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Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Stewardship

New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Albany, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 4/23/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/22/2026
Description

Duties Description

Under the direction of the Executive Deputy Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Stewardship serves as the senior executive responsible for strategic leadership, coordination and performance of the following program areas: Environmental Stewardship, Open Space Protection, Environmental Planning and Analysis, Environmental Sustainability, and Real Property Services.

The role requires a dynamic leader capable of managing a large multidisciplinary workforce and significant public engagement while advancing the agency’s mission of stewardship, recreation, education and historic preservation.

The Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Stewardship ensures that the environmental stewardship program aligns with statewide policy and organizational priorities while fostering a culture that balances responsible recreation with the needs of the natural environment.

The duties of the Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Stewardship include but are not limited to:

  • Provide leadership and oversight for the Division of Environmental Stewardship and Planning, which consists of the Environmental Stewardship Bureau, Planning and Analysis Bureau, GIS and Data Bureau, and Real Property Bureau.
  • Ensure consistent operational standards across Environmental Stewardship Districts while allowing flexibility to address regional needs and environmental conditions.
  • Confer with executive-level managers to define environmental stewardship projects, initiatives, and long-term goals and objectives. Provide guidance to agency executive leadership team regarding functions and processes.
  • Provide supervision and mentoring to Albany Office based bureau and program managers as well as Environmental Stewardship District managers, ensuring consistency and coordination between park regions, divisions, and bureaus, and communicating executive directives, priorities, preferences, and approach. Promote an atmosphere of inclusiveness and respect, professional motivation and continuous learning.
  • Conducts regular reviews of performance for both Albany Office-based staff as well as staff assigned to Environmental Stewardship Districts, identifying areas for improvement, efficiency gains and service enhancements.
  • Apply high level programmatic knowledge in addressing novel, sensitive, and high-profile or critical issues.
  • Set policies, standards, and procedures; provide input on overall agency policies and procedures, as needed.
  • Evaluate activities and functions for effectiveness and efficiency; realign or redeploy resources as appropriate; recommend and/or implement procedural or process improvements, as necessary.
  • Oversee the preparation of periodic progress reports, metrics, and status of ongoing projects for Executive staff. Participate in regular meetings with other Deputies and/or executive-level staff.
  • Represent OPRHP with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Form and maintain collaborative relationships with other governmental and non-governmental entities or stakeholders, such as Executive Chamber staff, Department of Environmental Conservation, the Open Space Institute, etc.
  • Work with executive leadership team and other agency staff to assist in developing the agency’s Annual Budget Request.
  • Assist the Commissioner, Executive Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, and other staff in developing, preparing, and coordinating internal and external communications, metrics, reports, or other projects, as directed.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Thirteen years of relevant experience. At least four years of this experience must have included the management and supervision of subordinate staff*.

Education May Be Substituted For Experience

  • Associate degree may substitute for two years of specialized experience;
  • Bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of specialized experience;
  • Master’s degree may substitute for five years of specialized experience;
  • J.D. may substitute for six years of specialized experience;
  • Ph.D. may substitute for seven years of specialized experience
  • The four years of experience must have been at the managerial level and cannot be substituted.

Preferred Qualifications

Senior leadership experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Environmental sustainability management
  • Open space protection management
  • Environmental planning and analysis management
  • Natural resource management
  • State or municipal government operations
  • Environmental or conservation program management

Experience managing a multi-disciplinary team of environmental professionals with responsibility for fostering environmental stewardship spanning a large geographic area is strongly preferred.

Additional Comments

Salary within the posted range will be commensurate with experience. This is an appointment to a position in the exempt jurisdictional class. All exempt appointments require completion of a background check prior to appointment, and completion of an annual Financial Disclosure Statement. Incumbents serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority, and the employment relationship can be altered at any time by either party.

Paid Time Off

The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation offers a generous benefits package that includes but is not limited to:

  • M/C: 39 days - 13 Vacation days, 8 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.
  • M/C: Eligible for professional leave to participate in professional development, but at the supervisor’s discretion.

Health Care Benefits

  • Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs.
  • Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits

  • New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
  • NYS Deferred Compensation
  • Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
  • Paid Parental / Family Leave

To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx

Salary : $156,757 - $197,170

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