Conservation Technician

State of South Dakota; Canton (SD); On-site; USD 55,216,000 - 57,967,000; Full time

Job summary

State of South Dakota in Canton, SD is seeking a maintenance technician to lead facility upkeep at Newton Hills State Park, with emphasis on multiple facilities.

You will perform concrete, electrical, plumbing and carpentry tasks, supervise seasonal staff, and ensure safe, clean facilities year-round. CDL preferred; driver’s license required; benefits include health insurance and retirement.

Qualifications

• Experience or formal training in trades related to park maintenance.
• Valid driver’s license and certification as chemical applicator; CDL preferred.
• Ability to direct and inspect seasonal staff and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Lead facility maintenance across Newton Hills State Park facilities.
• Perform concrete, electrical, plumbing and carpentry work.
• Inspect facilities for safety and accessibility; winterize as needed.
• Assist with maintenance of vehicles and equipment; prepare reports.
• Supervise seasonal staff and volunteers.

Skills

Carpentry

Plumbing

Electrical repair

Welding

Equipment maintenance

Safety procedures

Tools

Microsoft Office

POS system

Web browsers

Job description

Job ID: 37357

Agency: Department of Game Fish & Parks

Location: Canton, SD (Newton Hills State Park)

Salary: $19.27-$20.23/hr, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: F

Closing Date: 09/25/2026

Park District 8 is a large district that includes Newton Hills State Park, Good Earth State Park, Union Grove State Park, Adams Homestead and Nature Area, Lake Alvin Recreation Area and numerous Lake side Use Areas. While the conservation technician position will be working in all of these areas, Newton Hills State Park will be where the position will report to work and the primary emphasis of work will be.

Position will assume the lead role on facility maintenance and management on all facilities at Newton Hills State Park. Also assist with maintaining facilities throughout Park District 8 including comfort stations, park shop buildings, cold storage buildings, park office, group lodge, camping cabins, playgrounds, dump stations, vault toilets, picnic shelters, and many other facilities. Specific duties include but not limited to: Concrete work, electrical work, plumbing, carpentry. Direct and inspect the work of seasonal staff to assure facilities are clean, sanitized and readily available for the public; maintain cleaning equipment and chemicals to assure proper formulation and use; inspecting facilities for safe and proper operation and maintaining accessibility; prepare facilities for safe winter storage.

Assist district staff with maintenance & repair on a large assortment of vehicles and equipment; administrative tasks such as preparation of vehicle & equipment reports, weed spray records, electrical maintenance license repair records, natural resource and turf maintenance. Position will act as a lead worker for seasonal, volunteer and inmate trustee staff while maintaining daily park operations and maintenance tasks.

Candidates must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions; on a wide variety of terrain and in and around water. Also, they must be able to operate a wide variety of machinery, boats, equipment and tools, handle chemicals, perform physical labor, lift heavy objects over 50lbs, repair and maintain equipment, fell trees and work with welders and welding equipment. This is a full‑time position with the Department of Game Fish & Parks. For more information on the Game Fish & Parks, please visit https://gfp.sd.gov/.

Licenses And Certifications

Valid driver’s license, certification as chemical applicator is required and a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is preferred.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

Experience or formal training in trades related to a maintenance of a state park.

Knowledge Of

• carpentry;
• plumbing;
• electrical repair and welding;
• diagnostic and repair methods for a wide variety of vehicles and equipment;
• janitorial and sanitation procedures, chemicals and supplies;
• tree and shrub pruning and removal;
• noxious weed control;
• chemicals for spraying;
• methods and rates of application;
• safe use and handling practices;
• spraying equipment;
• seed, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides;
• human resources management sufficient to provide daily training and work direction to seasonal employees and volunteers.

Skill To

• grounds and facilities;
• utilize basic computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite, operation of point of sale system, web browsers).

Ability To

• identify tree and weed species by sight;
• operate a variety of vehicles and equipment in remote, rough terrain, extreme slope areas;
• operate tractors, skid, mowers, snowmobiles, UTV's and various equipment;
• calibrate sprayers and seeders;
• maintain and repair a wide variety of equipment;
• operate a chainsaw and fell trees;
• facility inspections to ensure public safety and everything is in working order;
• prioritize work lists;
• complete resource management objectives including the physical requirements of prescribed fire;
• use a variety of hand and power tools;
• provide on-the-job training to assigned employees;
• assign tasks to others based on evaluation of their capabilities;
• organize and complete assigned projects;
• diagnose and repair vehicles and equipment;
• operate dump trucks with manual transmission and split axle and dump trailers;
• communicate effectively with park users, co-workers, general public and stakeholders;
• perform basic building maintenance and custodial work such as replacing light fixtures, basic plumbing, painting, cleaning, equipment repair, etc.;
• operate boats;
• handle and transport chemicals safely;
• read and follow written instructions, and write required reports;
• communicate sufficiently to convey instructions and information about assigned work.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

An Equal Opportunity Employer