Policy & Budget Lead — Fish & Wildlife

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking an Assistant Director of Policy and Budget to support the Director in guiding the Fish and Wildlife Division. You will oversee strategic planning, budgeting, licensing, and legislative processes while advising senior leadership and coordinating across divisions.

In this role you will supervise staff, lead communications and outreach, and act as Director when needed, ensuring programs align with the department’s mission and statewide

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources sciences such as wildlife management, wildlife biology, ecology, natural resource management, or closely related field.
• Three years of managerial or advanced supervisory experience directing and supervising wildlife management programs and staff.
• Academic knowledge and advanced professional experience in the natural resources or wildlife management field.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills and interpersonal skills to direct, develop, and engage staff.
• Knowledge of fish and wildlife management, research programs, and wildlife operations.
• Experience in long-range and strategic planning, legislation, developing operational and work plans, developing procedures, and directing projects.
• Knowledge of different cultural and community groups sufficient to administer the programmatic area and ensure stakeholders understand requirements and expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a team environment by incorporation of multidisciplinary interests into decisions and actions.
• Demonstrated experience in negotiation, conflict resolution and consensus building with diverse groups to solve difficult issues.
• Possess interpersonal, administrative, and human relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct, develop and manage the policies, programs, and priorities of the division as a member of the Division Leadership Team (DLT) and other statewide teams.
• Lead the legislative function of the division and provide expert advice to ensure proposals reflect fiscal implications.
• Oversee budget direction and implement approved changes to maximize funding efficiency.
• Provide leadership and supervision over division staff to ensure programs run efficiently.
• Represent the division at department meetings and lead strategic initiatives and communications across stakeholders.
• Oversee strategic planning, communications, marketing and outreach for the division.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Policy analysis

Legislation knowledge

Communication skills

Negotiation

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural resources or related field

Job description

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking an Assistant Director of Policy and Budget to support the Director in guiding the Fish and Wildlife Division. You will oversee strategic planning, budgeting, licensing, and legislative processes while advising senior leadership and coordinating across divisions.

In this role you will supervise staff, lead communications and outreach, and act as Director when needed, ensuring programs align with the department’s mission and statewide