CPW Wildlife Manager V / Assistant Area Wildlife Manager - Area 9 Northwest Region

• 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.

The work unit exists to implement the goals and objectives of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s strategic long-range and operational plans to accomplish the Legislative mandate of protecting, preserving, managing, and enhancing the State’s wildlife resources in the geographical area comprised of Area 9 in the Northwest Region (Grand, Summit, Eagle, and Routt  Counties).

The Assistant Area Wildlife Manager (AAWM) is responsible for assisting the Area Wildlife Manager (AWM) by overseeing employees as a subordinate supervisor in the following administrative areas: 

This position identifies and provides process-level and operations direction to subordinate FTE to fulfill the agency mission and achieve work plans and goals set by the agency and AWM. Leads implementation of programs that maintain the agency’s mission through decisions at the process level. It also advises and makes recommendations to the AWM for programs and operations within the AWM’s control.

The position provides observations, strategic recommendations, direction, advice, and support to the development of and/or correction of employees for whom they supervise. This position assists with the process-level implementation of performance management plans, performance improvement plans, and hiring of vacant positions. This position works in conjunction with the AWM to identify opportunities and individual needs for employee development and to ensure training and job-specific competencies requirements are met.

This position works in conjunction with the AWM to ensure public compliance with State statutes and Regulations and address wildlife management issues within the area. This position also assists in planning, directing, monitoring, leading, appraisal, allocation, and oversight of Regional activities as assigned.

• Assistant Area Wildlife Managers are unit supervisors and provide technical, administrative support to District Wildlife Managers and Wildlife Technicians. This position is accountable for the work product of district wildlife managers (DWMs) and wildlife property technicians (WTs), including timeliness, correctness, and soundness. This position assigns tasks, monitors progress and workflow, checks products, schedules work, and establishes work standards for supervised employees.

• This position develops and implements Performance Management Plans, Performance Improvement Plans, and fills vacant positions that they oversee. AAWMs provide mentorship and leadership to their team. This position works with the AWM to identify opportunities and individual needs for employee development and to ensure training and job-specific competencies requirements are met.

• The AAWM leads and/or assists the AWM with resource acquisition and allocation to meet the needs of all Area personnel, programs, and operations.

Wildlife Management

• This position operates as a supervisor for Area personnel and assists staff with the implementation of wildlife and habitat management tasks, projects, and programs. Within the limits of applicable rules (Statutes, regulations, burn permits, FLSA, habitat management guidelines, species requirements, etc.), and taking into account technology and resource availability, the AAWM is responsible for determining the processes (needs assessments, prioritization, and planning), attaining resources (budget, personnel, and equipment/supplies), and deploying those resources to achieve the desired objectives and goals.  

• The position will serve as a supervisor for area law enforcement operations and subordinate commissioned staff. Within the limits of applicable rules(statutes, regulations, LEP’s, training, FLSA, search warrants, public safety, tactical principles, etc.), and taking into account technology and resource availability, the AAWM is partially responsible for determining the processes (needs assessments, prioritization, and planning), attaining resources (budget, personnel, capabilities, and equipment/supplies), and deploying those resources to achieve the desired law enforcement objectives and goals.  

• AAWMs are commissioned state-certified law enforcement officers who enforce the Colorado Revised Statutes with a focus on wildlife resources, property owned or administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources, waters of the United States, firearms regulations, and all other areas of responsibility of CPW. All CPW commissioned wildlife officers are, by Memorandum of Agreement, federally commissioned as Deputy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Special 

• Agents and may enforce appropriate sections of the Code of Federal Regulations under the terms of the agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Some wildlife species are migratory (such as waterfowl and migratory birds like doves) and hunting often occurs on federal lands (US Forest Service or BLM lands), so there are many opportunities for state wildlife officers to handle law enforcement cases with a Federal nexus. All levels of law enforcement commissioned wildlife managers undergo a minimum of 40 hours of P.O.S.T. required law enforcement training each year.

• AAWMs are crucial to the processes of leading, selecting, training, mentoring, and developing Wildlife Officers. They will also serve as the direct supervisors for assigned DWMs and commissioned Wildlife Technicians in law enforcement activities. The position must consider public safety, landowner relations and private property rights, protection of wildlife, relationships with other law enforcement agencies and District Attorneys' Offices, the concerns of sportspersons, and wildlife-related economic interests in promoting the safe and well-managed use of wildlife resources across the State of Colorado. 

• AAWMs lead and assist with criminal case management, including proper handling of evidence, storage of evidence (firearms, animal carcasses, and trophy portions), and disposition. Accountable for the work of subordinate commissioned personnel for investigating wildlife crimes,  adjudicating wildlife violations through the court systems, and ancillary administrative proceedings, such as license revocation hearings. These actions are guided by Law Enforcement Procedures (LEP), rules of evidence, state statutes, and the Colorado and US Constitutions.

• AAWM maintains a working knowledge of customer service operations. AAWM helps ensure that operations are up-to-date, efficient, and provide a high level of customer service both externally and internally. AAWM helps ensure that new policies and procedures are followed, and that ongoing personnel or infrastructure
  needs are addressed in a timely manner. The AAWM Position evaluates options and designs standard operating procedures that ensure a high level of customer service. This includes decisions related to the use of employee time and agency resources. The position deploys resources as appropriate based on good judgment of resource availability and customer needs. The position evaluates efficacy of procedures and practices, applies theories and models, and gives direction as needed.  

• Assistant AWMs, in collaboration with Area staff, oversee responses to inquiries from the public, both during office hours and on an on-call 24-hour response basis. Assistant AWMs oversee consistency and adherence to policy and state law.
  The AAWM may be responsible for overseeing Chronic Wasting Disease sampling and submissions in the Area as well as overseeing mandatory animal checks. This includes maintaining a working knowledge of processes and procedures outlined by Terrestrial, and overseeing the training, implementation, and maintenance of proper procedure to ensure biological data is collected safely and with a high degree of accuracy.

• Assistant AWMs are Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certified peace officers and perform law enforcement duties. They may maintain on-call status; assist DWMs with calls for service, and provide coverage of Districts as needed based on call volume or vacancies.

• Assistant AWMs assist with implementation of, and may supervise Area personnel in, education and outreach efforts.  The AAWM is responsible for determining the processes (needs assessments, prioritization, and planning), obtaining resources (budget, personnel, capabilities, and equipment/supplies), and deploying those resources to achieve the desired objectives and goals.

• In coordination with the AWM and as needed, serve as Area and CPW spokesperson with landowners, media, sportspersons, special interest groups, other law enforcement and resource agencies, and elected officials to ensure CPW interests are represented across Area 16. 

• Actively recruit new employees, hunters, volunteers, and allies by speaking in communities about wildlife management and the role of CPW in Colorado.

• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

• Pre-employment background and driving record check required as conditional of offer.

• Strong multitasking skills, organizational, and time management skills.
• Strong level of written and oral communication skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to manage and prioritize large volumes of work independently.
• Possess excellent problem-solving ability and good judgement.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including attention to detail and work prioritization.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative by using critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify solutions to problem challenges.
• Commissioned/POST Certified Officer.

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Demonstrated experience working with other agencies on a program-level basis.
• Experience working with land managers and stakeholders on outdoor recreation projects.
• Knowledge and experience with the state's financial procedures and systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Suite.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent receptive listening skills

• Must be willing and able to obtain a State of Colorado drivers' license no later than the first day of employment if selected for hire.
• Colorado POST certification or Colorado POST provisional certification prior to the start date
• Ability to respond in exigent circumstances (i.e. a wildlife violation requiring a prompt response, human safety issue, wildlife/human conflict after working hours/weekend/holidays.  Positions will be regularly placed on the on-call calendar annually.
• Regularly train, handle, and carry handgun, rifles, and shotguns for law enforcement and wildlife management needs.
• Single and overnight travel throughout the NW Region and statewide at times.
• Ability to meet annual agency law enforcement training requirements.  
• All commissioned agency wildlife officers maintain a federal commission under the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  Some wildlife is migratory or federally listed (i.e waterfowl, wolves).   There are times where state wildlife officers may work with the USFWS on enforcing/managing this wildlife.
• Must be willing and able to submit to, and pass a background investigation, which includes the following:
  • Felony convictions

  • Domestic Violence charges/convictions/restraining orders

  • Driving under the Influence/Impaired and/or boating under the Influence/Impaired convictions

  • Misdemeanor convictions that preclude being P.O.S.T certified as a Colorado Peace Officer.

  • Fingerprint submission and check

  • Polygraph

  • Moral turpitude

  • Physical Fitness Assessment

  • Suitability interview, and psychological examination (administered by a third party professional organization)

  • Drug Screening (administered by a third party professional organization).

  • Medical physical exam from a medical professional (administered by a third party professional organization).

• IMPORTANT - Federal law maintains prohibition of illegal drugs. If you have used marijuana within the past 12 months preceding your employment and/or used any illegal drugs within the past 36 months preceding your employment you will be disqualified from the process and will not advance further.
• If you have been convicted of a felony or any domestic violence charge, and/or been convicted of any misdemeanors which preclude POST certification as a Colorado Peace Officer you will be disqualified from the process and will not advance further.  Please see link: Decertifying Misdemeanors Colorado POST (Download PDF reader).
• May be subject to background check. 
• 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. 

  To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who: 

  • 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

• 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 reporting level.