Essential Functions

1. Subject to the administrative approval of the Division Administrator, performs highly responsible managerial and administrative functions as the Field Management Section Head.

• Provides professional guidance and supervision to Regional Wildlife biologists responsible for all public and private lands;
• Organizes, plans, directs, supervises, coordinates and evaluates all regional biologists in the implementation and execution of ORC programs and activities.

2. Serves as full-line supervisor:

• Assigns and reviews Division work.
• Provides guidance and training to all Division staff.
• Counsels staff regarding work performance
• Reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs.
• Establishes annual goals and objectives.
• Approves leave and benefit time.
• Adjusts first level grievances.
• Effectively recommends and imposes discipline up to and including discharge.
• Prepares and signs performance evaluations.
• Determines and recommends staffing needs

3. Plans, controls and directs the development of an annual budget for the section including the establishment of priorities

• Directs and evaluates the annual expenditure of appropriated funds with discretionary authority.

4. Develops, implements, directs and evaluates annual plans of work and productivity for all programmatic regional biologists within the section.

5. Consults with the Division Administrator and the inter-disciplinary program team in conducting and directing management studies to provide additional knowledge for performing the controlling administrative and managerial impact on the Division and the Office

• Reviews, develops and implements programs to assure compliance with state and federal statutory and obligatory laws and regulations\
• Implements new administrative fiscal techniques to improve natural resource management programs.

Essential Functions cont.

6. Develops and recommends changes to applicable statutes to achieve better statewide natural resource management practices

• Explains and interprets ORC programs and policies to the media, other agencies, conservation organizations, school groups and the general public
• Promulgates Administrative Orders regulating the use of natural resource management plans for protecting the state's natural resources for approval by the Division Administrator and Office Director.

7. Develops; directs and integrates inter-agency cooperative agreements of work tasks on an intra and inter-state basis and with agencies of the federal/state government, e.g. Illinois Dept of Agriculture, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, US Dept of Agriculture, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Army Corps of Engineers, professional societies, Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, institutions of higher education and natural resource departments from other states

• Reviews and evaluates expenditures of federal reimbursement funds to the state for natural resource management activities.

8. Represents the Division Administrator at assigned meetings on an intra and inter-state basis with representatives of other federal and state natural resource management personnel.

9. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of a Bachelor's degree in fish, wildlife, forestry or natural heritage resource management or in a related biological science.
2. Requires six years progressively responsible professional experience in fish, wildlife, forestry or natural heritage resource management, including two years professional supervisory experience such as would be acquired as a statewide natural resource program manager or regional resource manager.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prefers two (2) years of knowledge of state and federal Laws; rules and regulations pertaining to wildlife resources.
2. Prefers two (2) years of thorough knowledge of the administrative aspects of the position including such areas as budgeting, procurement, personnel practices and interpersonal relationships of a supervisory and coordinative nature.
3. Prefers two (2) years of thorough knowledge of wildlife research principles effecting section operations.
4. Prefers two (2) years of experience providing administrative direction and supervision to staff and other employing the service of the Department.
5. Prefers two (2) years of experience coordinating regional operations with other regions, other programs, sections, Department divisions and cooperating agencies.

Employment Condition

All applicants must be able to meet the following Conditions of Employment, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be considered for this position.

1. Ability to pass background check

Agency and Division Statements

DNR Agency Statement

Charged with preserving, protecting and promoting Illinois’ natural and cultural resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) employees oversee water, wildlife, wetlands and oil wells, parks, historic sites – and everything in between. Employment opportunities vary greatly, often providing employees the chance to work indoors and out in a dynamic yet relaxed environment. Working for the State of Illinois, IDNR employees receive excellent benefits, including health, vision and dental insurance; a retirement plan and deferred compensation options; state holidays and other time off; as well as pre-tax benefit programs.

Office of Resource Conservation

The mission of the Division of Wildlife Resources is to provide leadership with the restoration, management and protection of wildlife populations and their habitats, in accordance with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.