DEPT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Address:  1110 W. Washington St., Suite 500 
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $126,500 - $147,000 Annually 

Grade: E3

Closing Date: Open Until Filled
First Review of Resumes: April 18, 2025

Under the direction of the State Forester, the Deputy Director for Operations provides strategic, organizational, and administrative leadership for operational functions within the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM). As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), this position leads and oversees Public Relations, Wildland Fire, Forestry, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal programs while working collaboratively with other ELT members to develop, implement, and monitor agency goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

● Executive Leadership & Strategic Management - Assist the Director and ELT in setting and implementing the strategic direction of the agency and act as a key decision-maker on operational matters relating to Public Relations, Wildland Fire, Forestry and The Office of the State Fire Marshal. Represent the Director and agency in high-level meetings with government officials, stakeholders, and the public.

● Operational & Program Oversight - Oversee major agency divisions and key staff to develop and maintain the annual Program of Work and ensure effective coordination and resource allocation in its execution. Ensure effective collaboration internally between agency staff and externally with agency partners to promote high morale and effective mission delivery. Improve operational efficiency by identifying and implementing effective policies and protocols in all agency operations.

● Personnel & Organizational Leadership - Supervise and mentor senior leaders, fostering a culture of accountability and high performance. Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, and staff development initiatives for assigned program areas. Promote an inclusive, safe, and professional work environment. Address personnel issues and coordinate with Human Resources to implement relevant state employment policies.

● Interagency Coordination & Public Engagement - Serve as a liaison between the agency and local, state, and federal entities, including elected officials, fire districts, tribal governments, and emergency management agencies for assigned operational areas. Represent the agency in legislative discussions, public hearings, and media engagements as needed. Strengthen partnerships with stakeholders, including non-profit organizations, other agencies, landowners, industry groups, and others.

● Compliance, Safety & Risk Management - Ensure agency operations comply with relevant state and federal operational regulations, policies, and environmental standards for assigned program areas.

● Other duties as assigned

Knowledge of:
● Leadership - Knowledge of leadership principles and ability to lead; think creatively; proactively adapt to changing environments; act decisively, and motivate, supervise, develop, inspire, and empower others. Knowledge of current social-economic-political issues related to the agency’s mission in order to manage and lead organization change.
● Management - Knowledge of management theories, practices, and techniques in order to exercise delegated authority to plan, organize, delegate, implement and monitor assigned program functions necessary to deliver high quality program results.
● Natural Resource and Wildland/ Fire Management - A working understanding of natural resources principles, land management, fire and life safety codes, and wildland fire issues necessary to provide leadership for the planning, implementation and monitoring of a complex program of work across multiple land management jurisdictions.
● External Relations: Knowledge of relevant stakeholders and customers and the ability to work with a variety of persons and organizations having diverse values and concerns and skill in focusing those differences to achieve overall departmental goals.
● Communications - Factors affecting interactions between people and the ability to interact in an effective way with individuals and groups who may have differing values, goals, and backgrounds.
● Supervision - principles and practices of supervision laws, regulations and methodologies, including methods and theories of personnel management, staff development, and evaluation
● Principles, techniques, and objectives of public relations and information programs.

Skills in:
● Leading, implementing, and directing comprehensive programs for a complex land management and code enforcement organization
● Demonstrated leadership in driving improvement and achieving operational results
● Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
● Proficiency in interpreting and analyzing state and federal laws, as well as proposed legislation relevant to DFFM.
● Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including the ability to facilitate group discussions and effectively prioritize multiple projects and tasks.
● Skilled in identifying critical problems, analyzing complex issues, and developing effective solutions.

Ability to:
● Articulate and share leadership vision, engendering ownership and empowering people--such as employees, cooperators, and the public to work toward realization of the goals and objectives
● Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and written, with the workforce at all levels of the organization, dignitaries, stakeholders, the public, and elected representatives.
● Engage with legislators, local elected officials, fire officials, media, and stakeholders on legislative and operational matters, representing DFFM at community, legislative, and stakeholder meetings.
● Exercise sound judgment in decision-making and problem-solving.
● Oversee, coordinate, and optimize multiple program areas to ensure alignment with organizational goals, efficient resource utilization, and continuous performance improvement
● Foster inclusivity by recognizing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and viewpoints, ensuring all stakeholders have the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to the decision-making process.
● Ability to facilitate meetings, write effectively, resolve conflict, conduct effective briefings and presentations, and develop consensus both internally and externally.

The ideal candidate for this position would possess a combination of education, leadership, managerial, and operational experience, as well as a strong knowledge of the principles of wildland fire, forestry, and existing codes and standards related to fire and life safety. The ideal candidate would also possess the strong desire to be a continuous learner in order to improve their professional effectiveness as well as investigating and advocating new and improved approaches to performing work. The ideal candidate would have a demonstrated history of leading large multidisciplinary teams with large budgets to achieve significant work results and the ability to manage change and conflict.

A valid Arizona Driver's License.

Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
Deferred compensation plan
Wellness plans
Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.

Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

The current contribution rate is 12.29%

If you have any questions please feel free to contact David Barney at dbarney@dffm.az.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.