Program Manager - Forestry Assistance Bureau Chief

State of Montana • Missoula, MT

16h

About The Position

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.
The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Core Values:
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.
We value and respect each other.
We create collaborative work environments.
We build and maintain strong relationships.
We practice accountability.
We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work
Job Overview:
The Forestry Assistance Bureau Chief is responsible for developing and administering statewide services to communities and private landowners to promote sustainable forests and watersheds, and for managing bureau budgets, policies, staff and administrative systems to effectively support operations. The position reports to the State Forester/Forestry Division Administrator and manages approximately 17 FTE in the Forest Practices, Nursery, and Forest Stewardship Sections.

Requirements

• The position requires education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in natural resource management, business or public administration, environmental or life science or a related field and seven (7) years progressively responsible experience including managerial experience.
• Requires knowledge of the concepts and theories of business and public administration, resource management, and program and personnel management. This includes knowledge of contract administration and law; economic issues related to forest products; supervisory practices; grant administration; policy and administrative rule development; public relations and outreach; governmental accounting and budgeting; financial management; and the science and politics of natural resource management
• Requires skill in administering multiple projects, verbal and written communication, negotiation and conflict management, the use of personal computers and business-related software, public speaking, communicating both verbally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals in an effective manner, and in organizing and delivering reports.
• Requires the ability to plan, organize, and direct short and long-term program activities; apply analysis and judgment in arriving at solutions to unusual and unprecedented forest management problems; interpret and apply legislative intent, executive directives, federal and state regulations, and court decisions; and to exercise professional judgment to arrive at timely decisions in complex situations.
• 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.
• In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card"

Responsibilities

• Develop and administer statewide forestry assistance programs and policies to direct the provision of technical assistance to communities and private landowners and to promote sustainable forests and watersheds.
• Develop strategic goals and objectives to implement forestry assistance programs and initiatives in accordance with executive and legislative intent.
• Develop policies and rules to guide program operations and ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal law.
• Direct and perform public relations, outreach, and education to inform interested parties of forestry assistance and restoration project initiatives, generate support for forestry assistance objectives and projects, and disseminate information through the media, community groups, and other outlets.
• Manage Forestry Assistance Bureau budgets, policies, equipment and administrative systems to effectively support program operations in compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
• Plan and direct the bureau's Executive Planning Process and Legislative Budget request to ensure adequate funding for operations including the personal services, operations, and capital budgets.
• Manage the bureau budget to ensure financial operations adhere to allocations, program plans, and statutory authorities.
• Oversee cost-share, grant, partnership and other funding programs to provide funding and grants for stewardship, fuel reduction, and other forest management services and objectives.
• Manage the staff of the Forestry Assistance Bureau including the Forest Practices, Nursery, and Forest Stewardship Sections.
• Determine the organizational structure of the Forestry Assistance Bureau including subordinate reporting relationships, work operations, staff assignments and workflows, and initiate adjustments to reflect changes in overall division objectives, operations, and relationships with other organizational units. Establish and manage personnel service budgets and staffing for Bureau programs.
• Determine training needs of staff through input from subordinates, analysis of program effectiveness, new technology and policies, and staff performance. Oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of training for bureau staff. Ensure consistency in the application of training opportunities for all staff.

Benefits

• Work/life balance
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• A vibrant Employee Assistance Program
• State of Montana employment may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

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