IA DNR: DNR Employment Opportunities

Name: Alison
Field: Environmental Specialist
Location: Atlantic

Alison collects water samples to determine the type of pollutant found in a stream.

"I love working for the DNR, because I believe in what I do," says Alison Manz. "I feel good about myself because I genuinely feel that my work makes a difference, either in the environment or in helping people take care of our natural resources.

"I have a lot of responsibility because many people depend on the job my co-workers and I do. I have to be knowledgeable and confident when I am in the field. I have to be dependable with a really good work ethic to handle that responsibility," she said.

Alison works primarily with animal feeding operations, wastewater treatment plants, controlled burns, storm water and solid waste/open burning sites. She does site inspections and reviews plans and reports. A typical day might include a site inspection at a livestock farm or at a wastewater treatment plant to see that state regulations are followed and that water quality and downhill areas are protected.

One week out of every seven, Alison is on call for the DNR's emergency response. On call 24/7, she responds to fish kills and emergency spills of fuels, chemicals, manure and other substances. Her job is to help the responsible parties get the spill contained, clean up the product and limit the damage to the waters of the state. DNR field office staff use many techniques to track down the cause of a spill or fish kill. Alison used a smoke machine to identify the location of a county tile line, so she could determine a pollutant's source.

Sometimes she becomes a detective, investigating the source of a spill or the pollutant that caused a fish kill. "That's the challenging part of my job," she says.

"This is a great job. I cover 19 counties and set my own inspection schedule. This job can accommodate people with families," she said. "When I am out in the field, I meet somebody new every day. We have a casual, but professional work atmosphere - so I don't have to dress up. Most important, I work outside, not at a desk.

"I feel blessed to have a job like this because when I wake up in the morning I look forward to another challenging and satisfying day."

Alison has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Iowa State University and has worked for the DNR for seven years.