Strategic Wildlife Communications Leader

State of Wyoming; Cheyenne (WY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Retirement—Pension and 457B plans

Flexible schedules and work-life休

Job summary

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department seeks a Strategic Communications Manager at its Cheyenne HQ to lead proactive statewide media and public outreach. You will advise agency leadership, translate wildlife science into compelling content, and coordinate with eight regional I&E specialists to amplify field initiatives.

This role requires strategic thinking, crisis communication skills, and a collaborative mindset to support wildlife management and public trust across Wyoming.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations or related field is required.
• 1–2 years of progressive work experience in Public Relations or communications.
• Willingness to statewide travel; background and credit checks may be required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive audiences.

Responsibilities

• Formulate and execute an annual statewide media plan for wildlife conservation.
• Coordinate with eight regional I&E Specialists to harvest and amplify field content.
• Serve as primary statewide media spokesperson during incidents and crises.
• Translate complex wildlife data into clear press releases and public content.
• Oversee digital outreach across primary channels and a 500,000+ constituent email network.
• Monitor public sentiment and provide regular intelligence briefings to leadership.
• Supervise the Statewide Communications Specialist and prepare weekly media packets.
• Collaborate with Director and Governor’s Office on sensitive wildlife issues.
• Respond to statewide topics and conduct interviews via TV, radio, and digital media.
• Develop campaigns with measurable outcomes and coordinate IT/customer messaging.
• Work with licensing and IT to craft targeted customer communications.
• Partner with Multimedia and Marketing to implement social media strategy.

Skills

Western Outdoor Fluency

Strategic & Predictive Instinct

The Shield Demeanor

Diplomatic Collaboration

Text & Narrative Agility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations

Job description

Open Until Filled

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:


"Conserving Wildlife, Serving People."

Are you a strategic communicator who thrives at the intersection of natural resource conservation and public service? Do you have a passion for Wyoming’s rich outdoor heritage, a talent for turning complex wildlife science into compelling stories, and the poise to navigate high-stakes public conversations?

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Strategic Communications Manager (SCM) to join our team at the Cheyenne Headquarters. Reporting directly to theCommunications and Education Division Chief, this is not a traditional, reactive press role. You will be a proactive storyteller, a strategic advisor to agency leadership, and an essential bridge between our technical field personnel and the passionate public we serve.

If you are ready to champion the narrative of Wyoming's wildlife management, work alongside dedicated game wardens and biologists, and elevate how our agency engages with over half a million constituents, we want to hear from you.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

TheStrategic Communications Manager (SCM) designs, coordinates, and executes enterprise-wide, proactive communications and media relations strategies for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Operating from the Executive/Headquarters level, the SCM serves as a strategic communications resource for the Director’s Office, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, and all internal divisions (Fish, Wildlife, Services, Fiscal).
A core component of this modernized role is serving as the operational "hub" to a network of regional Information and Education (I&E) Specialists. The SCM acts as a media shield during crises, a content amplifier for field initiatives, and an advisor on public sentiment, ensuring the department remains proactive, strategic, and deeply attentive to the public.

This position will also supervise a Statewide Information Specialist.

Working for the State of Wyoming offers more than a paycheck. Our total compensation package includes:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays
• Retirement - Pension and 457B plans that help you build a secure future
• Flexible schedules and work-life balance options
• Meaningful work that makes a difference for Wyoming communities

and MUCH MORE!Click here for detailed information, oryou can watch this short video to learn about our benefit package!.

Want to see the full value of your compensation beyond salary?

Explore our Total Compensation Calculator:compensationcalculator.wyo.gov

Human Resource Contact: Dezzaree Schott / [e-mail]


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function that may be performed at the job level.

• Proactive Media Strategy: Formulate and execute an annual statewide media plan that highlights conservation milestones, habitat restoration projects, research breakthroughs, and public recreation opportunities.
• Hub-and-Spoke Regional Coordination: Partner closely with Regional Information and Education (I&E) Supervisor and I&E Specialists across the state’s eight regions to harvest raw field content (from game wardens, biologists, and fish culturists), polish assets, and amplify them to statewide and national audiences.
• Crisis & Incident Management: Serve as the primary statewide media spokesperson during high-profile wildlife or public safety incidents, executing the department’s emergency communications protocol and providing strategic "crisis toolkits" to support regional offices.
• Science Translation & Content Creation: Translate highly dense biological data, complex harvest quotas, and changing hunting/fishing regulations into clear, engaging, and accessible press releases, digital content, and public-facing documents.
• Enterprise Digital Outreach: Oversee content strategy for the department’s primary digital channels, managing the distribution of mass public messaging to a statewide e-mail network of over 500,000 constituents.
• Public Sentiment & Analytical Feedback: Establish digital listening and media monitoring loops to track public trends and concerns, providing regular intelligence briefings to the Division Chief to help shape proactive agency policy.
• Supervise the Statewide Communications Specialist and oversee the development of the weekly media packet, communicating the Department’s top priority news.
• Work closely with the Director and Governor’s Office on controversial and sensitive wildlife management issues in addition to providing support regarding high-risk matters.
• Respond to statewide communications topics, and conducts interviews in person as well as on TV, radio, and other digital meeting.
• Work with communications team and Department leadership to develop communication campaigns with measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate with licensing, and IT sections to develop direct emails to customers with specific information and messaging related to customer products.
• Work with the Multimedia and Marketing Supervisor to develop and carry out the department's social media strategy.

IDEAL PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES & SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Western Outdoor Fluency: A deep respect for and baseline vocabulary regarding Wyoming's hunting, angling, trapping, and trapping-adjacent heritage, coupled with an empathetic understanding of the viewpoints of landowners, sportsmen, and conservationists.
• Strategic & Predictive Instinct: The capability to look at upcoming regulatory framework changes and accurately project how different public factions will react, shifting the communications posture in advance.
• The "Shield" Demeanor: Unshakeable composure under intense public or media scrutiny, with the ability to manage chaotic news cycles calmly while protecting field personnel from media distractions.
• Diplomatic Collaboration: Exceptional interpersonal skills to build trust across varied divisions, navigate internal silos, and foster a true peer-to-peer partnership with regional staff.
• Text & Narrative Agility: Mastery of the active voice, with an ability to write punchy, scannable text under tight deadlines.

PREFERENCES:


Preference will be given to candidates with a Bachelor's degree in a field related to strategic communications, journalism, science communications, public relations, public policy, marketing, or wildlife management (with a communications focus).


KNOWLEDGE:

• Knowledge and understanding of the mission, goals, and objectives of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
• Ability to establish and implement cohesive communication and public relations strategies and plans.
• Experience communicating with the press and other media.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Strong strategic planning and management skills.
• Knowledge of communication principles, media, and public relations techniques.
• Outstanding interpersonal and community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
• Employee development and performance management skills.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, interpret operational needs, and develop integrated, creative solutions.
• Organizational planning, structuring, and staffing skills.
• Skill in financial planning and fiscal management.
• Ability to use independent judgment and gather, manage, and impart information to the media and other internal and external audiences.
• Strong knowledge of local and regional media contacts and/or a proven ability to develop such relationships quickly.
• Ability to provide effective advice and counsel on strategic and/or critical communication issues and to exercise effective judgment.
• Ability to write executive-level communications for internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:


Education:
Bachelor's Degree (typically in Public Relations)

Experience:
1-2 years of progressive work experience (typically in Public Relations) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Senior Public Relations Specialist

OR

Education & ExperienceSubstitution:
4-6 years of progressive work experience (typically in Public Relations) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Senior Public Relations Specialist

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
None


PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Statewide travel is required.

NOTES:

• FLSA: Exempt
• Please upload a cover letter expressing your interest in the position and in working for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
• Please disclose if AI was used in any part of the application process, including cover letter and/or resume creation.
• Successful applicants for employment must pass a background check and credit check before the appointment.
• For any questions regarding this position, please contact Roy Weber [e-mail] or 307-777-4594.
  

040-Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Communications and Education Division

Clickhere to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure.

Click hereto view the State of Wyoming Total Compensation Calculator.

URL:http://agency.governmentjobs.com/wyoming/default.cfm

The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.

Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.

For any questions regarding this position, please contact Roy Weber [e-mail] or 307-777-4594.