Few positions in Montana state government touch more of what makes Montana, Montana. The Deputy Director of The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation helps lead the agency responsible for the state’s land, water, forests, and wildland fire protection — 5.2 million surface acres of state trust land, water rights administration statewide, and a network of 35 field offices serving communities in every corner of the state. The work carries substantial economic impact and generational consequence: DNRC’s mission is to help ensure Montana’s land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

We are seeking a proven executive to serve as the Department’s second-in-command — a leader of leaders who can run day-to-day operations of a complex, geographically distributed organization while advising the Director on the issues that shape Montana’s natural resource future.

The Role:

The Deputy Director is the principal advisor to the Director and has primary responsibility for the Department’s day-to-day operations. The Deputy assists with planning, administration, personnel management, budget development, communications, and establishing goals and direction for the Department; serves as Acting Director in the Director’s absence; and acts on behalf of the Director at internal and external meetings, before the Legislature, and with federal, tribal, and local partners.

A typical day may involve solving complex natural resource management issues with substantial economic impacts; resolving constituent conflicts or complaints; state personnel policy and pay decisions; long-range program and fiscal strategy; internal and external communication; and management of substantial real estate, physical infrastructure, and agency liability. The Deputy regularly resolves competing demands between divisions, allocates agency resources, interprets and enforces agency policy, and responds to the Governor’s Office, constituent groups, state legislators, Montana’s congressional delegation, and state, federal, and tribal partners.

What You’ll Walk Into:

This is a consequential moment to join DNRC’s executive team. Among the priorities the next Deputy Director will help lead:

• The upcoming legislative session: the Deputy coordinates the Department’s biennial budget preparation and legislative proposals with the Governor’s Office and division administrators and represents the Department at hearings and committee meetings.

• Statewide operations at scale: the Deputy supports five divisions and 35 field offices spanning trust land management, forestry and fire protection, water resources, conservation, and oil and gas conservation.

• Coordinating and implementing organizational efficiencies:  the Deputy identifies operational efficiencies, including opportunities in fiscal management to create transparency and sound budget management practices for an annual budget of more than $100 million.

Who You’ll Lead:

The Deputy Director reports to the Director and directly supervises the Chief Financial Officer, Communications Director, Safety Manager, Geographic Information System (GIS) Manager, two Administrative Law Judges, and a Legal Secretary, and indirectly supervises the agency's Human Resources Officer, providing oversight of administrative, technical, and professional work performed across the Department.

What We’re Looking For:

• Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate:

• A track record of leading operations across a large, complex, or geographically distributed organization, including supervising senior leaders.

• Experience presenting budgets, legislation, or policy proposals to elected bodies, governing boards, or oversight agencies, as well as navigating the legislative process.

• A history of successfully managing high-stakes issues to resolution with a high degree of integrity, including issues where stakeholders hold polarized views of what constitutes reasonable use of land and water.

• The ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with staff at every level and with external partners such as elected officials, county commissioners, and tribal leadership.

• Advanced skill in planning, prioritizing, and goal setting, and high proficiency in organizational awareness, conflict management, negotiation, and energizing others.

• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication.

The selection process includes, at minimum, an in-person panel interview and a second interview with the Director; finalists may be asked to complete a brief work-sample exercise. 

Benefits:

Live and work in Helena, Montana, which offers a unique blend of opportunities and natural beauty, situated between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Montana offers abundant recreational opportunities, including camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking.

Additional benefits include:

• Work/life balance. 

• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.

• Longevity pay with continued state service.

• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

• Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.

• Retirement plans (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan).

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.

• Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.

• Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.

Special requirements: 

• Fingerprint and background check

• Valid driver's license.  

• Frequent travel is required to attend meetings, conferences, and events as a representative of the Department.