Employment Opportunities

Who We're Looking For

The Kansas Forest Service is always looking for energetic, enthusiastic, career-minded individuals who desire to work in an exciting and dynamic industry. Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.

To receive notifications for new job opportunities, please fill out our employment interest survey.

 

Student Workers

We often employ student workers for positions as Office Assistants, GIS Technicians or Conservation Tree Program Assistants. Please review the below materials for additional information.

• Conservation Tree Assistant Job Description
  • For the Conservation Tree or Office Assistant positions, please fill out our application here.
• Student Office Assistant Job Description
  • For the Student Office Assistant position, please fill out our application here.

 

Fuels Management Specialist

About This Role
As the Fuels Management Specialist, you will assist communities across Kansas assess and provide wildfire risk reduction strategies through fuels management, prescribed fire, and public education. You’ll work alongside community leaders, public agencies, conservation organizations, fire departments, and landowners to develop and implement projects to make Kansas communities and landscapes wildfire resilient.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Assist with outreach, planning and implementation of fuels reduction grants focused on communities and areas with high wildfire risk.
• Coordinate fuels management programs with communities, public agencies, NGOs, fire departments, and other partners across Kansas.
• Build relationships with communities and partners through field days, conferences, workshops and other outreach opportunities.
• Develop and implement fuels reduction projects on public and private lands, particularly in the Wildland Urban Interface or areas with high wildfire risk.
• Coordinate prescribed fire efforts with Kansas Forest Service and partner organizations across the state.
• Provide leadership for prescribed fire and fire prevention training workshops and educational events.
• Represent the Kansas Forest Service through public appearances, media interviews, and other opportunities to promote wildfire prevention and fuels management.
  
  This is an opportunity to combine sound land management while reducing wildfire risk and fuel loading on Kansas public and private lands. For additional information including position requirements, anticipated hiring pay range, and how to apply, please visit our job portal.

Forest Legacy Project Manager

About This Role
As the Forest Legacy Project Manager, you’ll play an important role in protecting and conserving privately owned forest lands across Kansas. You’ll work with landowners, conservation partners, and federal and state agencies to advance voluntary conservation projects through the Kansas Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Coordinate the acquisition of conservation easements and fee-title properties through
  the Forest Legacy Program.
• Develop and negotiate conservation easements, contracts, permits, and other land-use
  agreements.
• Review property appraisals, title information, and other documentation related to land
  transactions.
• Develop conservation easement documents, baseline documentation, maps, and
  project records.
• Build relationships with Kansas forest landowners and connect them with conservation
  programs and resources.
• Develop outreach materials and promote the Forest Legacy Program to landowners
  and partners.
• Coordinate field days, outreach events, and other opportunities to highlight successful
  conservation projects.

This is a unique opportunity to combine conservation, real estate, project coordination,
and landowner outreach while helping shape the future of Kansas’s privately owned
forests. This position is Hybrid and/or Remote eligible.

For additional information including position requirements, anticipated hiring pay range, and how to apply, please visit our job portal.

 

Accounting Specialist

About This Role

As an Accounting Specialist with the Kansas Forest Service, you’ll provide important financial and administrative support that helps our programs operate effectively across Kansas. You’ll work closely with program coordinators to track funding, support reporting, and ensure financial information is accurate and properly documented.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and performance reporting for Kansas Forest Service programs.
• Track and verify program funding, expenses, account balances, and other financial information.
• Review financial data and help ensure expenses are accurate and allowable under applicable policies and funding requirements.
• Track Kansas Forest Service vehicles and equipment, including expenses, mileage, maintenance, and related records.
• Assist with payment vouchers, deposits, accounting data entry, and expense reporting.
• Provide administrative support to KFS programs, including responding to phone calls and assisting visitors in connecting with the appropriate resources.
• Help prepare reports, presentations, and other materials that support the work of the Kansas Forest Service.

This is an opportunity to become a key resource for KFS programs while building knowledge of financial processes, grant funding, and the work of an agency serving Kansas communities and natural resources. This position is On-site at our state office in Manhattan, KS.

For additional information including position requirements, anticipated hiring pay range, and how to apply, please visit our job portal.

 

Fire Protection Specialist

The Fire Protection Specialist is an intermittent, on-call position with the Kansas Forest Service, designed for individuals with specialized skills in wildland fire and incident response. These highly trained professionals play a critical role in supporting incident management efforts both within Kansas and across the country. Fire Protection Specialists contribute to all facets of emergency and incident response, including wildfire suppression, prescribed fire, fire prevention, aviation support, public education, dispatch, and all-hazard response operations. In addition to technical skills, individuals in this role must demonstrate strong leadership, teamwork, and communication abilities.