Division Administrator - CARDD

State of Montana • Helena, MT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position will be posted On-going. First Review Date is October 19, 2026. We are seeking a proven executive to serve as the Division Administrator for the Conservation and Resource Development Division (CARDD). The Division Administrator provides executive leadership and overall management of the division. The administrator sets strategic direction; oversees statewide programs, budgets, and staff; develops and implements policy; and represents DNRC with the Legislature, executive branch, governmental partners, stakeholders, media, and the public. This position reports to the DNRC Director and oversees a division of approximately 57 employees.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in natural-resource management, public administration, business administration, finance, economics, environmental policy, or a closely related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible experience in natural-resource program administration, public administration, finance, governmental affairs, infrastructure or resource development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff, complex programs, budgets, policy development, and relationships with governmental and nongovernmental partners.
• Fingerprint and background check
• Valid driver's license.
• Frequent travel is required to attend meetings, conferences, and events as a representative of the Department.
• 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.
• Knowledge of organization and management principles, including leading complex, multi‑disciplinary programs and teams.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles, personnel management, and organizational leadership.
• Knowledge of government operations, public administration, and intergovernmental coordination.
• Knowledge of budgeting, finance, and adapting budgets to changing resource levels.
• Skill in strategic planning, policy development, and translating legislative intent into practical programs and procedures.
• Skill in explaining complex technical and policy issues to diverse audiences.
• Skill in public speaking, stakeholder facilitation, and negotiation.
• Ability to represent the Department and the State of Montana effectively and credibly in legislative and public meetings/hearings.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with staff, leadership, legislators, tribes, federal partners, stakeholders, and the public.
• Ability to lead a division through changes and evolving demands.
• Ability to manage sensitive or contentious issues with fairness, professionalism, and diplomacy.
• Ability to balance competing demands and priorities under deadlines.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, anticipate obstacles, evaluate options, and make sound, well‑supported decisions in high‑visibility environments.
• Ability to communicate with DNRC leadership, Division leadership, and staff.
• Ability to build cooperative relationships with partners.

Nice To Haves

• 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, and high proficiency in organizational awareness, conflict management, negotiation, and energizing others.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication.
• Knowledge of water law, hydrology, and water policy in the Western U.S. is desirable.
• Senior-level experience working with elected or appointed officials is preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Provides executive leadership and overall management of the division.
• Sets strategic direction.
• Oversees statewide programs, budgets, and staff.
• Develops and implements policy.
• Represents DNRC with the Legislature, executive branch, governmental partners, stakeholders, media, and the public.
• Supervising senior leaders.
• Presenting budgets, legislation, or policy proposals to elected bodies, governing boards, or oversight agencies.
• Navigating the legislative process.
• 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.
• Building and sustaining effective working relationships with staff at every level and with external partners such as elected officials, county commissioners, and tribal leadership.
• Planning, prioritizing, and goal setting.
• Organizational awareness, conflict management, negotiation, and energizing others.
• Oral and written communication.
• Leading complex, multi‑disciplinary teams and managing change in high‑visibility environments.
• Translating legislative intent into practical programs and procedures.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with legislators, tribes, federal partners, local governments, water users, and other stakeholders.
• Public speaking, stakeholder facilitation, negotiation, and clear, accessible writing on technical topics.
• Representing the Department and the State of Montana effectively and credibly in legislative and public meetings/hearings.
• Leading a division through changes and evolving demands.
• Managing sensitive or contentious issues with fairness, professionalism, and diplomacy.
• Balancing competing demands and priorities under deadlines.
• Analyzing complex problems, anticipating obstacles, evaluating options, and making sound, well‑supported decisions in high‑visibility environments.
• Communicating with DNRC leadership, Division leadership, and staff.
• Building cooperative relationships with partners.

Benefits

• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays). Vacation leave increases with years of 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 457b Plan).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.
• Longevity pay with continued state service.

What This Job Offers

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