Seasonal Employment
In every season, the Department of Environmental Conservation has a need for temporary employees to supplement our permanent workforce. These seasonal employees are invaluable in meeting the mission of the agency. The majority of openings during the summer months are at our campgrounds in the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Forest Preserves. For the winter the seasonal hiring is largely at Belleayre Mountain. As diverse as the locations are, so are the positions and skills that are sought - a list of seasonal job titles is at the end of this page.
The hiring for most of these seasonal jobs is handled directly by the regional office which encompasses the geographic area where the position exists. In some situations the applications and filling of seasonal positions are handled by a program coordinator.
Employment Application Form (141 Kb PDF)
General Application Procedures
To apply for seasonal employment, you should submit an employment application and a resume to the DEC Regional Office that covers the geographic area where you are seeking to work. For certain locations, programs or titles, the application for seasonal employment does not go to the regional office. See the special application procedures listed below for exceptions.
Special Application Procedures
DEC Central Office - Albany
Most seasonal positions in the Central Office are clerical in nature but some are technical and require college course work in environmental, forest, biological, computer sciences or engineering. To apply for seasonal positions at our Central Office located at 625 Broadway, Albany, your application and resume should be sent to the attention of the Assistant Director of Personnel at the address indicated in the right hand column. Please indicate on the employment application that you are seeking Seasonal Employment in the space provided for "Posting Number" and in the space provided for "Position applied for:" indicate if you are seeking clerical or technical seasonal employment. Applications for consideration in filling summer 2010 positions should be received between January 1 - February 28, 2010. Applicants will be informed by the end of May if they are being offered a position.
Belleayre Mountain Employment:
Belleayre Mountain offers year-round recreation including an interactive nature center, summer concerts and beach to winter skiing and snowboarding. Typical titles of seasonal employees include: park and recreation aides, ski lift operators, ski patrol, clerks, heavy equipment operators and lifeguards. At the peak of the winter season, the mountain employs hundreds of seasonal workers. For information on current openings and how to apply go to: Belleayre Job Openings Website listed in the right column of this page.
Environmental Education Camps:
Youth camps are operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation from June to August and employ temporary workers including: camp directors, counselors, cooks, food service workers and medical staff. For more information on the camps and requirements for the various positions go to Employment at Education Camps.
Assistant Forest Ranger:
Seasonal positions in this title help in preserving, protecting and the enhancement of the natural resources on State lands during periods of increased use to maintain the safety and well being of the public. Assistant Forest Rangers typically work from Mid-May to late summer. Applications are accepted each year from January 1 to the end of February for this title. For further information on the duties and minimum qualifications, as well as where to send applications, go to Assistant Forest Ranger.
Lifeguards
Lifeguards are hired for our campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill regions. Testing for these positions usually start in January and may continue until early June. For more information on being a lifeguard, go to Lifeguard Test.
Diversity Recruitment
In an effort to increase ethnic diversity among the employees of the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Affirmative Action Office requests that minority applicants for positions send a copy of their resume and employment application to:
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233-5064
Attn: Minority Recruitment
or Fax your resume and application to: 518 402-9230
or Email as attachments to: decprsnl@gw.dec.state.ny.us and in the subject line indicated Diversity Recruitment
Please indicate the geographic locations(s) where you are seeking employment and the dates that you are/will be available for employment.
Foreign Workers and Students
The Department of Environmental Conservation does not sponsor foreign workers whose temporary employment would require the employer to complete forms such as USCIS Form I-129 or to offer a contract. This would typically include foreign students not enrolled in a United States educational program. Foreign students studying in the United States with appropriate employment authorization and a Social Security Card may apply for temporary or seasonal employment and paid internships.
More about Seasonal Employment:
- Minimum Qualifications for Seasonal Titles - Listing of seasonal titles with minimum qualifications.
- Employment Opportunities in Summer Recreation - Employment Opportunities at NYSDEC Campgrounds: DEC Summer Recreation lifeguard and interpretive positions.
