Job Description Summary

Department - Conservation Lands & Resources

Job Description

Job Type: Classified

Job Classification: 5363 - Natural Resources Program Manager

Salary Grade: 14

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $65,457 - $78,540 Annually 

Pay Range: $65,457 - $91,644 Annually 

Range Explanation:

• Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

• Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

Conservation Lands & Resources (CLR) department is seeking an experienced and dedicated Range and Agricultural Program Manager to administer and monitor more than 200,000 acres of rangelands and farms within the Range and Agricultural Lands, Water, and Special Projects (RAWS) Division. This critical role is primarily responsible for the administration of Ranch and Farm Management Agreements, and monitoring rangeland conditions and properties to ensure adherence to the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, Multi-species Conservation Plan, and Rangeland Management Standards and Guidelines. 

The CLR department manages over 260,000 acres of County conservation lands, including 13 active cattle ranches, iconic natural resource parks such as Tucson Mountain Park, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, and Agua Caliente Park, and a variety of open space properties. The division’s resource management responsibilities provide critical leadership and solutions towards implementation of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP), one of the most ambitious conservation programs by a local government.

Essential Functions:  

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.

• Develops, manages, and evaluates the overall strategic direction of the County’s environmental education programs, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and long-range community environmental priorities;

• Oversees program operations, including budgeting, staffing, resource management, and performance monitoring, ensuring effective and efficient delivery of environmental education services;

• Establishes policies, standards, and operating procedures for environmental education initiatives, ensuring compliance with County requirements and applicable state and federal environmental regulations;

• Provides leadership and supervision to professional staff, coordinators, specialists, and volunteers, including hiring recommendations, training, performance evaluation, and ongoing professional development;

• Leads high-level outreach and partnership efforts, cultivating and sustaining collaborations with educational institutions, community organizations, governmental agencies, tribal entities, and private-sector partners;

• Directs the development and approval of educational materials, curricula, communications, and multimedia resources, ensuring scientific accuracy, accessibility, and consistency with best practices;

• Oversees program evaluation activities, including data collection, analysis, and reporting, and uses results to inform policy decisions and continuous program improvement;

• Represents the department at public meetings, advisory boards, community forums, and interagency workgroups, serving as the primary spokesperson on environmental education initiatives;

• Monitors emerging environmental issues, research, legislative trends, and community needs, integrating findings into program policy, planning, and resource allocation;

• Secures and manages grants, contracts, and external funding opportunities, ensuring compliance, effective implementation, and alignment with program priorities;

• Guides the integration and strategic use of digital platforms, technologies, and communication tools to expand public engagement, improve program accessibility, and enhance educational outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications:  

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources management, ecology, environmental science, wildlife biology/wildlife management, forestry, range management, conservation biology, environmental policy or environmental studies, or a closely related field as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment AND four years of experience in community outreach, engagement, or a related area.

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.)

OR:

Four years of experience with Pima County in a Natural Resources Program Coordinator or related position as determined by the department head at the time of recruitment INCLUDING one year of lead/supervisory experience.

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.  

Special Notice Items: The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. Some positions may require completion of a satisfactory personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. Pima County determines whether a position is eligible for visa sponsorship at the time of recruitment. Eligibility is based on the requirements of the position and applicable laws and regulations. Not all positions with Pima County are eligible for visa sponsorship. This position will require a post-job offer physical and/or drug screen. 

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Regular use of County-provided smart phone or other mobile device to collect geospatial data in the field. Ability to bend, reach, grasping both simple and firm, perform fine movement, hear at varying noise levels both on a radio and in the environment, speak in person and on a phone, operate machinery, distinguish colors, and use both depth perception and peripheral vision. Other physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position. Action Activity - bending, climbing, kneeling, reaching, squatting and stooping; Motion Activity - simple and firm grasping and fine movement;  Hearing - in noisy areas, on a radio and behind themselves; Speaking Activity - in person, on the phone and on a cell; Vision - operate a motor vehicle, operate machinery, distinguish colors, have depth perception and have peripheral vision. Frequently required to lift, push or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.