Wildlife Officer Cadet

Job Description - Wildlife Officer Cadet - 12 Positions Located Throughout the State (250008NT)

Wildlife Officer Cadet - 12 Positions Located Throughout the State 

Organization: Natural Resources

Agency Contact Name and Information: hr@dnr.ohio.gov or 614-265-6808

Unposting Date: Jan 11, 2026, 11:59:00 PM

Primary Location: United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County

Other Locations: United States of America-OHIO-Summit County, United States of America-OHIO-Athens County, United States of America-OHIO-Hancock County, United States of America-OHIO-Greene County

Compensation: $25.44/hr

Schedule: Full-time

Work Hours: Hours may vary

Classified Indicator: Classified

Union: Unit 2

Primary Job Skill: Law Enforcement

Technical Skills: Criminology/Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Wildlife

Professional Skills: Building Trust, Customer Focus, Listening, Time Management, Verbal Communication

Agency Overview

Who we are:

Did you know Ohio operates 76 state parks, manages over 750,000 acres of diverse wildlife land and more than 2 million acres of water? That’s just the tip of the iceberg of what we do at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as we seek to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all!

Across our 12 divisions and support services, we employ office staff, law enforcement officers, geologists, biologists, engineers, attorneys, communicators, managers, and so much more. Whatever your passion, we likely have a position to fit it and pathways for advancement!

Working at ODNR is a special experience. Our employees are afforded opportunities to participate in public events at parks, nature preserves, wildlife areas, and annually at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair! We routinely have Lunch and Learn events at our Assembly Center which are streamed on Teams Live as are monthly updates with our Director.

Job Duties

We are seeking energetic, passionate people who are interested in wildlife conservation, law enforcement, and want to play a key role for the position of Wildlife Officer Cadet (12 positions) within the Division of Wildlife. To learn more about becoming a Wildlife Officer, including automatic disqualifiers, training requirements, & interview & selection procedures.

Upon successful completion of training, cadets are placed into a Wildlife Officer position starting at $29.87/hr (with multiple increases over 5.5 years of service, with an end salary of $39.62/hr), headquartered in an assigned county to be determined after hire.  Any applicant accepting an offer to this position will be required to physically reside in the assigned county.

What you will do…

Wildlife Officer Cadets receive extensive training to prepare them for a career as a Wildlife Officer.

• Attend an in-residence training academy for approximately 7 months to receive instruction on organization and function of agency and Division of Wildlife and law enforcement techniques (e.g., purpose and responsibility of wildlife officer; standards of ethics; law enforcement techniques; laws of arrest, court procedures; peace officer basic training instruction, firearms, all-terrain vehicle [ATV] and patrol truck operations, water survival, and related responsibilities); 
• Upon graduation, and successfully completing the Wildlife Officer Cadet Academy, Wildlife Officers have statewide authority to enforce wildlife regulations, protect ODNR lands and waters, and are the visible face of the division;
• State wildlife officers contact thousands of people in the field, perform fish and wildlife surveys, speak about conservation programs, and provide technical advice and instruction about wildlife management issues, hunting, fishing, and shooting sports;
• As state law enforcement officers, they contribute to public safety in their local areas and Ohio's great outdoors;
• Receives instruction and is tested on fish and wildlife management techniques (e.g., ecology; research; creel & bag checks; habitat management; specimen collection;
• Surveys and sampling techniques, fish and wildlife identification, public relations, hunter safety, first aid, self-defense and driving skills.

What’s in it for you…

• The starting pay for cadets in the academy is $25.44/hr without any prior state service. Effective July 1, 2026, the starting pay is $26.20/hr without any prior state service. 
• Upon successful completion and graduation from the academy, cadets are promoted to Wildlife Officers with a starting salary range of $62,130 up to $82,410/year (increases yearly after step 1), excluding supplements and overtime. Effective July 1, 2026, the starting salary range of $64,002 up to $84,885/year.
• Medical insurance within 30 days, including wellness incentives plus Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
• Employer paid dental, vision and life insurance coverage after one year of service.
• Additional benefits include: fitness pay, shift differential, uniform allowance, 22 days of paid military leave per year, vacation, sick and personal leave.
• Education benefits up to $5,000 annually for tuition, workshops and seminars.
• Members of the Law Enforcement Public Employees Retirement System.
• Advancement opportunities to investigator and administrative ranks.
• Additional duty opportunities such as instructor, field training officer, canine handler, and honor guard team member.
• Additional benefits can be found at www.totalrewards.ohio.gov

We are ready for you!

We’re glad you’re interested in pursuing a rewarding career with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources! Exploring and protecting the natural beauty of Ohio will prove to be the most enjoyable career opportunity you will ever find. To learn more about the Division of Wildlife, please visit the Division of Wildlife. 

** BOTH OHIO PEACE OFFICER CERTIFIED AND NON-CERTIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED **

Are you qualified?

• Associates degree or completion of undergraduate core program in certain areas
• Do you have 18 months training or 18 months experience in any of the following:
• A natural resource area (e.g., fish and/or wildlife management)
• Criminal justice/law enforcement (i.e., police/corrections officer/environmental law enforcement)
• Military (e.g., military police, security forces, investigative services, intelligence)
• Or, related fields to fish and/or wildlife management, criminal justice, environmental law enforcement
•  
• Must be able to pass fitness (push ups in 1 minute, sit ups in 1 minute, 1.5 miled timed run) and swim test (swim 100 yards in 5 minutes or less and tread water for a miniumum of 5 minutes)
• Vision requirements – Must have vision correctable to 20/20 binocular vision and moderate color vision is required
• Hearing requirements – Must have hearing correctable so as not to exceed 30 decibels of loss in each ear
• Valid driver's license
• Must be at least 21 years of age upon completing the Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Course (completion is tentatively scheduled for January 2027)
• Must be a U.S. Citizen