Recreational Grants Manager

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks, Forests, and Preserves Bureau is seeking a strategic leader passionate about expanding public access to parks, trails, and outdoor spaces by managing our centralized recreational grant portfolio, which accounts for approximately $20 million in annual funding. Team members choose to build long‑term careers with the DNR because they value knowing that their daily work makes a direct difference for our customers.

We foster a close, family atmosphere by working alongside dedicated people who share common interests and unified goals. If you find fulfillment in making progress toward tangible goals, seeing the real‑world results of your work, and staying engaged with a wide variety of meaningful projects, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape Iowa’s outdoor recreation landscape.

This position serves as the DNR's primary subject matter expert and strategic point of contact for multiple high‑impact recreational grant programs, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP), Saving America’s Treasures, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI), and the Off‑Highway Vehicle (OHV) and Snowmobile programs.

• Direct and administer the local‑side LWCF program (approximately $2.1M annually) and the ORLP program (up to $15M) for city and county park agencies.
• Provide technical guidance, grant consultation, and application training to local municipalities.
• Ensure application systems and Iowa's Open Project Selection Process meet National Park Service (NPS) criteria and align with priorities identified in Iowa's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
• Coordinate grant review committees, authorize annual grant allocations in collaboration with Budget and Finance, and ensure processing of grant agreements and reimbursements.
• Review, draft, and enforce Administrative Rules governing the LWCF program.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the NPS, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and local applicants for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, Section 106 clearances, and tribal consultations.
• Conduct pre‑inspection visits for potential grant applications, as well as final and annual project inspections required by the NPS.
• Coordinate additional federal grant opportunities, including Saving America’s Treasures and the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.

• Direct all phases of the OHV Grant Program (up to $1.25M annually), including applicant training, evaluation criteria development, grant review and selection committee, spending plan development, and project close‑out.
• Manage the cooperative agreement with the Iowa State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) to ensure the partner administration of grant funds complies with Iowa Code, Administrative Rules, and contract terms.
• Direct major equipment procurements exceeding $500,000 annually.
• Serve as the DNR Project Manager for the Federal Recreational Trails Grant Program, authoring and submitting federal applications while maintaining compliance.
• Review, draft, and enforce Administrative Rules governing the OHV and Snowmobile programs.
• Assist the Communications, Outreach, and Marketing Bureau in coordinating statewide safety and education programs, developing curriculum standards, and managing online safety course vendors.
• Direct the negotiation and compliance oversight of land leases and cooperative agreements with program sponsors and landowners.
• Manage operational support for Law…