Program Supervisor - Plains Unit Manager

Position Title

Program Supervisor - Plains Unit Manager )

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are its most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work.

The incumbent serves as the Plains Unit Manager of scattered trust lands within all of Sanders County and extreme western Flathead County which includes the Thompson River State Forest for the DNRC and manages approximately 54,000 acres of State trust land and provides direct fire protection for approximately 275,000 acres.

The Plains Unit Manager provides leadership, vision, and management for all Unit operations. The position is responsible for implementing Forestry and Trust Land programs; supervising permanent and seasonal staff; managing budgets and contracts; administering land use licenses and leases; and representing DNRC with partners, cooperators, and the public. The incumbent exercises a high degree of independent judgment to balance resource protection with revenue generation and public expectations.

• Operational Leadership: Oversees the Unit’s operations and is responsible for accomplishing essential division goals and objectives using limited and at times previously unidentified resources.
• Administrative: Administers a variety of land‑use leases, licenses, permits, agreements, and memorandums of understanding; employs advanced communication and negotiation expertise with diverse and often contentious groups of people.
• Program Management: Manages the Plains Unit’s general operations and fire suppression objectives; employs knowledge of natural resource laws, rules, regulations, and DNRC standards, guidelines and procedures; develops personnel using standard communication, coaching, and training practices; employs budgeting practices.
• Applies in-depth knowledge of natural resource disciplines, DNRC missions and subprograms, State and Federal laws, and DNRC policies and rules related to natural resource management; directs efforts of both professional and technical personnel on concurrent projects in multiple programs.
• Balances resource protection with resource use.

• Online State of Montana application
• Resume

• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
• Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
• Retirement Plan

Bachelor's degree in a field of natural resource management, forestry, wildlife biology, fire management, recreation management, range science, or a related field plus four years of related natural resource management experience that includes program management and supervisory responsibilities. A master’s degree in the above can be substituted to include three years of related experience in listed areas.

This position must be able to complete field work including the ability to work independently in rough terrain under all weather conditions and work administratively within a wildfire environment.

Completion of DNRC Line Officer training within one year of employment.

• The person selected must be eligible to work in the United States and produce acceptable work authorization documents within three days of hire.
• A valid driver's license is required with less than twelve conviction points in the most recent completed thirty‑six months.
• Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E‑Verify to confirm employment eligibility.

• Telework Eligibility:
  Telework Eligible (Full‑time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor…