Regional Wildlife Program Manager – Region 1 - WMS Band 2 - Permanent - 2026-01293

State of Washington•Spokane County – Spokane, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Regional Wildlife Program Manager for Region 1, you will lead a multidisciplinary team while providing strategic direction and executive oversight to advance WDFW priorities and deliver effective wildlife conservation and recreation outcomes. Serving as the link between agency administration and field operations, you will oversee four divisions (Game, Wildlife Diversity, Landowner Services, and Lands) and support staff across the region. This includes setting clear expectations, ensuring consistency in program delivery, and maintaining accountability across four Wildlife Area Complexes encompassing approximately 113,550 acres and 35 Water Access Areas. You will contribute to policy development, program planning, and implementation of new initiatives, while supporting staff through complex and sometimes sensitive issues related to wildlife conflict, lands management, and threatened and endangered species. Provide leadership and direction to regional Wildlife Program staff to accomplish work aligned with the agency’s strategic goals, program directives, and division objectives. Foster accountability, collaboration, communication, and team effectiveness across the program. In this role, the Regional Wildlife Program Manager provides strategic leadership for managing and sustaining Washington’s wildlife populations, some of the key responsibilities include: Supervising regional Wildlife Program staff to accomplish tasks that address the agency’s strategic goals, program directives, and division objectives. Directly supervise six (6) staff members and provide oversight for a total of approximately forty (40) employees. Participating in regular meetings as a member of the Agency Senior Management Team, Wildlife Program Leadership Team, and Regional Senior Management Staff. Developing policies that are included in species plans and recreational hunting programs that have regional and statewide significance. Ensuring a cohesive Wildlife Program response to depredation events. Being responsible for interpreting and applying policies and elevating policy issues or questions to the Regional Director and/or Wildlife Program leadership. Serving as the Wildlife Program policy lead for team recommendations in response to wolf/livestock depredations. Managing the implementation of the Region 1 Wildlife Program budget. Negotiating with the public, Tribes, organized constituents’ groups, other state, county, city and federal agencies regarding wildlife management policies, recreation access, hunting recreation and wildlife protection. Providing oversight to regional wildlife conflict activities to ensure continued successful integration into the Wildlife Program and proper implementation in the region.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Science, or a related field.
Five (5) years of professional experience applying advanced principles and techniques of wildlife management, including the biology and ecology of regional wildlife species such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Five (5) years of professional experience implementing recognized methods and standards for habitat and land management.
Five (5) years of professional experience navigating regulatory frameworks and bureaucratic processes related to wildlife management, conflict management, and/or land management activities.
Five (5) years of professional experience working with private landowners and/or agricultural producers to address wildlife conservation.
Three (3) years of professional experience supervising or managing senior-level staff, including providing guidance, training, conflict resolution, work planning, and performance management and evaluation.
Three (3) years of professional experience building a strong team dynamic across dispersed locations.
Three (3) years of professional experience managing priorities and activities across multiple divisions and sections within a Wildlife Program.
Three (3) years of professional experience communicating, verbally and in writing, technical information to diverse audiences.
Three (3) years of professional experience building and maintaining relationships with constituents and stakeholders with diverse interests, including engaging in processes that influence political and policy outcomes.
One (1) year of professional experience managing budgets, grants, or contracts and effectively allocating resources across multiple projects.
Valid Driver’s License

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher in Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Science, or a related field.
Three (3) years of professional experience working with tribal governments, local communities, nonprofit organizations, or other stakeholders to build consensus and support for wildlife management objectives.
Three (3) years of professional experience with data collection, GIS mapping, wildlife population modeling, or other technical tools to support management decisions.

Responsibilities

Lead a multidisciplinary team while providing strategic direction and executive oversight to advance WDFW priorities and deliver effective wildlife conservation and recreation outcomes.
Oversee four divisions (Game, Wildlife Diversity, Landowner Services, and Lands) and support staff across the region.
Set clear expectations, ensure consistency in program delivery, and maintain accountability across four Wildlife Area Complexes encompassing approximately 113,550 acres and 35 Water Access Areas.
Contribute to policy development, program planning, and implementation of new initiatives.
Support staff through complex and sometimes sensitive issues related to wildlife conflict, lands management, and threatened and endangered species.
Provide leadership and direction to regional Wildlife Program staff to accomplish work aligned with the agency’s strategic goals, program directives, and division objectives.
Foster accountability, collaboration, communication, and team effectiveness across the program.
Supervise regional Wildlife Program staff to accomplish tasks that address the agency’s strategic goals, program directives, and division objectives.
Directly supervise six (6) staff members and provide oversight for a total of approximately forty (40) employees.
Participate in regular meetings as a member of the Agency Senior Management Team, Wildlife Program Leadership Team, and Regional Senior Management Staff.
Develop policies that are included in species plans and recreational hunting programs that have regional and statewide significance.
Ensure a cohesive Wildlife Program response to depredation events.
Interpret and apply policies and elevate policy issues or questions to the Regional Director and/or Wildlife Program leadership.
Serve as the Wildlife Program policy lead for team recommendations in response to wolf/livestock depredations.
Manage the implementation of the Region 1 Wildlife Program budget.
Negotiate with the public, Tribes, organized constituents’ groups, other state, county, city and federal agencies regarding wildlife management policies, recreation access, hunting recreation and wildlife protection.
Provide oversight to regional wildlife conflict activities to ensure continued successful integration into the Wildlife Program and proper implementation in the region.