DIRECTORS OFFICE / COMPLIANCE AND STRATEGIES BRANCH / PHOENIX, AZ BASED
5000 W. Carefree Hwy. Phoenix, AZ 85086

Salary: $70,000 - $78,543 

Grade: 24

Closing Date: 3/10/2026  

EXECUTIVE CONSULTANT 3
“Natural Resources Planner”
DIRECTORS OFFICE / COMPLIANCE AND STRATEGIES BRANCH / PHOENIX, AZ BASED
FLSA-EXEMPT / SALARY GRADE 24 / HIRING SALARY RANGE $70,000 - $78,543

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking a strategic and proactive Natural Resources Planner to advance conservation efforts and strengthen the future of Arizona’s natural heritage. We are looking for an engaging professional with a strong sense of initiative, the ability to adapt quickly to evolving priorities, and a drive to achieve tangible results.

In this role, you will shape the future of Arizona’s wildlife programs by developing strategic plans, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, managing public trust resources, and ensuring sound fiscal stewardship. If you are a results-oriented leader passionate about long-term conservation, we invite you to join our mission-driven team!

Why Join Us?
This position offers the chance to lead conservation efforts that matter, safeguard wildlife resources, and ensure programs are implemented responsibly, transparently, and in full compliance with the law. If you are passionate about science-based conservation in service of Arizona’s natural heritage, we encourage you to apply!

Responsible for guiding and administering comprehensive wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation strategic and operational planning efforts and evaluates effectiveness. Administers the Department's Business Review process and state metric reporting. Assists with gathering and evaluation of public input. Seeks input from Department staff and partners, and provides updates on plan developments. Provides updates and recommendations to Executive Leadership, Leadership Team, and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission) as applicable. Represents the Department at various meetings and functions and communicates the Mission, Department and Commission priorities, programs and processes. Uses completed plans and Commission, Department and program priorities to guide the development of budget recommendations. Develops and evaluates training plans to assist Department staff at state, regional and national levels. Analyzes biological research, and assists with and analyzes social research and marketing data to inform development of action plans. Serves as Assistant Federal Aid Coordinator. Reviews grant applications and monitors performance and compliance with regulation. Maintains interpersonal relations with officials, managers and representatives of various agencies and organizations. Leads, facilitates, and participates in specialized multi-disciplinary Department teams.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Oversees Department strategic, operational and implementation planning efforts and monitoring and evaluating progress and effectiveness. Includes administering the State of Arizona Planning processes (2-page Strategic Plan development and reporting, Governor's Office quarterly updates, planning entry for the Arizona Budget System, reporting; bi-annual AMS Assessment).

• Serves as Assistant Federal Aid Coordinator administering and coordinating Boater Access, CVA and BIG grants; includes overseeing award life cycle processes such as project narrative development, performance reporting, award compliance and monitoring and amendments. Interpreting and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations and policies governing federal awards.

• Supports coordination and administration of other OCI awards: Coordinates with USFWS OCI on award administration. Meets with Federal and other State Federal Aid Coordinators to discuss Award related matters.

• Assist with collection of various Department Performance Measures and metrics, facilitate the Business Review for monthly Leadership Team meetings, on-board new and involved staff and leadership, attend monthly Commission meetings in-person or virtually as appropriate.

• Support Branch administration of the Heritage Partnership Program, Heritage Legislative Report, policy review, agreement administration. Serve as Acting Branch Chief.

• Represent the Department at State, Federal Aid Coordination and partner meetings or functions, and Communities of Practice.

• Provide support and training for Department staff in the development, monitoring and evaluation of planning documents.

The candidate will have knowledge of: wildlife management/conservation science and practices; natural resource and wildlife, watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation planning (strategic, operational and implementation); programmatic design; and state and federal wildlife, off-highway vehicle, watercraft and land-use policies, laws and regulations.

The ideal candidate will have skills in: communication; public speaking; outreach; leadership; multitasking; prioritizing; training needs assessment (techniques, program design instruction); Google and Microsoft Office suite.

The idea candidate will have the ability to: effectively communicate orally and in writing, evaluate and distil complex data and information utilizing technology software and applications to succinctly relay information, goals, priorities, analyze information and distill, and summarize information into key messages or strategies, work and operate with minimal supervision, maintain interpersonal relations.

The preferred candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resource Management, Human Dimensions in Natural Resources, Marketing or a related field from an accredited college or university. The preferred candidate will have at least three (3) years of experience in Administration of or planning for Natural Resources, Fisheries or Wildlife Management.

Possession of and ability to maintain valid Arizona driver’s license appropriate to assignment.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. 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 offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits package including:

* 13 days of vacation
* 12 sick days with accumulation benefits
* 10 paid holidays
* Participation in the nationally recognized Arizona State Retirement System
* Superior health care options
* Vision care, dental care, pharmacy benefits, and flexible spending account (options available)
* Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance options are available
* Many more benefit programs are available

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave 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). Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Nicole Baker at nbaker@azgfd.gov for assistance.