Habitat Program Manager

Arizona Game and Fish Department; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona Game and Fish Department seeks a Habitat Program Manager to lead conservation programs, provide scientific and regulatory oversight, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and agency laws while safeguarding public resources.

This role blends field science with policy leadership and requires guiding habitat research and management initiatives, managing budgets, and collaborating with tribes, agencies, and the public.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Management, Biology, Ecology, or closely related field.
• Three years professional experience in fisheries and/or wildlife research/management.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and agency rules, regulations, and procurement.
• Leadership, supervision, and staff development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead conservation programs with integrity and ensure compliance with rules and policies.
• Oversee budgets, fiscal tracking, procurement, reporting and contracts.
• Supervise wildlife staff and mentor regional teams.
• Represent the agency with stakeholders and the public.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory oversight

Data integrity

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Science/Management/Biology/Ecology

Job description

Protecting Arizona’s Wildlife Through Science, Leadership, and Compliance

Are you a wildlife professional driven by science-based management, regulatory integrity, and conservation outcomes that stand the test of time? Join our team as a Habitat Program Manager, where your leadership will directly shape Arizona’s wildlife programs while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, sound fiscal management, and responsible stewardship of public trust resources.

This role blends strategic program leadership , field-based science, and regulatory oversight , offering a unique opportunity to guide complex wildlife research and management programs that balance ecological needs, public interests, and legal requirements.

The Habitat Program Manager provides scientific, technical, and regulatory oversight for wildlife and habitat projects. This position supervises professional staff engaged in complex field and office work and ensures programs are conducted in compliance with federal, state, and agency laws, policies, and procedures. The role emphasizes data integrity, defensible management decisions, and accountability in the use of public resources.

What You’ll Do:

Lead Conservation Programs with Integrity

• Ensure all activities comply with federal, state, and agency rules, regulations, and policies, including permitting, reporting, and data integrity requirements. Write responses to project proponents with wildlife and habitat guidance.
• Develop, implement, and oversee wildlife area plans, management guidelines, and program priorities aligned with agency goals and conservation mandates while emphasizing appropriate permitting and habitat guidance.
• Provide expert scientific and regulatory guidance to agency leadership, including recommendations for strategic direction and programmatic improvements. Also provide guidance to project proponents and partners in meetings.

Ensure Accountability and Compliance

• Oversee program-related administrative functions, including budgets, fiscal tracking, procurement, reporting, and contracts.
• Review, edit, and approve technical reports, survey data, and publications to ensure accuracy, scientific rigor, and regulatory defensibility.

Supervise, Mentor, and Build Capacity

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and train a wildlife specialist and other regional staff in wildlife science and policies, management practices, and compliance expectations.
• Coordinate daily work priorities to ensure timely task completion while maintaining safety, quality, and adherence to policy.
• Foster staff development, competency, and professional growth through both formal and informal leadership.

Represent the Agency with Professionalism

• Serve as a trusted liaison with other agencies, tribes, stakeholders, special interest groups, and the public.
• Prepare and present materials for public meetings and media outlets.
• Navigate complex social, logistical, and environmental challenges with diplomacy and sound judgment.

Why AZGFD?

At Arizona Game and Fish, conservation is personal. Our employees are deeply connected to the landscapes and wildlife they protect. We value stewardship, teamwork, partnerships, and professional growth, and we support our staff with training and career development opportunities. If you’re ready to make a measurable impact on wildlife conservation, we encourage you to apply and become part of Arizona’s conservation mission!

Description of Duti es:

The primary purpose of this position is to review federal, state, and local projects for federal and state compliance as well as offer habitat and wildlife input on those projects, usually through written letters.

Represents the Department at meetings for habitat related projects. Coordinates priorities for the team to ensure task completion; coordinates work activities with other supervisors. Decisions and problem-solving are guided by policies, procedures and business plans. Supervises and coordinates a staff of one wildlife specialist and assists other personnel engaged in complex, management and/or environmental studies in the field and office. Coordinates and monitors wildlife study plans, programs and procedures. Provides coordination inside and outside the agency to ensure successful habitat program implementation.

Rarely may work irregular hours, including weekends, holidays, and/or at night. Work is primarily indoors and on a computer. Work will require long periods of concentration on details of plans and lengthy technical documents. Outdoor work generally consists of field site visits that may be in any part of the state with its geographic and weather extremes and may require using various transportation modes (e.g., boat, plane, UTV, on foot). Outdoor work could involve exposure to animal and wilderness dangers. Will occasionally be required to attend meetings and events outside of the Kingman office, sometimes with overnight stays.

This position will be required to come into the office each week at 5325 N Stockton Hill Rd. Kingman, AZ.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Supervises and monitors wildlife study plans, programs, and procedures.
• Reviews, edits, evaluates and/or approves survey data, technical reports and publications.
• Provides counsel to leadership, and is deployed to diffuse complex social and logistical challenges at a broad programmatic level.
• Provides expert advice to agency management, including recommendations for strategic direction. Develops and/or reviews wildlife management plans and guidelines.
• Manages workflow and provides program oversight. May perform specialized oversight required for the respective program or work area. May operate a variety of specialized equipment common to wildlife work.
• Supervises, coaches, mentors and trains subordinate personnel in wildlife science and management principles and functions.
• Coordinates and supervises the activities of subordinates. Ensures staff competency and development. Exerts formal and informal leadership for direct reports and employees in other work units in support of Department/Commission direction.
• Prepares and/or reviews material for publication in technical journals and magazines, for the media or for presentation to, department personnel, other agencies, the general public and/or the media.
• Ensures all program-related administrative matters, e.g., budget, finances, reports, etc. are appropriately handled.
• Serves periodically as acting Regional Supervisor, on Department teams, and conducts other duties as assigned. Supervises 1 full time employee.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The candidate will have knowledge in wildlife science and wildlife management and best practices. Federal, state and agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures, including NEPA. Work supervision principles and leadership techniques, including coaching, mentoring, employee discipline and staff development. Public relations, negotiation and customer service principles and techniques. Principles and practices of state of Arizona budget management and procurement.

Candidates will be skilled in planning and executing wildlife related programs; Apply work supervision and leadership techniques, including coaching, mentoring and staff.

The candidate will be able to apply job-related federal, state and agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Apply accepted wildlife science principles and resource management best practices when developing and overseeing work assignments, ensuring supervisory decisions and activities support effective, ethical, and science-based wildlife management outcomes. Develop and maintain working relationships with the various governmental agencies, special interest groups, the media and the public. Provide appropriate public relations and customer service within and outside the agency to a variety of individuals and private and public entities. Communicate verbally and in writing. Negotiate with public and private entities and individuals. Work irregular hours, including on weekends and holidays and at night. Perform field site visits, sometimes in extreme weather and/or isolated conditions. Use various modes of transportation, such as boats, four‑wheel drive, UTVs and specialized equipment common to wildlife work, as needed.

Pre-employment Requirements:

• The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Management, Biology, Ecology, or a closely related field and three years professional experience in fisheries and/or wildlife research/management.
• Employment may be contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Possession of and ability to maintain valid Arizona driver’s license appropriate to assignment.

Selective Preferences:

• Working knowledge of federal and state wildlife laws, regulations, permitting requirements, and compliance standards.
• 2-4 years of experience developing, implementing, or overseeing wildlife study plans or management strategies.
• Experience with budget management and procurement.
• Experience supervising professional or technical staff in wildlife and habitat management.

All newly hired employees will be subject to the E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification program.