Wildlife Division Operations Program Specialist

State of Montana; East Helena (MT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Job summary

State of Montana's Wildlife Division seeks an Operations Program Specialist in Helena to provide high-level programmatic and business coordination for the Wildlife Program and its bureaus. You will oversee permitting, public records requests, contracts, and budget monitoring while supporting multiple programs within Habitat, Game, Nongame and Coordination Bureaus.

Work encompasses data/information management, procurement, contracting and website maintenance, with collaboration across program

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or natural resource management is required.
• Relevant employment experience related to program coordination and budgeting is desirable.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Oversee multiple Wildlife Division programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and effective program support.
• Coordinate contracting, procurement, hiring processes, invoicing, and budget monitoring for the division.
• Lead information management through website/application updates, data requests, and reporting.

Skills

Program management

Budget monitoring

Procurement

Contracting

Data management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, or natural resource management

Job description

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Special Information

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Effective June 22, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here,https://www.e-verify.gov/

Job Specific Information

The Wildlife Division Operations Program Specialist works in the Wildlife Program Headquarters in Helena and provides high level programmatic and business coordination support for the Wildlife Division and the individual programs within the Wildlife Division. The position provides high level programmatic and business support to the Wildlife Program and its Bureaus by coordinating and overseeing efforts related to permitting, public commenting, public records requests, commission proposal preparation, regulations, data management, website management, procurement, contracting, and budget monitoring. Provides quality assurance/quality control oversight for these efforts. Works closely with program managers to provide business support for programs in the Habitat, Game, Nongame and Coordination Bureaus.

Job Duties

This position provides high level programmatic and business support to the Wildlife Program and its Bureaus by coordinating and overseeing efforts related to program management, business functions, and information management.

Program Management

Oversees and coordinates multiple Wildlife Division programs, processes, and regulatory compliance including Wildlife Commission materials preparation, public records requests, scientific collection permits, upland game bird and migratory bird program contracts, Montana Environmental Policy Act, public meetings and processes, and other program support as requested.

Business Functions

Oversee and coordinate Wildlife Division business functions by developing expertise and serving as the division lead for contracting, procurement, hiring processes, ServiceNow invoicing, and T&E system processes. Provides programmatic support to wildlife staff with procurement and contracts, hiring and other human resource processes, data and records management, review and analysis of monthly budget status reports, and manages vouchers for payment and maintains invoice files.

Information Management

Serves a lead role in management of Wildlife Division information including serving as the division lead in maintenance and editing of the agency website, applications, and forms for the Wildlife Division, reviewing regulations for accuracy, and reviews specific data requests made by staff, the public, partners, and other agencies and prepares concise, understandable summary analyses and reports as requested.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or natural resource management. In addition to the education experience, relevant employment experience related to the job description is desired.

Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.