Fisheries Division Administrator

The State of Montana is seeking a Fisheries Division Administrator to lead its Fisheries Division in Helena, MT. The role involves overseeing fisheries management, habitat restoration, and budget management, requiring strong leadership and collaboration skills. Responsibilities include developing strategies for program effectiveness, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with laws. The position demands considerable travel and may involve stressful situations due to the nature of the work.
About the position

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to oversee the Fisheries Division, a cornerstone of our agency committed to conserving Montana's fisheries resources and ensuring sustainable fishing opportunities across the state. This position requires strong executive leadership, a deep understanding of natural resource management, and the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders. The Fisheries Division administers a comprehensive statewide program with an annual budget of approximately $19 million. The program encompasses fisheries management and research, habitat restoration, fish hatchery production, fish health, and aquatic invasive species management. The successful candidate will be responsible for executive leadership, program leadership, personnel management, fiscal management, and program management. This includes collaborating with other division administrators and the director's office to ensure integrated, consistent, and efficient departmental operations, developing strategies and guidelines for measuring program effectiveness, and leading and managing Fisheries Division staff. The role also involves overseeing the Fisheries Division's budget, ensuring alignment with legislative directives, and providing expert testimony and presentations to the commission, legislature, and public on fisheries-related issues. This position requires considerable travel, with hours extending beyond the typical workday. The successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation and must be physically capable of managing multiple projects while responding to immediate and unexpected events. The work environment is a professional office setting with regular pressure to meet important deadlines, and the candidate must be prepared for potentially stressful situations resulting from the demands of developing quick and precise interpretations of complex scientific principles and social and political issues.

Responsibilities
• Collaborate with other division administrators and the director's office to ensure integrated, consistent, and efficient departmental operations.
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• Identify and recommend actions to address emerging and long-term issues, priorities, and strategic direction for the department.
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• Develop strategies, guidelines, and frameworks for measuring and evaluating program effectiveness.
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• Participate as a key member of the Department's Management Team to set the department's vision, mission, and goals.
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• Ensure cross-functional representation and effective communication within the division and with regional offices.
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• Develop and coordinate statewide fisheries programs, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, public involvement processes, and legal requirements.
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• Establish program goals, objectives, policies, and long-term plans, coordinating with regional and national stakeholders as necessary.
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• Evaluate program effectiveness through regular reviews and assessments, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and policies.
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• Lead and manage Fisheries Division staff, including participation in labor negotiations, performance evaluations, and addressing employee misconduct.
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• Develop and implement training programs to enhance staff capabilities and ensure effective program delivery.
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• Oversee the Fisheries Division's budget, including development, allocation, and monitoring, ensuring alignment with legislative directives and department policies.
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• Analyze and adjust budget requests to meet programmatic goals and manage expenditures effectively.
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• Plan, organize, coordinate, and evaluate statewide fisheries programs, ensuring uniform implementation and compliance with department policies and legal mandates.
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• Direct the development and execution of annual work plans, prioritizing tasks and resources to meet statewide goals.
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• Provide expert testimony and presentations to the commission, legislature, and public on fisheries-related issues and departmental positions.
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• Develop and review legislation and policies, assessing their impact on department operations and providing alternatives when necessary.
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• Coordinate public involvement processes and analyze feedback to inform policy recommendations.

Requirements
• Master's degree in natural resource management, fisheries management, public administration, or a related field.
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• 10 years progressively responsible related experience with 5 years in a supervisory capacity.
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• Thorough knowledge of state, regional, and national environmental and related natural resource and fisheries issues and their impact on Montana.
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• Considerable knowledge of natural resource and environmental technologies and principles.
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• Considerable knowledge of personnel and program development/management concepts and practices.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience in public administration and policy development.
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• Familiarity with aquatic invasive species management.
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• Experience in budget management and fiscal oversight.

Benefits
• Health Insurance
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• Paid Leave & Holidays
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• Retirement Plan