Working Title – Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager
Classification – WMS Band 2  
Job Status – Full-Time/Permanent 
WDFW Program – Wildlife Program
Duty Station – Yakima, Washington – Yakima County
South Central - Region 3 – Counties Served: Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, & Yakima.
Remote Employment – Approved for hybrid flexibility up to 2 days per week, at the discretion of the hiring manager.
Posting Timeframe - This recruitment is scheduled to be posted until November 20, 2024 - application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible. This recruitment may be closed at any time.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Step into a key leadership role as our Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager and contribute to the WDFW’s mission by ensuring quality land management is consistent with the long-term conservation of healthy diverse fish and wildlife habitats. 

Oversee the operational functions of five wildlife areas spanning over 400,000 acres. In this critical and dynamic position, you will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of services by staff across these areas, managing Lands Division budgets, overseeing contract deliverables, and implementing policies within Region 3.

Your expertise will shape the future of wildlife conservation and foster impactful collaborations with a diverse group of stakeholders, landowners, and within the agency.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Regional Wildlife Program Manager will, 

Leadership and supervision of Lands Division Staff in Region 3:

• Communicate policy goals and directions and explain production goals to all staff to ensure understanding and compliance.
• Evaluate and approve candidates for positions with the Lands Division Staff in Region 3 and makes recommendations for hiring and promotion.
• Mentor, coach, and evaluate performance of all regional Lands Division Staff.
• Direct staff regarding compliance with permits, policies, and procedures.

Budget Management: 

• Work collaboratively with Lands Division budget staff and funding entities in drafting initial budgets for the wildlife areas for submission to the Lands Division and the funding entity for approval.
• Monitor current and projects future expenditures to comply with the approved budget.  

Managing Operations and Maintenance of Wildlife Areas:

• Develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate wildlife area plans in close association with funding entities, WDFW regional and headquarters staff, other partners, and members of the Wildlife Area Advisory Committee’s (WAACs).
• Reviews and interprets plans and reports, provides feedback and direction to staff to ensure compliance with plans and contracts.

Long-term, strategic planning:

• Compile and analyze information related to wildlife area operations from a variety of sources, forms conclusions and communicated recommendation so supervisor.
• Anticipate and recognize changing factors and circumstances and develops response plans.

Operational and administrative compliance: 

• Provide input to develop or modify operational plans, rules, and policies, to adapt and respond to change.
• Monitor activities for compliance with federal or state safety laws and regulations, as well as agency policies and procedures regarding safety.

Internal and external constituent communications: 

• Communicate agency and Lands Division goals, policies, and procedures to staff and interested parties (e.g., co-managers, stakeholder, agencies, regulatory entities, etc.).
• Represent the agency in technical or policy forums and other public settings.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work Setting, including hazards: Most work is performed in an office setting.  Approximately 5% of the work is fieldwork, which includes working outdoors in adverse weather conditions. 

Schedule: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. 

Travel Requirements: Periods of overnight travel may be required - work hours may exceed the standard workday.

Customer Relations: Attending meetings, responding to phone calls, emails, and other correspondence.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: 

A Bachelor’s Degree in a natural resource science or related field.

And all of the following: 

• Five (5) years of progressive management experience with managerial skills for supervising a group of senior level staff.
• Advanced principles of management including staff supervision, leadership, conflict resolution, personnel and merit system rules and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, cultural diversity, policy analysis development and implementation and budget development and expenditures.
• Proven leadership skills that model the way, inspire shared vision, and enable others to act.
• Advanced knowledge of principles of wildlife management and natural resources management.
• Extensive budget development and management.

Please Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Competencies: 

• Ability to foster a positive and effective working relationship among staff.
• Exercise strategic planning and visioning.
• Knowledge of state and federal conservation laws.
• Communicate clearly and concisely across managerial, professional, and legislative levels in both oral and written form.
• Negotiate and resolve wildlife and access areas and conflicting issues with short timelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

• Master’s degree in natural resources, fish ecology, environmental policy, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience supervising professional staff.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities in the areas of conservation planning.
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills, and ability to build effective partnerships and work groups.
• Experience developing, managing, and administering wildlife area budgets.
• Experience with planning and public policy formulation.
• A working understanding of conservation focused habitat restoration and recreation management.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: 

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage.  To receive this benefit, please do the following: 

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov. 
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.  Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.  All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.  We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.  Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2024-11531.

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