Fisheries Seasonal Worker/Internship

Full Job Description

Learn about careers in Fisheries while working alongside biologists and technicians with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Seasonal Workers in the Fisheries Bureau perform a variety of duties related to fisheries research, management, culture, or aquatic invasive species. Successful candidates for these positions may be required to work weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings, but exact schedules will vary by location. Most positions require being outdoors in all types of weather and may require travel overnight. This position announcement covers all openings across the state of Iowa. A single application will be used for any desired positions and locations which will be determined during the interview process. Housing is not provided at any location statewide.

These are full-time positions (i.e., 40 hours/week), but the dates of employment vary with each position. Three-month positions typically run from mid-May through mid-August, depending upon college semester dates. Six-month positions start at the beginning of April and end the middle of October.

Depending upon availability, positions may be open in any or all of the following sections:

AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES: Watercraft Inspector-Statewide (entry level, 3 month positions): Conduct watercraft inspections and interviews collecting data from boaters on their knowledge of aquatic invasive species.

Conduct surveys at access points for early detection of aquatic invasive species. Positions are located within fisheries management stations throughout Iowa.

The surveys are conducted using electronic data entry. Limited opportunities will also be available to assist fisheries biologists and technicians in management and research projects.

Applicants must be able to work independently or with a team without close supervision.

Aquatic Vegetation Management:

Vegetation survey crew-Boone (intermediate to advanced experience, 6 and 3 month positions)

Main duty includes conducting aquatic vegetation surveys and assisting in management of aquatic plants across the state of Iowa.

Additional duties include collected zebra mussel veliger samples, entering vegetation data, and equipment maintenance. Extensive travel across the state of Iowa is required.

Applicants must be able to work independently or with a team without close supervision.

FISHERIES RESEARCH:

Research Field Crew (intermediate experience, 3 month positions-statewide)

Assist a biologist and/or technician in collecting information about special projects dealing with Iowa’s fish populations and waters, which may include collecting and analyzing water quality data, performing fish population evaluations using a variety of gear types including fyke nets, gill nets, and electroshocking equipment, or working in a laboratory environment observing and monitoring experiments.

Staff may be required to enter and analyze data using computer software, answer questions and interact with the public, and operate outboard motors using safe boating practices.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: (advanced experience, 3 and 6 month positions-statewide) Assist a biologist and/or technician with the duties of managing lakes, rivers and streams within a multiple-county district, which includes conducting population surveys using a variety of gear including fyke nets, hoop nets, electroshocking, gill nets, trawls, and seines.

Duties may also include stocking of hatchery fish into desired waters, conducting fishing clinics, entering data and operating boats.

Travel may be statewide as well as within the confines of the assigned district.

Long Term River Monitoring: (intermediate and advanced experience; 2, 3, and 6 month positions-Bellevue)

Assist biologist and technicians with fisheries, water quality, and aquatic vegetation sampling on Pool 13 of the Mississippi River.

Fisheries sampling includes setting, retrieving, and repairing fyke, mini-fyke, and hoop nets; electrofishing, trawling, and identifying, measuring, and weighing fish.

Aquatic vegetation sampling includes identification of local species of aquatic and terrestrial vegetation..

Water quality sampling includes performing regular equipment maintenance and calibration, preparation of water quality sample bottles, and operation of filtration equipment.

Additional tasks include data entry into electronic data capture applications on field laptops and performing building and grounds maintenance/upkeep.

Staff may periodically assist the Mississippi River Research Team with their annual sampling efforts when needed. Applicants must be able to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

FISH CULTURE: (intermediate and advanced experience, 3 and 6 month positions) Assist a biologist and/or technicians in the daily care and rearing of a variety of fish species that will be stocked into Iowa’s waters.

Duties can include spawning of adult fish, feeding, measuring growth, observing behavior of juvenile fish, daily cleaning of rearing units, collecting forage for use as fish food, and entering daily data into spreadsheets that calculate growth and adjust feed amounts.

Staff may assist with harvest and distribution of species, answer questions and give tours to the public as needed, and assist with collecting fish for aquarium displays.

More information on seasonal fisheries positions with the Iowa DNR can be found on our website https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/employment

The following are POSSIBLE locations of employment for 2026.

Chariton (Lucas County)

Elkader (Clayton County)

Decorah (Winneshiek County)

Manchester (Delaware County)

Bellevue (Jackson County)

Gutenberg (Clayton County)

Solon (Johnson County)

Brighton (Washington County)

Fairport (Muscatine County)

Centerville (Appanoose County)

Boone/Ames area (Boone/Story counties)

Mount Ayr (Ringgold County)

Lewis (Cass County)

Lake View (Sac County)

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County)

Spirit Lake (Dickinson County)

Housing is not provided at any location. During the application process, you will be asked to select the locations where you are willing and available to work. You can select as many locations as you want. If you are willing and able to work in multiple locations, you are more likely to get a position offered to you.

Interested applicants must apply using the State of Iowa Career website by 11:59 p.m. on January 16, 2026.

• Visit Job Openings on the State of Iowa Career pages. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa
• Filter for Agency – 542 Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
• Select Fisheries Seasonal Worker.
• Click the green Apply box at top.
• In order to apply for State of Iowa positions, you will need to create or log in to your NEOGOV account by clicking on the SIGN IN link at the top right of the career pages.

Additional help on applying for jobs can be found on the Iowa Department of Administrative Services website at https://das.iowa.gov/human-resources/state-employment/application-process-faqs

For more information about these positions, contact Ben Wallace at 712-657-2638, email ben.wallace@dnr.iowa.gov

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

These are Temporary non-merit positions with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Qualifications

Must have an interest in learning about fisheries careers in Iowa and gaining new skills.

Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license

Must be a minimum of 18 years of age

Able to work alone, with the public, in all conditions, on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.

Able to withstand physically demanding work, including lifting, bending, or hauling

Follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers