Unit Manager - Kalispell Unit Manager

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 Kalispell Unit Manager provides leadership, vision, and management for all Unit operations. The position is responsible for implementing Forestry and Trust Land programs; supervising permanent and seasonal staff; managing budgets and contracts; administering land use licenses and leases; and representing Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) with partners, cooperators, and the public. The incumbent exercises a high degree of independent judgment to balance resource protection with revenue generation and public expectations.

What You'll Do

• Formulates and provides vision, leadership, and structure to Unit personnel. Devises ways to improve the Unit’s operation; provides timely and accurate information and direction to Unit personnel; establishes Unit activities and priorities to meet DNRC’s needs applying professional judgment obtained through years of education and experience.

• Conducts Unit personnel performance appraisals and provides situational guidance to meet the essential goals and objectives of the DNRC, and the career aspirations of employees. Uses DNRC performance guidelines and career development plans.

• Engages in problem solving facilitation and conflict resolution at both the NWLO and Unit level.Identifies and articulates issues, defines process, and works cooperatively with affected parties to develop creative solutions.

• Responsible for personnel management of unit staff including plans, initiating and/or conducting disciplinary actions, coaching and recognizing meritorious service.

• Reviews and/or prepares a variety of land-use leases and licenses, permits, agreements, and memorandums of understanding. Provides services to the public and effectively manages natural resources to generate trust revenue using professional judgment and department goals and objectives.

• Monitors Unit compliance with various natural resource laws, rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines, such as water and air quality, hazard reduction, Endangered Species Act, etc. Periodically inspects project sites, reviews reports, and solicits feedback to determine compliance. Initiates corrective measures as necessary.

• Authors and administers various program budgets to effectively implement planned projects, provide for personnel services contracts, equipment, and building and grounds maintenance.Integrates standard budgeting and accounting methods with state funding criterion.

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 other natural resource management fields including, but not limited to ecology, wildlife biology, fire management, recreation management, forest soils, hydrology, or range science.

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)\:

Knowledge of\:

• Principles, practices, and theories of natural resource management, including land, water, forest, wildlife, recreation, and fire management.

•  State and federal laws, regulations, policies, rules, and permitting requirements related to natural resource management, state lands, environmental protection, and public trust responsibilities.

• DNRC mission, programs, administrative processes, policies, and procedures.

• Land-use authorization processes, including leases, licenses, permits, agreements, memorandums of understanding, and enforcement actions.

Skills in\:

• Leading, supervising, coaching, evaluating, recognizing, and developing professional and technical staff.

• Developing and implementing operational plans, priorities, policies, procedures, and budget objectives.

• Analyzing complex natural-resource, land-use, operational, and regulatory issues and making sound, timely decisions.

Ability to\:

• Provide strategic direction and establish priorities for a complex natural-resource management unit.

• Balance natural-resource protection, public interests, legal requirements, and trust-revenue responsibilities.

• Exercise independent professional judgment in complex, sensitive, and occasionally controversial situations.

• Make effective decisions with incomplete information, competing priorities, and time-sensitive operational demands.

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.