Assistant Chief for Statewide Programs (Freshwater Fisheries)

State of South Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of South Carolina’s Freshwater Fisheries Section seeks an experienced administrator to lead day-to-day operations across Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, and Freshwater Mussel units. You will supervise coordinators, ensure compliance with policies and laws, and manage procurement and reporting processes.

Key responsibilities include budget preparation, grant oversight, federal reporting, and coordinating with external partners to advance fisheries management and leadership development within

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and three (3) years of relevant program experience.
• Graduate degree in fisheries management or closely related field is preferred and training in Federal grants.
• Experience with coordinating with external partnerships and agencies is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations for the Freshwater Fisheries Section units (Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, Freshwater Mussel).
• Act as administrative leader, supervising Coordinators and ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
• Prepare and monitor annual budgets for units and grants; oversee procurement and reporting.
• Coordinate federal project reporting and adherence to Sport Fish Restoration requirements.
• Engage with external partners and agencies to support industry collaboration and program growth.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Grant management

Regulatory compliance

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree in fisheries management (preferred)

Tools

TRACS

GrantSolutions

Job description

Job Responsibilities

This employee will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations in the Freshwater Fisheries Section's Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, and Freshwater Mussel units.

• Acting as administrative leader for the Freshwater Fisheries Section including supervising and overseeing the administration of all Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, and Freshwater Mussel Coordinators.
• Ensuring all reports under assigned units are submitted as required, equipment is maintained, inventories are distributed and received back as required, procurement and accounting paperwork are accurately submitted, DNR policies and procedures are followed, and appropriate state and federal laws are obeyed.
• Assisting staff with supervisory issues.
• Preparing annual budgets for assigned units grants, appropriated and revenue projects, and monitoring these budgets throughout the year.
• Coordinating federal project reporting for assigned units.
• For Sportfish Restoration (SFR) Grants within assigned units, Aquatic Education and the Section's Industry Outreach Grant:
• prepares grant work plans
• submits projects in TRACS and GrantSolutions
• ensures that the associated SFR projects are in compliance with Federal requirements
• Representing the Freshwater Fisheries Section and assigned units in conjunction with the Chief of Fisheries and Assistant Chief to ensure that there is coordination between Freshwater Fisheries and Wildlife within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) division.
• Assisting in coordination efforts on issues outside of WFF division and providing assistance throughout the agency as necessary.
• Working with the Chief and Assistant Chief to understand and assist in the regulatory and Legislative process.
• Representing the Freshwater Fisheries Section and SCDNR in external partnerships which may include, but not be limited to: Industry partners, American Fisheries Society, National Reservoir Habitat Partnership, AFWA, SEAFWA and NCLI, as determined by Chief of Fisheries and Deputy Director.
• Working with the Chief of Fisheries and Assistant Chief on industry partnership development and coordination.
• Attending meetings with partners to work on common issues and promote growth in Fisheries Management and Leadership Development.
• Representing SCDNR on relevant internal and external committees as determined by the Chief of Freshwater Fisheries.

Job Responsibilities

This employee will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations in the Freshwater Fisheries Section's Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, and Freshwater Mussel units.

• Acting as administrative leader for the Freshwater Fisheries Section including supervising and overseeing the administration of all Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, and Freshwater Mussel Coordinators.
• Ensuring all reports under assigned units are submitted as required, equipment is maintained, inventories are distributed and received back as required, procurement and accounting paperwork are accurately submitted, DNR policies and procedures are followed, and appropriate state and federal laws are obeyed.
• Assisting staff with supervisory issues.
• Preparing annual budgets for assigned units grants, appropriated and revenue projects, and monitoring these budgets throughout the year.
• Coordinating federal project reporting for assigned units.
• For Sportfish Restoration (SFR) Grants within assigned units, Aquatic Education and the Section's Industry Outreach Grant:
• prepares grant work plans
• submits projects in TRACS and GrantSolutions
• ensures that the associated SFR projects are in compliance with Federal requirements
• Representing the Freshwater Fisheries Section and assigned units in conjunction with the Chief of Fisheries and Assistant Chief to ensure that there is coordination between Freshwater Fisheries and Wildlife within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) division.
• Assisting in coordination efforts on issues outside of WFF division and providing assistance throughout the agency as necessary.
• Working with the Chief and Assistant Chief to understand and assist in the regulatory and Legislative process.
• Representing the Freshwater Fisheries Section and SCDNR in external partnerships which may include, but not be limited to: Industry partners, American Fisheries Society, National Reservoir Habitat Partnership, AFWA, SEAFWA and NCLI, as determined by Chief of Fisheries and Deputy Director.
• Working with the Chief of Fisheries and Assistant Chief on industry partnership development and coordination.
• Attending meetings with partners to work on common issues and promote growth in Fisheries Management and Leadership Development.
• Representing SCDNR on relevant internal and external committees as determined by the Chief of Freshwater Fisheries.

Job Duties Include

• Acting as administrative leader for the Freshwater Fisheries Section including supervising and overseeing the administration of all Hatchery, Diadromous Fish, and Freshwater Mussel Coordinators.
• Ensuring all reports under assigned units are submitted as required, equipment is maintained, inventories are distributed and received back as required, procurement and accounting paperwork are accurately submitted, DNR policies and procedures are followed, and appropriate state and federal laws are obeyed.
• Assisting staff with supervisory issues.
• Preparing annual budgets for assigned units grants, appropriated and revenue projects, and monitoring these budgets throughout the year.
• Coordinating federal project reporting for assigned units.
• For Sportfish Restoration (SFR) Grants within assigned units, Aquatic Education and the Section's Industry Outreach Grant:
• prepares grant work plans
• submits projects in TRACS and GrantSolutions
• ensures that the associated SFR projects are in compliance with Federal requirements
• Representing the Freshwater Fisheries Section and assigned units in conjunction with the Chief of Fisheries and Assistant Chief to ensure that there is coordination between Freshwater Fisheries and Wildlife within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) division.
• Assisting in coordination efforts on issues outside of WFF division and providing assistance throughout the agency as necessary.
• Working with the Chief and Assistant Chief to understand and assist in the regulatory and Legislative process.
• Representing the Freshwater Fisheries Section and SCDNR in external partnerships which may include, but not be limited to: Industry partners, American Fisheries Society, National Reservoir Habitat Partnership, AFWA, SEAFWA and NCLI, as determined by Chief of Fisheries and Deputy Director.
• Working with the Chief of Fisheries and Assistant Chief on industry partnership development and coordination.
• Attending meetings with partners to work on common issues and promote growth in Fisheries Management and Leadership Development.
• Representing SCDNR on relevant internal and external committees as determined by the Chief of Freshwater Fisheries.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

A bachelor's degree and three (3) years of relevant program experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate degree in fisheries management or closely related field of study. Training in personnel management and personal performance and development. Additional training in the development, monitoring and management of Federal grants from the Sport Fish Restoration program. At least five (5) years experience as follows: personnel management, fisheries project leader, fisheries research and management, application and management of Federal grants. Skills and abilities, such as: 1) development, design, performance and reporting of fishery related projects, 2) development and management of the Sport Fish Restoration grants program, 3) effective communications and management of personnel 4) effective communications with all agency and non-agency contacts, and 5) knowledge and understanding of agency policies and procedures.