Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources

Posting number: GOVELECT_EDDNR_ESW11.04.26

Department: Office of the Governor

Job classification: NON-CLASSIFIED

Posting type: Open

Categories: Administration

Department: Office of the Governor; Department of Natural Resources

Position Title: Executive Director

Summary of Functions: The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The position is part of the Governor’s Cabinet and is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the department and for the consistent achievement of its mission and objectives. Its purpose is to manage Colorado’s land, mineral, water, and wildlife resources in balance for the use and benefit of current and future generations. The Executive Director will also direct the state’s wildfire prevention coordination and will work with the Director of Water Policy on Colorado Water Plan funding and conservation.

• Oversee and manage the department’s operations and direct the implementation of its services, policies, and programs in alignment with department goals, the Governor’s initiatives, and the expectations of stakeholders
• Direct and oversee the department’s budget with fiscal management that operates within the approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, and maintains a positive financial position
• Build and cultivate a high-performing team through effective leadership focused on recruiting and retaining top talent and providing guidance, coaching, and development to direct reports
• Direct the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, the Division of Forestry, and the Avalanche Information Center
• Exercise the functions of the Commissioner of Mines
• Provide budgeting, purchasing, and planning for the independently governed divisions and management commissions
• Hold a non-voting seat on the Parks and Wildlife Commission and the Energy and Carbon Management Commission
• Coordinate the department’s position on the interstate compacts the State Engineer administers and work with the Director of Water Policy on Water Plan funding and conservation
• Direct the state’s wildfire prevention coordination and act as a central point of contact for local, regional, and federal partners on forest health
• Represent the department before the General Assembly and federal land agencies
• Protect Colorado’s state parks and federal public lands so they remain accessible and champion the state’s outdoor recreation economy
• Partner with hunting, angling, and outdoor recreation organizations, agricultural and ranching organizations, the oil and gas industry, conservation organizations, ski area operators, and Tribal governments
• Brief the Governor’s Office on all relevant policy issues arising from state and federal legislative activities
• Build a good relationship with the General Assembly and serve as the point person for directing the department’s response to proposed legislation that may affect its operations

Organizational Relationships: Parks and Wildlife Commission and Division; Colorado Water Conservation Board; State Board of Land Commissioners; Energy and Carbon Management Commission; State Engineer and division engineers; Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Division of Fire Prevention and Control; Department of Agriculture; Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Forest Service; Chief Resilience Officer; Director of Rural Advancement; Director of Water Policy

• A bachelor’s or advanced degree in natural resource management, environmental science, engineering, public administration, law, or a closely related field
• Ten or more years of experience in natural resources, water, land management, or public administration
• Five or more years of professional executive management experience that includes setting goals and objectives and managing a budget to achieve them
• Five or more years of experience fostering effective and efficient process improvements for an organization of twenty-five or more employees
• Five or more years of experience managing land, mineral, water, or wildlife resources
• Experience building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders with varying perspectives and interests

• Demonstrated knowledge of the general field of natural resource management and environmental protection
• Demonstrated command of water rights administration, interstate compacts, and public land policy
• Experience overseeing mineral extraction and reclamation regulation
• Experience leading wildfire prevention and forest health management at landscape scale
• Experience working with federal land agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service
• Experience working with Tribal governments
• Experience championing outdoor recreation, state parks, or wildlife programs
• Demonstrated ability to balance development with conservation across agricultural, energy, recreation, and environmental interests

Conditions of employment: Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed

The State of Colorado offers a competitive benefits package to permanent employees:

• PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage
• Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave
• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits

Our core values drive our actions. We are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, acting with integrity, and operating transparently; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about improving the lives of the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to solve problems creatively and operate with a continuous improvement mindset; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other as a team and collaborate effectively.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages and conserves Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today and tomorrow. That work means balancing development with conservation so the state offers the same kinds of opportunities to future generations. Coloradans encounter the department’s work when they camp in a state park, drink a glass of water, or spot a bighorn sheep on a canyon drive.

With 43 state parks and more than 350 state wildlife areas, Colorado Parks and Wildlife touches the lives of everyone who hunts, fishes, hikes, or admires Colorado’s wildlife and landscapes. Three million acres and significant mineral rights are managed by the State Land Board to raise revenue dedicated to K-12 education in Colorado. Other DNR agencies oversee oil and gas development and the mining of coal, metals, and construction rock, and they make sure these industries operate safely and protect the environment.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board helps local governments and utilities plan to meet future water needs, funds projects that store and deliver water to farmers and communities, and helps keep water flowing in rivers for fish and recreation. The State Engineer and the Division of Water Resources enforce the rules that ensure water users receive their lawful supplies, and they work with authorities inside and outside Colorado to meet the state’s interstate compacts. The department is also home to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Its forecasts alert backcountry skiers, local governments, highway crews, and emergency responders to dangerous snow conditions. The department’s other divisions include the Division of Forestry and the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety.

HOW TO APPLY:Please submit an online application for this position at buildingcoloradosfuturetogether.org. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date.

A resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

The State of Colorado is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our office will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at .

We believe that diverse teams produce better results and encourage people of a variety of backgrounds and qualifications to apply.

Colorado Governor-elect Phil Weiser is committed to an administration that represents all of Colorado, and serves and protects every Coloradan. Governor-elect Weiser and his team will lead State government to ensure that we serve the people of Colorado, working to make their lives better, and together, we meet opportunities and challenges with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. His commitment to serve as the People’s Governor means that he and his team will have a sustained focus on how to make Colorado safer, more affordable, more sustainable, and a great place to live, build a business, and raise a family.