Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Core Values The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.
- We value and respect each other.
- We create collaborative work environments.
- We build and maintain strong relationships.
- We practice accountability.
- We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work
Position Overview The Stewardship Program Manager serves as Montana’s coordinator for the Forest Stewardship Program and related Rural Forestry Assistance and conservation education programs. This position provides statewide program guidance, technical expertise, and administrative support that enables Unit Managers and Service Foresters to deliver high-quality landowner assistance across the state. This role works collaboratively within the DNRC field delivery system. The Stewardship Program Manager functions as a collaborative program resource. They are responsible for developing standards and tools, identifying and administering funding opportunities, maintaining required federal compliance, and coordinating with USFS State, Private and Tribal Forestry Program Managers. While Unit Managers and Service Foresters maintain local relationships and exercise line officer authority in day-to-day program delivery. The Stewardship Program Manager also serves as the state's primary liaison to federal program staff, supports the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee, and is responsible for the annual reporting, monitoring, and geospatial obligations that determine Montana's federal funding allocation through USFS Consolidated Grant Program. This position oversees administration of state and federal grant programs including Landscape Scale Restoration, Western States Wildland Urban Interface, Hazardous Fuels, and Montana Forest Action Plan Implementation, ranging from $3–7 million annually. The Stewardship Program Manager also identifies and cultivates relationships with FTLD staff and prospective program partners with the goal of increasing active sustainable forest management on private forest lands and reducing the risk of severe wildfire to communities across the State of Montana. The incumbent is also responsible for representing the agency at meetings and conferences, coordinating and directing special projects, working with leadership to prepare for legislative assemblies and audiences, and attending training and/or continuing education as required. This position also recruits, directly manages and evaluates program personnel (5.0 FTE) and temporary and/or contracted employees as needed. This position is supervised by the Forestry Assistance Bureau Chief
What You'll Do
- Develop program guidance and tools.Translate state and federal requirements into clear standards, procedures, and training that help field staff deliver consistent, high-quality services to private landowner
- Advance statewide forest stewardship priorities. Collaborate with field staff and partners to identify needs, connect locally identified projects with funding and technical resources, and support implementation of the Montana Forest Action Plan.
- Build and strengthen partnerships. Work with agencies, tribes, universities, conservation organizations, and landowner groups to expand access to assistance, coordinate services, and support resilient forests and fire-adapted communities.
- Manage grants and budgets. Administer $3–7 million annually in state and federal grants, oversee competitive funding and subaward processes, monitor project performance, and ensure funds are used effectively and in compliance with requirements.
- Oversee program accountability. Coordinate accomplishment reporting, geospatial data, stewardship plan monitoring, and civil rights compliance. Use program results to identify improvements, inform priorities, and guide staff training.
- Lead staff and oversee contracted services. Supervise and develop program staff, establish work priorities, evaluate performance, identify training needs, and manage contracts and deliverables.
- Represent and promote the program. Coordinate the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee, participate in statewide and regional partnerships, and collaborate on outreach that highlights available services and landowner success stories.
Application Materials
- Online State Application
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Benefits
- Work/life balance.
- Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.
- Longevity pay with continued state service.
- Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
- Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.
- Retirement plans (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan).
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.
- Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.
- Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related natural resources field.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in natural resources or a related field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of:
- Active forest management, forest stewardship planning, and field competency relevant to advising and training Service Foresters is expected.
- The principal laws relating to the USDA Forest Service State, Private and Tribal Forestry programs and natural resource issues in Montana, especially those pertaining to forest management, wildland fire, fire adapted communities, forest health, insects and disease management, and water quality, is required.
- Civil rights obligations applicable to federally funded programs is required.
Skills in:
- Written and verbal communication.
- Public education and outreach.
- GIS and spatial data management technology is required, including experience with USFS SMARTar and SMART mapping tools or equivalent reporting processes.
Ability to:
- Work collaboratively with field staff who have line authority.
- Confidently speak to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrate competencies in long-term strategic planning, geo-spatial data management, accomplishment monitoring, and federal grant compliance.
- Travel to field and work sites.
Special Information Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months
Eligibility to Work Effective May 4, 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: E-Verify Website.
Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.
State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.