What are the responsibilities and job description for the CPW WILDLIFE MANAGER V/ Beaver Conservation Program Manager. position at State of Colorado?
Department Information
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.
We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.
In Addition To Offering Rewarding, Meaningful Work, We Offer
Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.
The Terrestrial Programs Unit exists to preserve, protect, and enhance the wildlife components of terrestrial ecosystems through planning, analysis, research, program implementation, and evaluation of terrestrial populations and habitats. The work unit sets guidance and direction on wildlife data collection and analysis and provides technical analysis and expertise to inform policy and management decisions.
Description Of Job
This position is recognized by executive management and serves as CPW’s senior authority on implementing the Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy (BCMS) and on statewide beaver management activities. Responsibility as a senior authority includes formulating and developing strategic program goals and objectives for consideration by CPW leadership, and advising the Parks and Wildlife Commission and CPW’s Director, Executive Management Team, Deputy Assistant Director, and Terrestrial Programs Supervisor on policy issues related to beaver management activities. This position directs and coordinates statewide activities related to the conservation and management of beaver, as well as beaver-influenced habitat, including population and habitat monitoring, harvest management, habitat restoration, conflict resolution, and translocation. As the agency’s statewide beaver expert, the position has a direct impact beyond CPW's organizational boundaries, influencing policy, conservation, planning, management, and funding decisions of other state agencies, federal agencies, and private organizations. Given the strong overlap in beaver, mink, and muskrat habitat and the extent to which interactions among these three species influence that habitat, this position will serve as the lead management authority for all three species.
Strategy Implementation & Program Oversight
Serve as the primary statewide lead for the implementation of the Colorado Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy (BCMS), ensuring all goals, milestones, and reporting requirements are met across CPW regions and reporting progress to agency leadership. Serve as the primary agency lead for all activities related to the conservation and management of beaver in beaver-influenced wetlands, integrating population health and habitat needs into broader ecosystem management. Develop strategic goals, objectives, and statewide guidance for beaver management, inventory, data collection, and monitoring. Assist and advise in the drafting of administrative directives, policies, and regulations to further the strategic goals of the program. This includes habitat restoration, conflict mitigation, translocation, hunting season structure, license allocations, methods of take, and bag limits. Provide high-level policy recommendations to CPW leadership.
Fiscal Stewardship & Procurement Operations
Develop, track, and manage an annual program budget of over $1 million, ensuring fiscal responsibility and the one million dollars per year, ensuring fiscal responsibility and efficient allocation of available funds across the state. Work closely with procurement staff to manage the purchase of specialized equipment and oversee the bidding and execution of external personal services contracts for restoration and mitigation projects. Identify and pursue diverse funding streams; manage the full lifecycle of grant-funded projects, including application, implementation, and rigorous compliance reporting/auditing. Analyze regional needs to strategically distribute funding for seasonal technicians, equipment caches, and emergency conflict-mitigation supplies.
Multi-Level Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as the primary Inter-Agency Liaison to coordinate with federal partners (USFS, BLM, APHIS), state agencies (CDA, CDOT, CWCB, SLB, DWR), and Tribal nations to ensure a collaborative approach to the implementation of the BCMS. Build and maintain relationships with the agricultural community, water conservancy districts, and the trapping community to balance species conservation with economic interests and private property rights. Facilitate relationships and collaborative efforts with NGOs, the agricultural community, water conservancy districts, the furharvester community, and other private stakeholder groups to balance species conservation with economic and social interests in state-level planning. Coordinate with partners to implement the field-level action items in the BCMS. Provide expert testimony in legislative hearings and professional presentations of information to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and other formal committees. Serve as the internal CPW liaison between CPW leadership, the regions, and biologists regarding beaver management, providing Wildlife Managers and biologists with specialized guidance on complex conservation and management issues.
Technical Support: Monitoring, Research, Data Management, Training, Outreach & Education
Lead policy development, design, and oversee standardized statewide protocols for monitoring occupancy and population trends. Collaborate with colleagues within the agency, in other State agencies, and in academia to engage in active peer review of relevant research and management products. Coordinate with the CPW Health Lab to monitor for zoonotic diseases and manage associated public health communications. Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert (SME) for beaver, developing educational materials that translate complex ecological data into accessible information regarding the benefits of "living with beaver" and riparian health. Coordinate with CPW colleagues to design educational outreach for CPW staff and external partners on, for example, non-lethal management technologies, beaver-mimicry restoration techniques, damage control protocols, and the ecological roles of beaver. Coordinate the movement of nuisance beavers to restoration-ready sites. Develop and manage a statewide "Conflict Toolbox" to ensure consistent, science-based response protocols across the state. Act as the agency spokesperson on beaver issues, creating educational materials that highlight the ecosystem services these species provide, such as increased water storage and biodiversity.
Other Duties As Assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure the effective implementation of goals and objectives defined by the Terrestrial Programs Unit and the overall Division mission. Examples may include, but are not limited to: Represent conservation priorities on internal and external committees, task forces, or professional societies (e.g., The Wildlife Society, AFWA); Complete mandatory training, internal reporting, and other general administrative tasks required of a statewide program coordinator; Assist in agency-wide responses to wildlife emergencies or environmental disasters as needed. Serve as the primary agency lead for all activities related to the conservation and management of muskrat and mink, including surveys, monitoring, and harvest.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Eight (8) years of relevant experience in Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Aquatic Biology, Conservation Biology, Wetland or Riparian Restoration, Biology, Ecology, Zoology/Animal Sciences or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.
OR
A combination of related education in Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Aquatic Biology, Conservation Biology, Wetland or Riparian Restoration, Biology, Ecology, Zoology/Animal Sciences and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned, equal to eight (8) years.
Job Class: WILDLIFE MANAGER Required Competencies
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
The Assessment Process
We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
ADAAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
E-Verify
DNR uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.
Toll–Free Applicant Support - Technical Help
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.
We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.
In Addition To Offering Rewarding, Meaningful Work, We Offer
- Medical and Dental plans
- Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
- Paid life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Employee Wellness programs
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Accounts
- 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
- Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
- Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
- Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .
Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.
The Terrestrial Programs Unit exists to preserve, protect, and enhance the wildlife components of terrestrial ecosystems through planning, analysis, research, program implementation, and evaluation of terrestrial populations and habitats. The work unit sets guidance and direction on wildlife data collection and analysis and provides technical analysis and expertise to inform policy and management decisions.
Description Of Job
This position is recognized by executive management and serves as CPW’s senior authority on implementing the Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy (BCMS) and on statewide beaver management activities. Responsibility as a senior authority includes formulating and developing strategic program goals and objectives for consideration by CPW leadership, and advising the Parks and Wildlife Commission and CPW’s Director, Executive Management Team, Deputy Assistant Director, and Terrestrial Programs Supervisor on policy issues related to beaver management activities. This position directs and coordinates statewide activities related to the conservation and management of beaver, as well as beaver-influenced habitat, including population and habitat monitoring, harvest management, habitat restoration, conflict resolution, and translocation. As the agency’s statewide beaver expert, the position has a direct impact beyond CPW's organizational boundaries, influencing policy, conservation, planning, management, and funding decisions of other state agencies, federal agencies, and private organizations. Given the strong overlap in beaver, mink, and muskrat habitat and the extent to which interactions among these three species influence that habitat, this position will serve as the lead management authority for all three species.
Strategy Implementation & Program Oversight
Serve as the primary statewide lead for the implementation of the Colorado Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy (BCMS), ensuring all goals, milestones, and reporting requirements are met across CPW regions and reporting progress to agency leadership. Serve as the primary agency lead for all activities related to the conservation and management of beaver in beaver-influenced wetlands, integrating population health and habitat needs into broader ecosystem management. Develop strategic goals, objectives, and statewide guidance for beaver management, inventory, data collection, and monitoring. Assist and advise in the drafting of administrative directives, policies, and regulations to further the strategic goals of the program. This includes habitat restoration, conflict mitigation, translocation, hunting season structure, license allocations, methods of take, and bag limits. Provide high-level policy recommendations to CPW leadership.
Fiscal Stewardship & Procurement Operations
Develop, track, and manage an annual program budget of over $1 million, ensuring fiscal responsibility and the one million dollars per year, ensuring fiscal responsibility and efficient allocation of available funds across the state. Work closely with procurement staff to manage the purchase of specialized equipment and oversee the bidding and execution of external personal services contracts for restoration and mitigation projects. Identify and pursue diverse funding streams; manage the full lifecycle of grant-funded projects, including application, implementation, and rigorous compliance reporting/auditing. Analyze regional needs to strategically distribute funding for seasonal technicians, equipment caches, and emergency conflict-mitigation supplies.
Multi-Level Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as the primary Inter-Agency Liaison to coordinate with federal partners (USFS, BLM, APHIS), state agencies (CDA, CDOT, CWCB, SLB, DWR), and Tribal nations to ensure a collaborative approach to the implementation of the BCMS. Build and maintain relationships with the agricultural community, water conservancy districts, and the trapping community to balance species conservation with economic interests and private property rights. Facilitate relationships and collaborative efforts with NGOs, the agricultural community, water conservancy districts, the furharvester community, and other private stakeholder groups to balance species conservation with economic and social interests in state-level planning. Coordinate with partners to implement the field-level action items in the BCMS. Provide expert testimony in legislative hearings and professional presentations of information to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and other formal committees. Serve as the internal CPW liaison between CPW leadership, the regions, and biologists regarding beaver management, providing Wildlife Managers and biologists with specialized guidance on complex conservation and management issues.
Technical Support: Monitoring, Research, Data Management, Training, Outreach & Education
Lead policy development, design, and oversee standardized statewide protocols for monitoring occupancy and population trends. Collaborate with colleagues within the agency, in other State agencies, and in academia to engage in active peer review of relevant research and management products. Coordinate with the CPW Health Lab to monitor for zoonotic diseases and manage associated public health communications. Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert (SME) for beaver, developing educational materials that translate complex ecological data into accessible information regarding the benefits of "living with beaver" and riparian health. Coordinate with CPW colleagues to design educational outreach for CPW staff and external partners on, for example, non-lethal management technologies, beaver-mimicry restoration techniques, damage control protocols, and the ecological roles of beaver. Coordinate the movement of nuisance beavers to restoration-ready sites. Develop and manage a statewide "Conflict Toolbox" to ensure consistent, science-based response protocols across the state. Act as the agency spokesperson on beaver issues, creating educational materials that highlight the ecosystem services these species provide, such as increased water storage and biodiversity.
Other Duties As Assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure the effective implementation of goals and objectives defined by the Terrestrial Programs Unit and the overall Division mission. Examples may include, but are not limited to: Represent conservation priorities on internal and external committees, task forces, or professional societies (e.g., The Wildlife Society, AFWA); Complete mandatory training, internal reporting, and other general administrative tasks required of a statewide program coordinator; Assist in agency-wide responses to wildlife emergencies or environmental disasters as needed. Serve as the primary agency lead for all activities related to the conservation and management of muskrat and mink, including surveys, monitoring, and harvest.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Eight (8) years of relevant experience in Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Aquatic Biology, Conservation Biology, Wetland or Riparian Restoration, Biology, Ecology, Zoology/Animal Sciences or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.
OR
A combination of related education in Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Aquatic Biology, Conservation Biology, Wetland or Riparian Restoration, Biology, Ecology, Zoology/Animal Sciences and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned, equal to eight (8) years.
Job Class: WILDLIFE MANAGER Required Competencies
- Preferred Qualifications
- Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
- Current or former Colorado Parks and Wildlife experience.
- Strong analytical, inductive, and deductive reasoning.
- Experience with project management, including planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluating programs and projects.
- Experience with procurement processes for major projects.
- Experience with managing staff, contractors, and vendors to develop, implement, maintain, and support projects.
- Ability to use databases to store, organize, and export data.
- Experience managing large budgets, writing RFPs, and overseeing complex vendor contracts.
- Knowledge of the ecology, monitoring, conservation, restoration, and management of beaver or similar species and their habitats.
- Understanding of state and federal regulations and the ability to interpret and apply them to beaver management.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and translate technical information through email, phone, virtual meetings and in person.
- Ability to manage funds, prioritize spending across programs, and fulfill federal aid reporting requirements.
- State of Colorado residency is required at the time of application.
- Statewide travel is required on an as-needed basis to attend various meetings and field work (CPW Commission, staff training, Area meetings, restoration efforts, etc.)
- Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
- Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive , any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.
- Have an assigned State fleet vehicle
- Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position
- Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
The Assessment Process
- All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
- Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
- Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
- Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
- This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.
- This recruitment may fill multiple vacancies at the same classification.
We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
ADAAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
E-Verify
DNR uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.
Toll–Free Applicant Support - Technical Help
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.