Park Naturalist jobs in Springfield, MO

Seasonal Interpreter/Naturalist

Hourly Pay Rate: $ 15.00

Job Location/Shift: This position is with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks, and will be located at Ozark Caverns within the south side of Lake of the Ozarks State Park (823 Ozark Caverns Rd., Linn Creek, MO 65052). This position will be temporary and extend through the length of the recreation season from May through September. The work week will likely include weekends, holidays, and some evening programming events for a total of 40 hours per week, not to exceed 1,000 hours total during the length of employment.

Why you’ll love this position:

Joining our naturalist/interpreter team at Ozark Caverns will give you the chance to experience and share the wide range of cultural and natural history features within the largest state park in Missouri! With over 50 miles of trails, daily cave tours, and a vast array of biologic diversity, you will be able to expand your knowledge and experiences while developing your own programming for visitors from Missouri and beyond. Come and work where so many people come to recreate!

What you’ll do:

• Sell tickets and provide one hour tours of Ozark Caverns
• Develop and provide interpretive programming for the public
• Conduct trail maintenance and marking
• Advance stewardship activities through invasive species mitigation
• Clean and maintain the Visitor Center

All you need for success:

Preferred Qualifications and Experience/Special Job Requirements

• Education including at least two years of natural resources, interpretation, or related field including course work on biology, botany, geology, soils, aquatic habitats, etc.
• 6 months of experience with public speaking and customer service
• 6 months of experience in hand tools (e.g. shovels, loppers, etc.)
• 6 months of experience in operating cash registers
• Professional/educational experience identifying invasive species
• Ability to lift 40 pounds and hike trails that are of rough terrain and multiple miles in length
• Willingness to learn and adapt as programming opportunities arise

If you have questions about this position please contact:

Guerric Good at 573-346-2500 or Guerric.Good@dnr.mo.gov

or

Amy Richards (DNR Recruiter), 573-526-1640 or Amy.Richards@dnr.mo.gov

The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.