DNR hopes to hire about 12 to help fill statewide vacancies

Taken from: http://www.wisconsinoutdoorfun.com/article/20110811/WOF08/110811048

DNR hopes to hire about 12 to help fill statewide vacancies

MADISON – Men and women passionate about the outdoors and the environment interesting in helping to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources should apply to become a state conservation warden during a warden recruitment period under way through Sept. 2, 2011.

The Department of Natural Resources expects to hire about 12 new conservation wardens in an effort to fill existing vacancies in the state’s warden force of 206 officers. The recruit wardens will begin their formal training in March 2012.

“Many of our veteran wardens are at or nearing retirement so we need to move forward as soon as possible to hire their replacements,” Darrel Waldera, training director for the DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement, said of the ongoing recruitment. “By the end of 2011, there will be 30 vacant warden positions throughout the state, with more than 15 more wardens eligible to retire by the end of December 2012.”
With the department’s budget finalized for this fiscal year, Chief DNR Warden Randy Stark says he is “pleased we’ll be able to continue filling some of our vacant warden positions. Considering the current economic conditions we feel very fortunate to be able to hire new wardens.

“It’s important to start the hiring process now so our new wardens will be ready to be placed in local communities around the state by the middle of 2013, after the recruits complete their first year of training,” Stark said. “There’s a lot of important work to do in the coming year recruiting, hiring and training quality candidates who will be the next generation of wardens charged with providing public safety and protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources.”

What does it take to be a Wisconsin Conservation Warden?
"We need men and women with integrity, strong verbal and written communication skills, and an interest in enforcing the regulations that make Wisconsin a healthy place to live and recreate,” DNR Training Director Waldera said.

But those aren’t the only criteria necessary to become a state conservation warden. Well-qualified candidates must meet high standards and be able to successfully withstand the scrutiny of a thorough background investigation.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license. In addition the minimum education standard is 120 academic college credits. However, candidates who have at least 60 credits can apply if they have worked at least 2 years as a certified law enforcement officer. “People who are interested in a warden position need to understand these are the minimum hiring standards,” Waldera said.

Besides the educational requirements, a clean background and an interest in protecting people and natural resources, candidates also must have solid interpersonal and communication skills needed to work with a wide variety of people from various cultures who use natural resources in a changing society.
“Much of a warden’s day-to-day work puts him or her in contact with people,” Waldera said. “Whether checking folks to see if they have the proper permits for certain outdoor activities, following up on a complaint or conducting a boating or snowmobile accident investigation, wardens must be skilled at putting people at ease, maintaining control of the situation and getting the job done professionally.”
The DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement’s mission statement calls for protecting, enhancing and promoting the safe and wise use of natural resources through enforcement, education and community-based wardening that guarantees fair and equal treatment.

“Conservation law enforcement is also about life long learning, being adaptable and having multi-cultural competence,” Waldera said. “There is a strong component of conflict resolution, a capacity to build community relationships and the determination to try and solve problems in our efforts to fulfill this mission.”
Application and examination materials are available online through Sept. 2, 2011. People without computer access may visit local public libraries or Wisconsin Job Service offices to access the application and examination through computers at those locations.

If you have questions about the hiring process, please contact Sherry Van Haren at the Bureau of Law Enforcement, 608-266-2174.