Deputy Director

State of Montana • Helena, MT

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Few positions in Montana state government touch more of what makes Montana, Montana. The Deputy Director of The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation helps lead the agency responsible for the state’s land, water, forests, and wildland fire protection — 5.2 million surface acres of state trust land, water rights administration statewide, and a network of 35 field offices serving communities in every corner of the state. The work carries substantial economic impact and generational consequence: DNRC’s mission is to help ensure Montana’s land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. We are seeking a proven executive to serve as the Department’s second-in-command — a leader of leaders who can run day-to-day operations of a complex, geographically distributed organization while advising the Director on the issues that shape Montana’s natural resource future. The Deputy Director is the principal advisor to the Director and has primary responsibility for the Department’s day-to-day operations. The Deputy assists with planning, administration, personnel management, budget development, communications, and establishing goals and direction for the Department; serves as Acting Director in the Director’s absence; and acts on behalf of the Director at internal and external meetings, before the Legislature, and with federal, tribal, and local partners. A typical day may involve solving complex natural resource management issues with substantial economic impacts; resolving constituent conflicts or complaints; state personnel policy and pay decisions; long-range program and fiscal strategy; internal and external communication; and management of substantial real estate, physical infrastructure, and agency liability. The Deputy regularly resolves competing demands between divisions, allocates agency resources, interprets and enforces agency policy, and responds to the Governor’s Office, constituent groups, state legislators, Montana’s congressional delegation, and state, federal, and tribal partners.

Requirements

• A track record of leading operations across a large, complex, or geographically distributed organization, including supervising senior leaders.
• Experience presenting budgets, legislation, or policy proposals to elected bodies, governing boards, or oversight agencies, as well as navigating the legislative process.
• A history of successfully managing high-stakes issues to resolution with a high degree of integrity, including issues where stakeholders hold polarized views of what constitutes reasonable use of land and water.
• The ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with staff at every level and with external partners such as elected officials, county commissioners, and tribal leadership.
• Advanced skill in planning, prioritizing, and goal setting.
• High proficiency in organizational awareness, conflict management, negotiation, and energizing others.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Five years of dedicated job-related experience.
• Three years of senior-level management experience.
• Other combinations of directly related education and experience may be substituted.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
• A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.
• Fingerprint and background check.
• Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with tribal, local, state, and federal governments, and with nonprofit and interest groups, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal advisor to the Director.
• Have primary responsibility for the Department’s day-to-day operations.
• Assist with planning, administration, personnel management, budget development, communications, and establishing goals and direction for the Department.
• Serve as Acting Director in the Director’s absence.
• Act on behalf of the Director at internal and external meetings, before the Legislature, and with federal, tribal, and local partners.
• Solve complex natural resource management issues with substantial economic impacts.
• Resolve constituent conflicts or complaints.
• Make state personnel policy and pay decisions.
• Develop long-range program and fiscal strategy.
• Manage internal and external communication.
• Manage substantial real estate, physical infrastructure, and agency liability.
• Resolve competing demands between divisions.
• Allocate agency resources.
• Interpret and enforce agency policy.
• Respond to the Governor’s Office, constituent groups, state legislators, Montana’s congressional delegation, and state, federal, and tribal partners.
• Coordinate the Department’s biennial budget preparation and legislative proposals with the Governor’s Office and division administrators.
• Represent the Department at hearings and committee meetings.
• Support five divisions and 35 field offices spanning trust land management, forestry and fire protection, water resources, conservation, and oil and gas conservation.
• Identify operational efficiencies, including opportunities in fiscal management to create transparency and sound budget management practices for an annual budget of more than $100 million.
• Directly supervise the Chief Financial Officer, Communications Director, Safety Manager, Geographic Information System (GIS) Manager, two Administrative Law Judges, and a Legal Secretary.
• Indirectly supervise the agency's Human Resources Officer, providing oversight of administrative, technical, and professional work performed across the Department.

Benefits

• Work/life balance.
• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.
• Longevity pay with continued state service.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
• Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.
• Retirement plans (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.
• Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.
• Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive