Water Quality and Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking a Water Quality and Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager to join their Wildlife Management Division. This role serves as the lead scientist and administrator for Arizona’s statewide water quality program, overseeing monitoring, assessment, fish kill investigations, incident response, and overall program direction. The position also manages the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program, ensuring its integration with the water quality program. The department focuses on conserving and protecting wildlife, managing resources for outdoor recreation, and using science-based management actions. They value diversity, stewardship, teamwork, and partnerships, aiming to ensure outdoor opportunities are available for current and future generations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Management, Biology, or Fisheries/Wildlife Science (with an emphasis on fisheries or aquatic ecosystems).
• Must possess and maintain a valid state-issued driver's license.
• Strong background in southwest ecosystems, fisheries biology, toxicology standards, and aquatic species habitat needs.
• Familiarity with NEPA, EPA, and Endangered Species Act (Sections 7, 9, and 10) regulations, alongside 404/401 permitting.
• Proven experience in personnel management, budget administration, strategic planning, and multi-stakeholder project coordination.
• Proficient in standardized field-sampling, study design, statistical analysis, and interpreting complex data sets.
• Exceptional negotiation, conflict resolution, verbal communication, and technical report-writing skills.
• Knowledge of personnel management and supervision rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of interpersonal relations techniques.
• Knowledge of strategic planning processes and application.
• Knowledge of Department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of budget administration, development, monitoring and amendment procedures.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local agency role and function relative to wildlife management and environmental issues.
• Knowledge of lakes, streams, rivers, fish and aquatic wildlife resources.
• Knowledge of southwest ecosystems, fisheries biology, ecology.
• Knowledge of application of management and conservation principles and concepts.
• Knowledge of frog and snake biology, ecology and management.
• Knowledge of fisheries investigation techniques and collection procedures, and study design.
• Knowledge of mathematics, statistical and analysis and interpretation of field collected data.
• Knowledge of water quality and habitat requirements of fishes and other aquatics species and their habitats.
• Knowledge of report and correspondence.
• Knowledge of environmental compliance procedures and application.
• Knowledge of National Environmental Policy Act regulations.
• Knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
• Knowledge of Endangered Species Act regulations and policies with an emphasis on Section 7, 9 and 10.
• Skilled in fact assessment and complex/technical/administrative decision-making.
• Skilled in oral, verbal and written communications.
• Skilled in coordination, organization, leadership outreach.
• Skilled in critical thinking and negotiation.
• Skilled in project planning and execution.
• Skilled in work management and leadership and time management.
• Skilled in data gathering, applying standardized sampling techniques and fishery/general aquatic wildlife management and research principles, and techniques in field and laboratory setting.
• Skilled in perform statistical analysis, evaluation and interpretation.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work assignments.
• Ability to identify and translate priorities into action through directed resource deployment, supervision.
• Ability to negotiate, facilitate, work well with others while motivating and leading others.
• Ability to organize, plan for and coordinate complex projects involving multiple stakeholders (internal and external).
• Ability to critically evaluate actions and make sound judgements and decisions.
• Ability to work independently or in a group environment to solve problems and make recommendations and decisions regarding controversial or high profile issues.
• Demonstrate leadership and promote work environment.
• Ability to gather and use information from scientific, gray literature or internal and external expertise.

Responsibilities

• Represents the Department and State's interests on water quality issues for the protection and benefit of the aquatic and wildlife resource in statewide inter-agency working groups, task forces, and committees.
• Provides written comments and information on the development and review of statewide water quality standards.
• Serves as Waters of the United States expert on comments to federal water projects.
• Ensures the Department’s hatchery system maintains compliance with the Clean Water Act through the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for surface water quality and groundwater protection through Aquifer Protection Planning.
• Leads negotiations with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency on discharge permits for the Department's hatcheries, water quality standards, and contaminant advisories.
• Advises on water rights related issues at hatcheries and aquatic facilities.
• Supervises activities and ensures the Department’s Environmental Laboratory Certification through Arizona Department of Health Services.
• Serves as the laboratory director and supervises the activities of the Chemist and Water Quality Specialist.
• Acts as Department liaison with other state and federal agencies on water quality issues including the development of fish consumption advisories and statewide water quality standards.
• Oversees statewide stream and limnological investigations pertaining to fish, aquatic, and riparian health and AIS.
• Serves as the lead to ensure piscicide application projects follow the ADEQ permitting process in the Department’s Piscicide Project Planning and Procedures Manual and ensures all applicable state and federal laws and internal compliance is completed prior to implementation.
• Oversees the AIS program, actively incorporating its activities into the Water Quality Program and supervises the AIS Coordinator.
• Ensures the AIS program is coordinating and monitoring AIS in Arizona and preventing the future spread of AIS within and out of state, the development of outreach tools to manage known AIS and prevent the illegal transport of AIS, and advises on the management of illegally introduced nonnative fish.
• Serves on teams related to AIS and Department regulations.
• Leads and coordinates investigations of fish kills and resource damage incidents caused by pollution to the surface waters of the state.
• Coordinates efforts with regional personnel and provides expert opinion in public inquiries.
• Manages fish kill database and public report dashboard.
• Develops communication materials for Department staff on fish kills to maintain consistent messaging.
• Maintains competency with water quality and toxicology standards and methods and deploys information through a statewide fisheries program.
• Advises staff on 404 and 401 permit requirements and application process.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

What This Job Offers

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