trailers, dozers, tractors, skid steers, mowers, chainsaws, boats, ATV's, UTV's, firefighting slip-on pumpers, and other related equipment.
One (1) year or more experience in prescribed fire or wildfire suppression techniques and applications.
One (1) year or more experience in prairie, wetland, or forest habitat management and development techniques.
Working knowledge of a variety of GPS units.
Experience providing lead work direction, assigning tasks, and ensuring completion.
Current Faller 3 certification or has successfully completed S-212 (Wildland Fire Chainsaw) course.
Current Faller 2 certification.
Current First Aid/CPR certification.
Additional Requirements
This position requires current possession of a valid Class A license or the ability to obtain one in the first 6 months of employment. The selected applicant will be required to pass a pre- employment drug screen and will be included in the ongoing DNR random drug and alcohol test program.
Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).
It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
