Seasonal Interpreter/Naturalist - 7030930

State-of-Missour; Cassville (MO); On-site; USD 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free housing on-site

Job summary

State of Missouri at Roaring River State Park in Cassville, MO seeks personnel for a 1,000-hour seasonal role from November 2026 to April 2027. Duties include fireline prep, habitat restoration, and invasive species control. Expect 40 hours/week, some weekends during burns; on-site housing provided; pay $15.65/hour.

Applicants must hold a valid driver's license and pursue S-130/S-190, MSP Rx Fire, and chainsaw certifications; lift 50 lbs and operate gas-powered tools; PPE compliance required.

Qualifications

• Valid driver's license is required.
• S-130 certification or willingness to obtain.
• S-190 certification or willingness to obtain.
• MSP basic Rx Fire certification.
• S-212 or MSP basic chainsaw certification.
• Hike and work in rugged Ozark terrain.
• Operate gas-powered hand tools such as chainsaws and leaf blowers.
• Adhere to PPE guidelines for all equipment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with prescribed burning operations and fireline construction.
• Glade restoration and invasive species control.
• Treat invasive species with backpack sprayer and other tools.
• Support habitat surveys, research projects, and data entry.
• Maintain and operate field equipment (chainsaws, leaf blowers, backpack sprayers).
• Work with AmeriCorps and volunteer crews on park projects.

Skills

Driver's license

S-130 certification

S-190 certification

MSP Rx Fire

Chainsaw certification

S-212 certification

Hiking in rugged terrain

Gas-powered tools

Lift 50 lbs

PPE adherence

Tools

Chainsaw

Brush cutters

Leaf blowers

Backpack sprayers

Job description

We respect and embrace the experiences, knowledge and contributions of our team members. We strive for a culture of belonging and balance by upholding our values: stewardship, integrity, collaboration, respect and innovation. We are passionate about Missouri, our role to preserve, protect and enhance our environment and we are committed to serving its citizens.We believe our mission and vision serves a greater purpose and will be felt for generations to come.

This position will be located at Roaring River State Park, 12716 Farm Rd 2239, Cassville, MO 65625

Duration of Assignment: November 2026 – April 2027 (1000 hours maximum)

Work Schedule: (Tentative) 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 7:30-4:00. When assisting with prescribed burning, fire operations and park events, some weekend and extended work may be required. There will be no work on state or federal holidays (e.g. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, etc.).

Pay Rate: $15.65/Hour for a maximum of 1000 total hours; free housing is available on-site.

• Work as part of a crew to prepare firelines for the upcoming burn season and assist with prescribed burning operations. This includes clearing leaf litter and fallen branches; bucking and relocating nearby logs, felling potentially hazardous dead standing trees, assisting with burning operations at Roaring River State Park and other Southwestern MO State Parks.
• Assist with glade restoration projects, including the removal of shrub species and/or red cedar trees. Also may entail reseeding small areas of glades with native plant species.
• Treat invasive species with herbicide using a backpack sprayer or by using a variety hand tools.
• Assist with various habitat surveys, research projects, and data entry.
• Perform general maintenance and upkeep on field equipment, including: chainsaws, backpack leaf blowers, backpack herbicide sprayers, hand tools, etc.
• Work alongside, and periodically supervise, other work crews on the listed projects. This will include AmeriCorps and volunteer crews.
• Assist with park events, flood cleanup, and other duties, as needed.

To be successful in this position, a candidate will need the following skills:

• Maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Have or be willing to acquire S-130, S-190 and MSP basic Rx Fire certifications
• Have or be willing to acquire S-212 or MSP basic chainsaw certification
• Hike and work in variable weather conditions in rugged, remote Ozark terrain.
• Operate a variety of gas powered had tools (chainsaws, brush cutters, leaf blowers, etc.)
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs.
• Adhere to PPE guidelines for all equipment as directed by the Department of Natural Resources.

Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant.

• Conducting all aspects of prescribed burning operations
• Glade restoration
• Invasive species treatment
• Plant identification
• Chainsaw safety and operation
• Tool maintenance