WI DNR now hiring Aircraft Pilots in Rhinelander and Siren, Wisconsin!

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Forestry is recruiting to fill two pilot positions: an Aircraft Pilot in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and Administrative Aircraft Pilot in Siren, Wisconsin. The DNR is committed to hiring the best candidate and is offering a $2000 sign-on bonus for new State employees. Excellent benefits include: very generous paid time off (around 43-45 days paid days off including vacation, sick leave, personal holidays, and legal holidays); excellent work-life balance; home every night; healthcare, dental, vision insurance; WRS pension; and more.


Our Aircraft Pilot in Rhinelander will perform a variety of resource management activities as part of the Department’s Aeronautics program. These responsibilities include forest fire detection and suppression; detection of game and fish and other law enforcement violations; and environmental protection activities, including monitoring and survey work. The position also performs reconnaissance flights for a variety of natural resources management activities, as well as for public safety.

The Administrative Aircraft Pilot’s primary responsibilities are to perform a variety of resource management activities as part of the Department’s Aeronautics program, with an emphasis on various administrative duties, including reviewing, submitting, and maintaining monthly flight logs and maintaining the computer records/document system. Non-administrative responsibilities include forest fire detection and suppression; detection of game and fish and other law enforcement violations; and environmental protection activities, including monitoring and survey work. The position also performs reconnaissance flights for a variety of natural resources management activities, as well as for public safety.


These positions are key to public safety and security and requires the incumbent to meet and maintain the physical fitness test standards required for all Department protective positions. The principal duties of these positions require active fire suppression duties which require frequent exposure to a high degree of danger or peril and also require a high degree of physical conditioning. These positions are available for fire suppression, pre-suppression, and prevention duties year-round.

Salary Information:
Starting pay is $29.73 – $36 per hour ($61,838.40 – $74,880.00 annually).

Qualifications:
To be minimally qualified for this position, candidates will have all of the following:

  • Current commercial pilot certificate issued by the FAA
  • FAA certificate with class rating for single-engine land plus instrument rating
  • Minimum of 1200 hours of pilot-in-command (PIC) time
  • Minimum of 100 hours of Nighttime
  • Minimum of 50 hours of Instrument time
  • Minimum of 200 hours of Cross-Country time
  • Work experience related to at least one type of DNR project assigned for non-flight time:
    • Forest Management, Wildlife Management, Biologist
    • Fire Suppression (including prescribed burns), Heavy Equipment Operation,
    • Incident Commander, Radio Communications Specialist
    • Inventory Management, equipment maintenance
    • Law enforcement/public safety
    • Geographical information systems (GIS)

Best-qualified applicants will also possess the following preferred qualifications:

  • Tail-wheel endorsement with 25 hours of related PIC time
  • Multi-engine rating with at least 100 hours of associated PIC time
  • Flight experience (as part of an on-going role) related to:
    • Natural resources reconnaissance or biological surveys
    • Law Enforcement / Public Safety Operations / Rescue or Disaster Relief
    • Fire Detection and/or Suppression
    • Aerial Photography
    • Low Altitude


For more information, including instructions on how to apply, please see the job postings in full here:
Aircraft Pilot, Rhinelander
https://wj.wi.gov/10107
Administrative Aircraft Pilot, Siren
https://wj.wi.gov/7877