Natural Resource Manager 3 - Section Chief, Public Access Assertion & Defense (PCN 10-1856)

State of Alaska • Anchorage, AK

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land & Water, is recruiting a Section Chief for the Public Access Assertion and Defense (PAAD) Section in Anchorage. The position is open to Alaska residents only. The Section Chief leads statewide policy and strategy to assert and defend Alaska’s ownership of navigable waters, submerged lands, RS 2477 rights-of-way, and other critical easements. The role manages complex litigation, administrative actions, and high-level negotiations with federal agencies, Native Corporations, landowners, and the public to advance and protect state public-access interests.

The position oversees PAAD personnel, budgets, interdisciplinary project teams, and public-access initiatives, including the Unlocking Alaska Initiative. It provides expert analysis, presentations, and policy recommendations to Division leadership, the DNR Commissioner, and the Governor on public-access issues. The Section Chief also leads fieldwork and resolves complex, controversial access disputes to secure outcomes important to the state’s long-term stewardship and transportation corridors.

PAAD safeguards Alaskans’ access to the state’s lands and waters. Its work is guided by creativity, resilience, integrity, and public service. The role offers leadership of a diverse team of experts and professionals and high-profile projects advancing state public-access priorities. Fieldwork may take place in remote areas of Alaska. The position is based in the Anchorage office on the 10th floor of the Atwood Building, in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, and involves frequent interaction with state and federal officials, outside experts, attorneys, user groups, Native Corporations, and the public.

The position requires travel within Alaska, including occasional overnight or multi-day travel to remote areas during summer months. Applicants are evaluated using competency-based minimum qualifications. The competencies may be gained through education in a natural resource field, law, public administration, planning, or economics, and/or progressively responsible professional or managerial experience in natural resource management. Interviewees must bring a resume with complete job history, three professional references (including a current or former supervisor), two recent performance evaluations or two reference letters if evaluations are unavailable, and a writing sample demonstrating clear, well-reasoned analysis from legal and scientific sources for leadership on complex issues.

Requirements

• Competencies in administration and management, including planning, coordination, business functions, resource allocation, and production.
• Competencies in environmental science and interdisciplinary concepts and methods for investigating the natural and physical environment and protecting and improving its resources.
• Competencies in influencing and negotiating, including persuading others, building consensus, gaining cooperation, and accomplishing goals.
• Competencies in project management, including developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources and monitoring costs, work, and contractor performance.
• Competencies in vision, including understanding organizational direction, taking a long-term view, and identifying opportunities to advance objectives.
• Competencies may be gained through education in a natural resource field, law, public administration, planning, or economics, and/or progressively responsible professional or managerial experience in natural resource management.
• Applicants must support their demonstrated competencies through their application materials, including work history, volunteer experience, training, education, licenses, or certifications.
• Must be an Alaska resident.
• Must be willing to travel within Alaska, including occasional overnight or multi-day travel to remote areas during summer months.
• Interviewees must provide a resume with complete job history, three professional references (one current or former supervisor), two performance evaluations or two reference letters, and a writing sample analyzing legal and scientific sources.

Nice To Haves

• Position-specific competencies include effective oral and written communication, creative thinking, and knowledge of law, government, and jurisprudence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Public Access Assertion and Defense Section and direct statewide policy and strategy to assert and defend Alaska’s ownership of navigable waters, submerged lands, RS 2477 rights-of-way, and other critical easements.
• Manage complex litigation, administrative actions, and high-level negotiations with federal agencies, Native Corporations, landowners, and the public.
• Oversee PAAD personnel, budgets, interdisciplinary project teams, and public-access initiatives, including the Unlocking Alaska Initiative.
• Provide expert analysis, presentations, and policy recommendations to DMLW leadership, the DNR Commissioner, and the Governor.
• Lead fieldwork efforts and resolve complex, controversial access disputes.
• Coordinate and execute public-access work to support the state’s long-term stewardship and transportation corridors.

Benefits

• Opportunity to lead and work with a diverse group of experts and professionals from fields including law, history and archeology, hydrology, geomorphology, surveying, and mapping.
• Opportunity to lead high-profile and substantive projects advancing state strategic public-access priorities.
• Opportunity to lead and participate in remote fieldwork in Alaska.
• Leadership of an elite team within the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land & Water.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed