Job Description
The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employs over 850 employees who are dedicated to protecting Iowa’s natural resources and providing citizens with recreational opportunities to enjoy them. The Iowa DNR’s mission is to conserve and enhance Iowa's natural resources, in cooperation with individuals and organizations, to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations. If our mission aligns with your personal goals and you want to work alongside committed and passionate coworkers, then you should consider the Iowa DNR as your next employer.
We currently have a Shooting Range Manager position that is an integral part of the dedicated team of professionals who operate the Banner (Indianola) and Olofson (Polk City) Shooting Ranges. The position will oversee the overall management, operations, and maintenance of both facilities and serve as the lead worker for all temporary, seasonal, and contract staff at the facilities. The position will assist the Shooting Sports and Range Development Coordinator by overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of the agency's primitive ranges statewide. They will also have the opportunity to set up and conduct a variety of classes, clinics, workshops, and leagues related to hunting, trapping, and recreational shooting for the general public.
Duties Will Include
- Conducts range safety briefings, leads range safety commands, and corrects firearm and archery safety violations.
- Works on the firing/shooting lines to enforce the shooting range rules to ensure the safety of the public, staff, and the state-owned property.
- Deals with emergency situations if they arise and provides first aid assistance to range visitors and other staff if a situation warrants.
- Prepares daily range usage, revenue, and reconciliation reports and deposits revenue weekly.
- Manages budget expenditures and directs the acquisition of equipment, supplies, and materials for both facilities.
- Conducts regular staff meetings and training, along with staff scheduling and the collection of range staff hours for bi-weekly time reports.
- Identifies facility and grounds maintenance needs and performs the necessary work, including painting, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and landscaping.
- Conducts and coordinates the maintenance and operations of the following: lawn equipment, garden equipment, automated trap and skeet machines, firearms and archery equipment, and steel targets. Additionally, operate these items and large hazardous equipment, such as chainsaws and skid steers.
- Coordinates and conducts public classes, clinics, and workshops on hunting, trapping, recreational shooting, and related outdoor skills in partnership with conservation organizations and other department staff at the range facilities.
- Works with range staff to set up and facilitate a variety of public shooting leagues and competitions.
- Develops communication materials to promote education and outreach opportunities at the range facilities.
- Assists the Shooting Sports and Range Development Coordinator with overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of all the primitive ranges, along with conducting annual assessments at all agency-owned range facilities.
Essential Functions
- Lifts equipment and supplies that weigh up to 50lbs.
- Able to properly hook up and pull with a vehicle various-sized (8' - 22') open and enclosed trailers. Must also be able to back up the vehicle and trailer.
- Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing with internal staff, the general public, and partners they serve. Enforces shooting range rules to ensure the safety of the public, staff, and the state-owned property.
- Conducts and/or coordinates with other agency staff and partners public hunting, trapping, and recreational shooting-related classes, field days, clinics, leagues, and workshops at range facilities.
- Operates light and heavy equipment, including trucks, mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, skid loaders, OHVs, and snowblowers.
- Operates and maintains a variety of maintenance tools and pieces of equipment.
- Procures various goods and services related to facility maintenance, range safety, and operations.
- Prepares daily range usage, revenue, and reconciliation reports, and deposits revenue weekly.
- Reviews and updates standard operating reports and inventories.
Critical Job Competencies
Accountability, Action Orientation, Integrity, Common Sense, Communication Skills, Computer Skills, Customer Focus, Flexibility, High Productivity, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership Skills, Project Management, Team Player, Safety Oriented, Facility Operations and Maintenance
What You Get From Us
- A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
- Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).
- Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
- Nine paid holidays/year.
- Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
- Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
- Professional training opportunities.
- Family friendly and professional work environment.
- Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
- The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.
- Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
- Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
- Workout/Gym facilities available onsite at 6200 Park Ave.
Comments
Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain certifications as Chief Range Safety Officer, Iowa Hunter Education Instructor, Basic Chainsaw Safety and Operations, Basic CPR, First Aid, and AED.
The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.
DNR Shooting Ranges Website: https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/shooting-ranges
College or university students who are pending graduation in May of 2026, with a Bachelor’s Degree in a natural science, are eligible to apply for this position.
Ensure you are kept up-to-date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@govermentjobs.com . This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.
DNR Application Tips
For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.
The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Iowa DNR Mission
To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.
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 .
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The equivalent of three years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program;
OR
an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for each year of the required experience;
OR
employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.
Additional Qualification Requirements
Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.
