DNR reports wave of retirements, high applicant interest as agency rebuilds staff
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Summary
Department of Natural Resources officials told commissioners they lost more than 100 years of institutional experience through recent retirements and promotions but are seeing strong applicant pools and several new hires to fill key roles.
Department of Natural Resources staff told Clallam County commissioners that the agency has experienced several recent retirements and promotions — including a center unit forester and a district forester — that together accounted for more than a century of experience leaving the region. A DNR speaker said the agency’s biologist retired in April and others followed through June, and that the loss amounted to “well over 70 years” from two retirements and more than 100 years cumulatively across roles.
The agency said hiring interest has rebounded since the COVID period: more than 40 applicants applied for one biology vacancy, around 20–22 applied for an engineering position recently closed, and more than 100 applied for a newly created ecologist/scientist position. The DNR representative said many applicants are coming from federal agencies and that new hires include a geologist who started August 1 and a scientist expected to start September 2.
DNR staff described an internship pipeline that has converted interns into permanent engineers and foresters, and they said the new recruits are generally “hitting the ground running.” The agency reported active recruitment for a Straits District manager with interviews scheduled and expected mid-month hiring.
No formal county action was taken. Commissioners thanked the agency for recruiting locally and noted the pace of hiring is improving capacity to get sales and field work completed.
Ending: DNR staff said they expect training curves but reported optimism that the recent hires and an active applicant pool will rebuild capacity lost to retirements and internal promotions.