Job Details

Organization

Natural Resources

Contact

Agency Contact Name and Information: Abbie Hanners or Dana Smith, ...@dnr.ohio.gov or 614-###-####

Unposting Date

Jan 15, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

Work Location

DNR Athens 360 East State Street Athens 45701

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Athens County-Athens

Compensation

$25.77/hr

Schedule

Full-time

Work Hours: 8-5 subject to change

Union: OCSEA

Primary Job Skill

Technical Skills: Natural Resources

Professional Skills: Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking, Customer Focus

Agency Overview

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? Thats 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.

Job Description

What we need:

We are seeking energetic, passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to play a key role for the position of Service Forester within the Division of Forestry, headquartered in Athens County. The address is 360 E. State Street, Athens, Ohio 45701. To learn more about the Division of Forestry please visit Division of Forestry | Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ohiodnr.gov).

What you will do

• Serve as Service Forester and provide technical forestry assistance to private landowners;
• Provide assistance to landowners and inspect forestry land to determine eligibility for classification under Ohio Forest Tax Law;
• Perform public relations duties, promoting interest, activity, & understanding in forest conservation;
• Assist in the division's mission to promote and apply management for the sustainable use and protection of Ohios private and public forest lands;
• Starting hourly pay of $25.77/hr with multiple pay increases over your first 5.5 years of service, with an end salary of $33.52/hr. There may also be cost of living adjustments (COLA) applied. Longevity pay supplements begin after five (5) years of state service. For more details, refer to Pay Rate and Longevity Tables | Department of Administrative Services.

Training and Development

Required to remain in the classification after employment: Must successfully complete basic firefighter/introduction to fire behavior course (i.e., S-130/S-190) within first year of employment pursuant to national interagency incident management system (i.e., wildland & prescribed fire qualification system guide).

Unusual Working Conditions

Requires travel; exposed to inclement weather, dust, dirt, insects & poisonous plants; responds to wildfires.

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!

• 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

• Completion of undergraduate core coursework in forestry or related field of study; 12 months of training or 12 months experience in public relations; 12 months of training or 12 months experience in operation of computer software programs; valid driver's license.
• OR 12 months experience as Forestry Technician, 22321.
• OR equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.
• Professional consulting forester credential per Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 1501:3-10-01. See details at this link: Forestry/OFTL_Professional_Forester_Requirements_Revised_2025.pdf

Job Skills

Forestry, Technical Skills: Natural Resources, Professional Skills: Critical Thinking, Attention to Detail, Customer Focus

Supplemental Information

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: ...@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-###-#### or ...@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:

Bargaining unit applicants will be given consideration for applicable positions, pursuant to collective bargaining agreements.

Selection devices, proficiency testing and/or assessments may be used to determine if an applicant meets and is proficient in the minimum qualifications for this position. If you are applying for the same classification within a six-month period, your previous score from the selection instrument (interview, proficiency test and/or assessment) may be carried forward for consideration.

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.