Program Manager Senior III

State of Maryland•Anne Arundel, MD

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as Director of Fishing and Boating Service (Unit) and is responsible for the overall leadership, management and direction of the Unit. The mission of the Fishing and Boating Service’s unit to sustainably and safely manage Maryland’s aquatic natural resources and waterways for the benefit of present and future generations. This mission is accomplished by (1) developing management frameworks for the conservation and equitable use of fishery resources; (2) managing fisheries in balance with the ecosystem using best available science; (3) monitoring and assessing the status and trends of fisheries resources; (4) providing high quality, diverse, accessible fishing opportunities; and (5) fostering boating safety through the removal of in-water hazards and by marking dangers. The Fishing and Boating Services Director oversees the overall workplan necessary to meet the Unit’s mission all while ensuring sound fiscal management of a $40 million operating budget and leading a staff of approximately 200 FTEs and 40 seasonal employees. The Director leads this work through five Divisions: (1) Tidal and Coastal Management and Science, (2) Shellfish and Aquaculture, (3) Freshwater, Hatcheries and Fisheries Ecosystem Assessment and Health Services, (4) Boating Services, and (5) Unit Operations; which are each led by an Associate Director. This position has broad delegated authority from the Secretary to carry out the Unit’s responsibilities. This position works closely with the Office of the Secretary in communicating the necessary strategies and policy objectives necessary to achieve management goals. The incumbent is the Department’s chief spokesperson on Fisheries science, management, aquaculture and marketing issues and represents the State, the Department, and the Unit on intrastate, interstate, federal and international governmental commissions, committees, task forces and work groups. The incumbent interacts regularly with high-level federal officials (NOAA, DOI, USACOE, EPA, FDA, USDA), Maryland congressional representatives and staff, State and local agency leaders, academic experts, members of the State legislature, local elected officials, members of the fishing business community (i.e. fishing tackle and bait shops, charter boat industry (fishing guides), commercial fishermen, seafood dealers, and aquaculturists), environmental advocacy and other special interest groups, news media and the general public. The Fishing and Boating Service is responsible for facilitating, building consensus and informed consent, and making sound scientific decisions consistent with state, federal and international agreements while balancing the diverse and competing interests of 645,000 sports fishermen, 5,800 commercial fishermen, 360 fishing guides, 340 aquaculture businesses, numerous tackle 2 and bait shops and seafood dealers, and those citizens that don’t fish but value sustainable fisheries in Maryland. These decisions not only impact social and cultural values of Maryland’s citizenry, but also Maryland jobs and economy as these fisheries generate an estimated $2 billion annually.

Requirements

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Ecology, Natural Resources, Coastal or Environmental Policy, Natural Resource Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, or other environmental related field.
Experience: Ten (10) years of experience in aquatic natural resource management
Seven (7) years of this experience must be in the supervision of employees engaged in the management of aquatic resources that are managed for harvest, restoration and have direct economic impacts to the region through resource-dependent business.
Candidates may substitute a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Ecology, Natural Resources, Coastal or Environmental Policy, Natural Resource Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, or other environmental related field for the required general experience at the rate of two years of the required general experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and directing statewide natural resource management programs that includes coordination with internal programs and federal, state, local, non-profit and private sector interests.
Experience facilitating, building consensus and informed consent, and making sound scientific decisions to implement natural resource management policies.
Experience interacting regularly with local and federal agencies, other DNR and state agency staff and leaders, members of the General Assembly and Federal Congressional representatives.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategic plans, budgets and policies under the direction of administrative and legislative guidelines to advance fisheries related initiatives.
Represent the Department in facilitating, developing, building consensus and informed consent, and implementing regional, national and international fisheries management, habitat conservation, aquaculture and marketing policies and related coordination activities with other jurisdictions including, but not limited to: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAANMFS Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICAAT), Potomac River Fisheries Commission and EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team.
Oversee the development of the Unit’s operating and capital budget as well as several federal grant programs to ensure that the resources are used to their utmost capacity to advance the priority resource management issues of the state.
Represent the Department’s fisheries management, habitat conservation, aquaculture and marketing interests in interactions with Maryland’s sports fishermen, commercial fishermen, fishing guides, aqua culturists, tackle and baits hop businesses, seafood dealers, environmental advocacy groups, general public and news media.
Provide leadership and direction to Maryland’s 5 fishery advisory bodies including: Sports Fisheries Advisory Commission, Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission, Oyster Advisory Commission, Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission, and the Aquaculture Coordination Council.
Represent the Department’s fisheries management, habitat conservation, aquaculture and marketing interests with Maryland’s congressional representatives and staff, and State legislature.
Represent Fisheries Service interests to the Department’s Natural Resources Police to ensure and improve enforceability of fishing rules and develop strategic enforcement initiatives.
Oversees the management of personnel and operating policies of the Unit.