Seasonal Naturalist - 7000051

State-of-Missour; Branson (MO); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking a seasonal, temporary position at Shepherd of the Hills State Park in Branson, MO. The role runs November 2026 through April 2027, with shifts 08:00am–04:30pm, Mon–Fri, up to 40 hours per week and up to 1,000 hours total.

Duties include trail work, habitat restoration, and conservation activities with volunteers. The candidate will gain experience in wildlife biology concepts, field methods, data entry and safety practices while contributing to

Qualifications

• Interpersonal skills: treat others with courtesy, sensitivity and respect.
• Self-management: set goals, initiative and reliability.
• Computer skills: use software, databases and automated systems.
• Decision making: make informed, proactive choices.
• Flexibility: adapt to changing conditions and requirements.
• Physical strength and agility: perform moderately heavy labor for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Assist park staff and volunteers in creating 3.7 miles of new hiking trail.
• Lead work groups to achieve natural resource stewardship objectives.
• Support glade restoration and prescribed burning activities.
• Prepare firelines and maintain equipment for burns.
• Identify exotic plants and assist with habitat surveys and data entry.
• Maintain detailed work logs and report progress weekly if needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Self-management

Computer skills

Decision making

Flexibility

Physical strength

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 Shepherd of the Hills State Park, 4424 Sycamore Church Road, Branson, Missouri 65616. Standard work shifts are 08:00am – 04:30pm, Monday - Friday. Some longer workdays, or potential weekends, may be required for prescribed burns and other stewardship activities, not to exceed 40 hours per week. There will be no work on state or federal holidays. This is a temporary, seasonal position, not to exceed 1,000 hours total during the length of employment.

Duration of Assignment

November 01, 2026 (Flexible) – April 15, 2027 (Flexible)

• Assist park staff and work with potential volunteer groups in the creation of 3.7 miles of new hiking trail in the park. Assist the Natural Resource Ecologist in leading work groups to complete natural resource stewardship objectives.
• Assist with glade restoration projects, including the cutting and brush pile burning of eastern red cedar trees.
• 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 woody debris to clear the fireline corridor and assisting as a crew member with burning operations at Shepherd of the Hills State Park, and other neighboring Missouri State Parks.
• Treat invasive plant species populations with herbicide using a backpack sprayer or by using a variety of hand tools and power tools.
• Gain knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of wildlife biology, ecology, or similar biology concepts.
• Endure the safe use of hand tools and power equipment, adhering to personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines for all equipment as directed by the Department of Natural Resources and acting as a safety role model for volunteer work groups.
• Assist with various habitat surveys, research projects, and data entry – May include habitat mapping, statistics, aerial surveying, and herbarium specimen collection.
• Maintain detailed work logs and assist the Natural Resource Ecologist with data entry for natural resource stewardship related activities.
• Possess the ability to lead volunteer work groups (such as AmeriCorps NCCC) independently and provide weekly progress reports to park staff, if needed.
• Perform general maintenance and upkeep on field equipment, including chainsaws, backpack leaf blowers, backpack herbicide sprayers, hand tools, etc.
• Maintain a valid motor vehicle license and operate a utility task vehicle (UTV) on moderately rugged terrain.
• Assist with park events, work projects, and other duties, as needed.

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

• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
• Self-Management: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Physical Strength and Agility: Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.

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

Experience to be gained

• Ability to identify common exotic plants and management practices with invasive species.
• Ability to work a job with diverse duties with flexible schedules.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of park staff to conduct safe and efficient prescribed burn operations.
• Ability to lead work groups to achieve natural resource management objectives, such as glade restoration.
• Knowledge of trail construction and maintenance methods, and best natural resource management practices.

Taylor Steinfeldt, Natural Resource Ecologist at [e-mail]

Or

Sally Namassy, Recruiter at [e-mail]