CONSERVATION POLICE SERGEANT

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

$115K — $170K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in law enforcement, social justice, social sciences, or related conservation field; equivalent training or experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
  • Completion of an approved training program, including the Illinois Basic Police Training Program.
  • Three years of law enforcement experience as a Conservation Police Officer.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a supervising peace officer overseeing district personnel and operations.
  • Manage district administrative tasks, including records and field inspections.
  • Direct investigations related to conservation complaints and ensure proper prosecution.
  • Review pending prosecutions linked to conservation activities within the district.
  • Promote public relations and community engagement through material distribution.
  • Develop and oversee the annual operational plan for the district.
  • Enforce Illinois and federal conservation laws and regulations.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance.
  • Retirement plan and deferred compensation opportunities.
  • Paid state holidays and additional time off.
  • Access to pre-tax benefit programs.
  • Potential for dynamic work environment split between indoor and outdoor tasks.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID: 58596 Opening Date: 09/09/2026Closing Date: 09/23/2026Agency: Department of Natural ResourcesClass Title: CONSERVATION POLICE SERGEANT - 09347 Skill Option: None Bilingual Option: NoneSalary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $9,644 monthly; Full Range: $9,644 - $14,190 monthlyJob Type: SalariedCategory: Full TimeNumber of Vacancies: 1Bargaining Unit Code: RC104 Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor CouncilMerit Comp Code:
Work Hours: Varies
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: Not available, fully in officeHeadquarter Location: 15588 History Ln, Petersburg, Illinois, 62675Work County: MenardAgency Contact:

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Please upload a copy of your official/unofficial transcripts for all degrees earned and a copy of any applicable professional licenses you possess to MY DOCUMENTS section of your application.

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking to hire a Conservation Police Sergeant for District 10. This position serves as a supervising sworn peace officer, directs personnel, serves as liaison with county, state, and US District Attorneys, and assists in coordinating law enforcement efforts between state and federal agencies. We welcome interested applicants who would like to be part of this team to apply today.

Essential Functions

  • Under direction, serves as a supervising sworn statutory peace officer
  • Oversees district administrative work, records, and field inspections
  • Directs district personnel in the investigation of complaints
  • Monitors and reviews all pending prosecutions related to conservation efforts within the District
  • Provides public relations material to various organizations
  • Develops and manages the administrative District's annual plan of work
  • Enforces all Illinois Complied Statues, including federal laws
  • As designated, serves as acting regional commander in the absence of higher level manager, assuming responsibility for the daily management of the region or program
  • Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above


Minimum Qualifications

  • Requires knowledge, skill, mental development equivalent to completion of a bachelor's degree, preferably with major coursework in either law enforcement, social justice, or the social sciences, or in a related conservation field such as forestry or natural resource management, biological and physical sciences; Equivalent training or related experience as a law enforcement officer or related technical conservation resource/public lands management experience may be substitued on a year-for-year basis
  • Requires successful completion of an approved training program such as the Illinois Conservation Police Training Program which includes successful completion of the Illinois Basic Police Training Program
  • Requires three years' law enforcement experience as a Conservation Police Officer


Preferred Qualifications

  • Working knowledge of outdoor recreational and commercial equipment used for fishing, trapping, hunting, boating and snowmobiling
  • Working knowledge of outdoor recreational participant's habits, methods, and techniques relative to various state and federal conservation laws
  • Two (2) years of experience with investigations, arrests, confiscation and handling of evidence, and prosecution procedures
  • Two (2) years of experience in supervisory techniques and practices
  • Two (2) years of experience enforcing all applicable Illinois Revised Statues, federal and administrative laws
  • Two (2) years of experience promoting safety education programs and other divisional programs and services at a district level


Employment Conditions

  • Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history
  • Requires appropriate, valid Driver's license
  • Ability to travel and work overtime as needed
  • Ability to demonstrate continued physical proficiency
  • Ability to demonstrate continued firearms qualifications
  • Ability to continue departmental professional training
  • Ability to swim
  • Ability to work under adverse tactical conditions, exposed to outdoor temperature extremes and inclement weather
  • Ability to effect physical arrests
  • Must reside in District 10. District 10 includes the following counties: Cass, Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan, and Sangamon.


Agency and Division Statements

Agency Statement
Charged with preserving, protecting and promoting Illinois' natural and cultural resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) employees oversee water, wildlife, wetlands and oil wells, parks, historic sites - and everything in between. Employment opportunities vary greatly, often providing employees the chance to work indoors and out in a dynamic yet relaxed environment. Working for the State of Illinois, IDNR employees receive excellent benefits, including, vision health and dental insurance; a retirement plan and deferred compensation options; state holidays and other time off; as well as pre-tax benefit programs.

Office of Law Enforcement

The Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) supports the Department's programs designed to protect Illinois' natural and recreational resources through enforcement of those portions of the Illinois Compiled Statutes enacted for that purpose. Conservation Police Officers are vested with full state-wide police authority and are trained to the highest standards for law enforcement professionals in Illinois.

In addition to these enforcement responsibilities, Conservation Police Officers serve as an important link between the Department and its various constituencies (civic groups, sportsmen's groups, sport shows, etc.). These officers are called upon to assist outside agencies in emergency situations or rescue operations. They participate in the instruction of conservation related statutes to outside agencies, law enforcement organizations, or educational institutions upon request.

This position [DOES NOT] contain "Specialized Skills" (as that term is used in CBAs).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the "Apply" button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees - a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.

Non-State employees should log in on the using the "View Profile" link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com - click "Application Procedures" in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your "junk mail", "spam", or "other" folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

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