Communications and Strategic Outreach Section Manager - NR Section Manager

This position manages the Division of Fish and Wildlife outreach functions, including publishing public information through print and digital channels, media relations, marketing, and programs designed to reduce barriers for people to fish or hunt. These programs include learn-to-fish and learn-to-hunt opportunities, a statewide volunteer mentor program, and organizational partnerships, contracts, and grants.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and supervision for the Outreach Section to equitably administer labor agreements and work plans, ensuring employees achieve annual and long-range objectives of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
• Direct the division’s integrated public relations program to strategically communicate fish and wildlife public information internally and externally.
• Manage hunter and angler recruitment and retention programs, including youth and mentored hunts, the National Archery in the Schools Program, volunteer mentor program, SE Asian community outreach, and other marketing and public information efforts to meet agency goals.
• Direct the Division’s fishing and hunting license sales marketing programs to ensure promotional efforts achieve agency goals.
• Direct and manage a comprehensive statewide partnerships program to build a diverse network supporting resource management, promotions, and angler/hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation.
• Provide service leadership to the Division Leadership Team (DLT), Division Management Team (DMT), relevant statewide committees, and agency priority projects.

This position may be eligible for part-time telework (up to 50%) and requires reporting to the primary work location in Saint Paul, MN, 3 days per week. Occasional travel within Minnesota and to regional or national conferences is required.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, environmental education, fisheries or wildlife biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
• Experience in long-range and strategic planning to develop operational plans, procedures, and direct projects.
• Managerial or supervisory experience directing and overseeing programs and staff to monitor, advise, and support section operations.
• Experience applying principles of budgeting and fiscal management to oversee and administer budgets.
• Knowledge of marketing principles to publish public information through print and digital channels, media relations, and marketing.
• Knowledge of policy development, organizational development, and program evaluation to accomplish division and agency goals.
• Organizational skills to balance goals, focus on long-range issues, meet short-term operational demands, and anticipate future expectations.
• Communication skills to create and maintain partnerships with outside groups (e.g., lake associations, angling/hunting groups, advocacy groups, private industry, and local/state/federal agencies).
• Communication skills to convey complex technical issues clearly to uninitiated audiences, stakeholders, and the media via verbal, written, and group facilitation methods.
• Human relation skills to act diplomatically and sensitively with staff and stakeholders, and to guide and encourage staff.
• Technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills to identify, develop, and improve state-of-the-art approaches, strategies, and systems benefiting fish and wildlife.
• Ability to set long-term and short-term goals and objectives that equitably empower employees, stakeholders, and the public.
• An unrestricted Class D Driver's license with a clear driving record.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of recruitment and retention research and best management practices.
• Experience assessing stakeholder satisfaction to guide and adjust program delivery with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Knowledge of human resources management to successfully develop section staff.
• Four years of experience applying laws, regulations, rules, principles, research practices, and procedures of fish and wildlife management or communicating about natural resource management and outdoor recreation.
• Knowledge of crisis communications and risk approaches to respond timely with accurate information.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF, and diabetes care.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan providing income after three years of service.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care.
• Resources supporting physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
• Training, classes, and professional development opportunities.
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility (for qualifying positions).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support, including mental health, relationship challenges, grief, finances, and legal issues.
• Daily living/convenience services (e.g., chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care).

Pay

$46.51 - $66.81 hourly; $97,112 - $139,499 annually.

Schedule

• Full-time, unlimited (permanent) position.
• Day shift, Monday through Friday.
• Telework eligible up to 50% of the time.