Range and Agricultural Program Manager - Conservation Lands & Resources

Pima County•Tucson, AZ

13h•$65,457 - $91,644•Hybrid

About The Position

The Conservation Lands & Resources (CLR) department is seeking an experienced and dedicated Range and Agricultural Program Manager to administer and monitor more than 200,000 acres of rangelands and farms within the Range and Agricultural Lands, Water, and Special Projects (RAWS) Division. This critical role is primarily responsible for the administration of Ranch and Farm Management Agreements, and monitoring rangeland conditions and properties to ensure adherence to the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, Multi-species Conservation Plan, and Rangeland Management Standards and Guidelines. The CLR department manages over 260,000 acres of County conservation lands, including 13 active cattle ranches, iconic natural resource parks such as Tucson Mountain Park, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, and Agua Caliente Park, and a variety of open space properties. The division’s resource management responsibilities provide critical leadership and solutions towards implementation of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP), one of the most ambitious conservation programs by a local government.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources management, ecology, environmental science, wildlife biology/wildlife management, forestry, range management, conservation biology, environmental policy or environmental studies, or a closely related field as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment AND four years of experience in community outreach, engagement, or a related area.
OR: Four years of experience with Pima County in a Natural Resources Program Coordinator or related position as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment INCLUDING one year of lead/supervisory experience.
Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment.
The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures.
Pre-employment background checks.
Post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history.
Some positions may require completion of a satisfactory personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems.
Post-job offer physical and/or drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Minimum four (4) years experience in rangeland ecological monitoring, including: coordinating and conducting rangeland trend, condition, utilization, health, and inventory monitoring with ranches, agencies, and partners, managing and analyzing monitoring data, preparing reports and data summaries, and using Vegetation GIS System software for field data collection, quality control, and analysis, developing GIS and online GIS maps to support data collection and analysis, and using remote sensing and other technology to support rangeland management decisions.
Minimum four (4) years experience administering multiple livestock grazing and/or farm property leases, including: developing and maintaining positive working relationships with ranchers and farmers and conducting field visits to monitor compliance with lease agreements, coordinating annual meetings and developing ranch and farm management plans, processing billing questionnaires, invoices, and payments with County, State, and federal agencies; renewing Ranch Management Agreements, Farm Management Agreements, and associated caretaking agreements, renewing state and federal land leases and subleases, and preparing Rights of Entry and Special Use Permits for authorized activities on County lands.
Minimum three (3) years experience managing range and agricultural infrastructure and restoration projects, including: planning and coordinating project designs with contractors and/or other County staff, conducting site visits, obtaining quotes and clearances, and drafting reports, assisting in the development of Requests for Bids, Scopes of Work, contract provisions, and bid proposal evaluations.
Minimum three (3) years experience in operating 4x4 trucks and safely loading and hauling ATVs, UTVs, and other small vehicles and tools on rural, 4x4 ranch roads, coordinating the repair and maintenance of range trucks, trailers, UTVs and other equipment, tracking and updating infrastructure assets and maintenance GIS datasets for budgeting and planning purposes, and conducting routine property monitoring and reporting of additional conservation properties as needed.
Minimum two (2) years experience in rangeland resource management planning at a landscape scale and coordinated resource management planning at the ranch scale and navigating ranch and farm lease agreement transitions from outgoing ranch/farm managers to incoming ranch/farm managers and assisting with drafting new lease agreements.
Minimum two (2) years experience in supervising staff, training volunteers, interns/apprentices and/or contracted crews in safe work practices, technical skills, and proper procedures and providing instruction in sound rangeland management, monitoring and/or conservation practices, or related areas to staff, volunteers, interns/apprentices, and/or contracted crews.
Minimum four (4) years experience in organizational, administrative, and technological skills, including: preparing clear and concise oral and written reports related to program and budget operations planning; competency in scheduling and planning meetings, maintenance activities, trainings and reporting using the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Excel, Word, Power Point), ArcPro, and online GIS mapping applications (mobile and computer) for data management and map creation, and shared drive/server navigation for file storage.

Responsibilities

Develops, manages, and evaluates the overall strategic direction of the County’s environmental education programs, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and long-range community environmental priorities.
Oversees program operations, including budgeting, staffing, resource management, and performance monitoring, ensuring effective and efficient delivery of environmental education services.
Establishes policies, standards, and operating procedures for environmental education initiatives, ensuring compliance with County requirements and applicable state and federal environmental regulations.
Provides leadership and supervision to professional staff, coordinators, specialists, and volunteers, including hiring recommendations, training, performance evaluation, and ongoing professional development.
Leads high-level outreach and partnership efforts, cultivating and sustaining collaborations with educational institutions, community organizations, governmental agencies, tribal entities, and private-sector partners.
Directs the development and approval of educational materials, curricula, communications, and multimedia resources, ensuring scientific accuracy, accessibility, and consistency with best practices.
Oversees program evaluation activities, including data collection, analysis, and reporting, and uses results to inform policy decisions and continuous program improvement.
Represents the department at public meetings, advisory boards, community forums, and interagency workgroups, serving as the primary spokesperson on environmental education initiatives.
Monitors emerging environmental issues, research, legislative trends, and community needs, integrating findings into program policy, planning, and resource allocation.
Secures and manages grants, contracts, and external funding opportunities, ensuring compliance, effective implementation, and alignment with program priorities.
Guides the integration and strategic use of digital platforms, technologies, and communication tools to expand public engagement, improve program accessibility, and enhance educational outcomes.