Seasonal and Contract Opportunities
MDIFW hires temporary and contract staff to help support fisheries and wildlife management projects across the state. Read on to learn how to find full-time, seasonal, and contract positions, and what the roles might entail.
On this page:
Current Opportunities + How to Apply
If you hold an applicable undergraduate degree and/or experience, and are seeking full-time, permanent opportunities within MDIFW, or are seeking positions within please visit the Employment Opportunities page to apply for open positions.
If you are seeking temporary or contract opportunities within the MDIFW Fisheries and Hatcheries or Wildlife Divisions, please read below to learn about potential opportunities and how to apply.
If there are no open temporary or contract positions available in the Fisheries and Hatcheries or Wildlife Divisions, please complete the MDIFW Skills/Interests Form for Temporary/Contractual Jobs and upload your resume. Resumes will be periodically reviewed based on need. If a staff member feels you may be a good fit for an upcoming opportunity, they will contact you.
For more information on a career with the Maine Warden Service, please visit mainegamewarden.com/gethired
Fisheries & Hatcheries Division
Complete the MDIFW Skills/Interests Form for Temporary/Contractual Jobs
Seasonal or Contract Opportunities
Hatcheries
The Hatcheries Division has three reoccurring formal full-time Seasonal Fish Culturist positions, which are entry level openings that can lead to year-round opportunities. These permanent seasonal positions are 30 weeks in duration which typically run from late April to mid-November. They are located at the following locations: Enfield, New Gloucester, and Casco. Individuals in these positions perform technical services work while participating in all duties associated in the operation of a complex facility that specializes in the propagation of salmonids.
Responsibilities include all aspects of fish husbandry, fish transport, and maintenance of the hatchery facility and equipment. The employee must be able to work in diverse physical work environments, often in adverse weather conditions. Some weekend and holiday work is required. The minimum qualifications are a one (1) year combination of training, education, and/or experience in aquaculture or fisheries science (preferably with salmonids). Any direct hire seasonal openings as well as any other openings for our culture staff will be posted on the Employment Opportunities section of the MDIFW website.
Department Field Offices
The Fisheries Management Section occasionally hires seasonal Field Assistants to work under the supervision of MDIFW Fishery Biologists in performing lake and stream fishery assessments, habitat monitoring, and fishery research projects. Typical activities include collection of biological data from various fish species, determination of abundance through a variety of capture methods, collection of field habitat data, equipment maintenance and repair, data entry, as well as other project specific activities to complete management and research objectives. This work may be performed under difficult field conditions and in all types of weather. Occasional operation of small watercraft, on road, and off-road vehicles may be necessary. Staffing needs are dependent upon current projects and work plans within each Management Region and therefore can vary from year to year and region to region. To learn more about seasonal/temporary work opportunities within one of the Fisheries Management Regions, please contact the regional biologist. Regional contact information can be found here.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Hatcheries Section occasionally recruits volunteers to work under the supervision of fish culture staff to assist in performing activities related to fish stocking, fish husbandry, fish spawning, facility maintenance, water quality monitoring, and/or hatchery research projects. To learn more about volunteer work opportunities at one of our fish culture facilities, please contact our hatchery managers directly. Hatchery contact information can be found here.
Wildlife Division
Complete the MDIFW Skills/Interests Form for Temporary/Contractual Jobs
Seasonal or Contract Opportunities
The Wildlife Division has opportunities throughout the year that require contracted field assistants to help accomplish wildlife assessments and monitoring. Typical activities include the collection of biological data, determination of abundance through a variety of capture methods, collection of field habitat data, equipment maintenance and repair, data entry, and more. This work may be performed under difficult field conditions and in all types of weather. Applicants should be comfortable using ATVs, snowmobiles, and other vehicles. Staffing needs are dependent upon current projects.
Temporary or contract opportunities within the MDIFW Wildlife Division can be found on the Texas A&M’s Natural Resources Job Board or The Wildlife Society’s Job Board. If there are no current opportunities posted, please complete the MDIFW Skills/Interests Form for Temporary/Contractual Jobs and upload your resume.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in partnership with Wildlife Management Institute occasionally offers opportunities for limited-term positions with the Wildlife Division.
Current opportunities:
Field Biologist – Game Section (PDF)
Salary: $51,863 – $69,617
Location: Augusta or Bangor, Maine
Closing Date: 12/16/2024
Volunteer Opportunities
Over the years, MDIFW has developed several ways for people of all ages and skill to volunteer their time to a number of monitoring projects in the state of Maine. Whether your interest is in birds, mammals, or amphibians and reptiles, we have opportunities for you to contribute to several comprehensive studies that assist wildlife biologists in monitoring wildlife populations through our Community Science Projects.
Volunteer Opportunities
Shooting Range Volunteer Opportunities
If you are someone who is interested in volunteering their time to monitor shooting activity at one of the state owned shooting ranges, view opportunities on MDIFW’s Maine Shooting Ranges.
Recreational Safety Volunteer Opportunities
Are you an avid outdoors person? Do you like to teach or mentor others in outdoor pursuits?
We are seeking outdoor enthusiasts that would like to join our growing team of volunteer instructors.
The Recreational Safety unit leads safety courses in 7 disciplines: Hunter Safety, Bowhunter, Crossbow, Trapping, ATV, Boating, and Snowmobile, as well as other educational programs. Our certified volunteer instructors meet state and international standards and provide valuable information and training experiences to new outdoor users.
To become a certified volunteer instructor, an individual must:
- Successfully complete the basic course as a student in the discipline they’d like to lead
- Be at least 18 years old with a clean record.
- Complete an instructor training course or workshop (may include shadowing an instructor)
- Complete the appropriate volunteer application and written exam.
For more information, please contact the Recreational Safety Division at (207) 287-5220 or email the Recreational Safety Supervisor at ronald.fournier@maine.gov