Natural Resources Officer

~ The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) mission is to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. ~

A department of incredible diversity, ODNR owns and manages more than 590,000 acres of land including 75 state parks, 21 state forests, 134 state nature preserves, and 138 wildlife areas. The department also has jurisdiction over more than 120,000 acres of inland waters; 7,000 miles of streams; 481 miles of Ohio River; and 2-1/4 million acres of Lake Erie.

In addition, ODNR licenses all hunting, fishing, and watercraft in the state and is responsible for overseeing and permitting all mineral extraction, monitoring dam safety, managing water resources, coordinating the activity of Ohio's 88 county soil and water conservation districts, mapping the state's major geologic structures and mineral resources.

As an umbrella organization for such diverse interests, the department pulls all these activities into four fundamental mission components:

• Resource management by sustained productivity of Ohio's renewable natural resources, promoting the wise use of non-renewable natural resources, and protecting Ohio's invaluable threatened and endangered natural resources.
• Economic development through job creation/expansion/retention, stimulating local economies, developing industry and tourism opportunities, and supporting the present and future economic health of the state.
• Recreation by providing leisure services and recreation opportunities for the public at all levels.
• Health and safety through fair and consistent law enforcement participating in regulatory matters and identifying and responding to environmental hazards.

Position Overview

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is currently seeking a Natural Resources Officer. 

Job Number: 20052287 & 20059873

Responsibilities

• Serves as law enforcement officer for assigned area & patrols on land &/or water to ensure protection & safety of visitors, resources & property & to promote use of Ohio Department of Natural Resources [ODNR] facilities &/or ODNR regulated activities.
• Administers field sobriety & alcohol-sensing tests (e.g., persons suspected of being under the influence of alcohol & drugs).
• Issues verbal warnings & citations.
• Makes arrests.
• Gathers & preserves evidence.
• Testifies in court.
• Serves & executes court-issued warrants.
• Completes basic investigations into criminal matters & rules & regulations dealing with operations of parks & watercraft, forestry, DNAP areas, scenic rivers, wildlife, & recreational trails or refers more complex cases to higher level investigator.
• Performs marine law enforcement activities & enforces appropriate laws & rules.
• Responds to boating accidents.
• Performs water rescue/recoveries (e.g., water rescues of boaters, boating accidents to include collisions, swamping, capsizing or boating in hazardous areas).
• Assists prosecuting attorneys in prosecution of felony cases (e.g., conducts basic investigations, collects evidence).
• Assists district court officers; represents ODNR in hearings & meetings; operates motor vehicle to conduct law enforcement activities.
• Acts as liaison between division & ODNR Office of Law Enforcement, general public, judges, prosecutors & law clerks.
• Completes routine background investigations.
• Investigates fires to determine causes & enforces fire laws.
• Assists in training local fire departments in forest fire suppression techniques.
• Assists other law enforcement agencies as required.
• Assists with law enforcement education/training.
• Participates in marine enforcement activities (e.g., special events, boat shows, radio & television interviews, public inquiries).
• Monitors activity of cadets.
• Provides orientation & training to new natural resource officers (e.g., serves as field training officer).
• Assists in training enforcement & other division personnel (e.g., cadets) to teach/train, assists higher-level staff in preparation of program goals & priorities.
• Teaches boating classes, enforcement &/or search & rescue techniques (e.g., evidence processing, utilization of deadly force/handcuffing & prisoner restraint, water rescue techniques) to public & interested groups & organizations (e.g., marine patrol officers, fire departments, rescue squads).
• Acts as certifying officer for basic level courses & assists certifying officer with instructor-level courses.
• Assists in preparation of statewide boating safety program development; researches & analyzes boating data & activities to assist in development of program strategies.
• Writes materials, articles & brochures.
• Prepares routine reports.
• Assists in coordinating district education equipment loan program (e.g., canoes, tapes, movies).
• Maintains records related to law enforcement activities (e.g., assigns evidence property tags.
• Maintains records &/or logs of incoming & outgoing tagged, forfeited & abandoned property & its disposal.
• Prepares arrest records & investigation reports); operates radio &/or related equipment (e.g., teletype; telephone; law enforcement automated data system [i.e., LEADS]) to receive & transmit messages & prepares logs regarding items & calls transmitted in order to maintain degree of proficiency with LEADS/NCIC (i.e., National Crime Information Center) system & to meet annual requirements for retention of certification.
• Performs public relations activities in support ODNR & division mission; participates in boat &/or vocation travel shows/events).
• Assists visitors with problems.
• Provides information; assists in emergency situations & administers first aid.
• Conducts tours.
• Prepares & presents programs for civic groups & assists with special programs/events (e.g., boat shows, radio & television interviews, trail hikes, winter camp outs, nature programs, public inquiries).
• Acts as liaison with other law enforcement agencies, ODNR divisions/offices, schools, fairs, community groups.
• Performs enforcement & safety related tasks (e.g., inspects facilities and takes appropriate action, posts signs, constructs barricades, maintains boundaries, clears access points).
• Performs routine maintenance on patrol vehicles (e.g., changes oil, checks tires, cleans vehicles).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Council Course or Ohio Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Academy Course AND must be 21 yrs. of age per Section 124.41 Ohio Revised Code and valid driver's license.

AND

• Must be able to continuously swim 300 yards in 12 minutes or less, continuously tread water for 5 minutes, perform a surface dive & retrieve object in less than 5 feet of water from water treading position.

AND

• Completion of associate core program in natural resources area (parks & recreation, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, environmental, conservation biology, or criminal justice/law enforcement or 18 months training or experience in natural resources area (parks & recreation, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, environmental, conservation biology, or criminal justice/law enforcement.
• NOTE: Applicant must successfully pass background check by appointing authority, which includes polygraph, psychological & medical examination. Per Article 31.05 of FOP Contract, applicant must be able to perform the Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Program (OPOTC) Fitness Testing Entry Standards For New Recruits. The final applicant accepted for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointment. An applicant with positive test results will not be offered employment per Section 123:1-76-09 Ohio Administrative Code.

Major Worker Characteristics:

• Knowledge of: safety practices (law enforcement, public safety), public relations, human relations, agency policies & procedures (departmental regulations outlining standards of ethics & uniform dress & care, & Parks & Watercraft law enforcement {e.g., patrolling enforcement techniques, laws of evidence, methods of arrest, search & seizure, investigation methods, handling of prisoners}), government structure & process (local, state)*, law (Ohio Revised Code [ORC], criminal laws, rules & regulations of division of parks & watercraft, forestry, natural areas, wildlife & recreational trails*).
• Skilled in: word processing (Microsoft Office Suite, Multi Agency Radio Communications System [MARCS], Law Enforcement Tracking System [LETS], Law Enforcement Automated Data System [LEADS], National Crime Information System [NCIS], equipment operation (patrol vehicle, 2-way radio, hand & power tools, personal computer, law enforcement computer, watercraft, firearms & weapons, telephone, fax, photography, water rescue, swimming; first aid & emergency care).
• Ability to: define problems, collect data, establish facts & draw valid conclusions; calculate fractions, decimals & percentages; prepare meaningful, concise & accurate reports; gather, collate & classify information about data, people or things; handle sensitive inquiries from & contacts with officials & general public; demonstrate physical fitness.

Training and development required to remain in the classification after employment:

Per Article 31.05 of FOP Contract:

• Must maintain agency required physical condition as outline by department directive & pass any required medical examinations.
• Must qualify semi-annually with firearms & related equipment: must maintain OPOTC certification.
• Must qualify for $1,000 surety bond if acts as agent of state is collection of money; if assigned state forest area responsibilities, .must successfully complete Basic Firefighter/Introduction to Fire Behavior (S-130/S-190) course.
• Must obtain LEADS certification & renew LEADS certification biannually in compliance with Ohio Revised Code.
• Annual compliance with division's swimming requirements.

Unusual working conditions::

• Overnight travel required; may be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
• Exposed to inclement weather, boating rescue, floods & environmental hazards/ wastes, law enforcement violators & training which may cause substantial physical harm or death.
• Exposed to forest fires; exposed to violent situations.

To Apply

Please click "Apply on Company Website" below. Closing date is 10/10/2017 11:59 PM Eastern.