Working Title: State Prog Admin Manager Sr - Parks & Trails Regional Manager
Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager Senior
Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

• Job ID: 64195

• Location: New Ulm

• Full/Part Time: Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited

• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted: 03/23/2023

• Closing Date: 04/19/2023

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Natural Resources Dept / Natural Resources-Managerial

• Division/Unit: DNR Parks & Trails Reg 4 / PAT-Reg 4

• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift

• Days of Work: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Travel Required: Occasional overnight travel for meetings and field activities

• Salary Range: $39.35 - $56.61 / hourly; $82,162 - $118,201 / annually

• Classified Status: Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union: 220 - Manager/Unrep

• Work Location: New Ulm, MN (Telework schedule available)

• Employment Condition: Unlimited, full-time

• FLSA Status: Exempt - Executive

• Telework Eligible: Yes

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated
to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Parks & Trails is responsible for overseeing the
development, administration, and management of state trails, parks and recreation areas, waysides,
forest campgrounds, public water access sites, and water trails. This position is responsible for managing
the South Region outdoor recreation operations.

*This position allows a telework schedule a majority of the time*

The person in this position will work closely with division and region leadership teams to advance the
Department/Division mission and vision. Each day, the manager’s work will be focused on the Division
vision: creating unforgettable park, trail and water recreation experiences that inspire people to pass
along the love of the outdoors to current and future generations. The regional manager does this by
building and supporting diverse teams, developing strong community partnerships throughout the
9county work area, and engaging a variety of stakeholders.

Our regional managers are most successful when they:

• Provide innovative leadership and supportive supervision to staff teams.

• Cultivate a supportive workplace climate by empowering teams, encouraging employee

development, and driving innovation in an environment where everyone can contribute to their
fullest.

• Foster support for division programs and initiatives by establishing and maintaining diverse and

inclusive relationships with stakeholders, community and governmental partners through an
understanding of their needs, values, and expectations.

• Develop and monitor budgets and work plans for all aspects of PAT northwest region operations

that align with the division’s strategic plans.

• Guide the work of conserving natural, cultural, and recreation resources by embracing the

principles of continuous improvement.

• Guide the work of connecting people to the outdoors through outreach, interpretation, nature

based education and adventure recreation programming.

• Create a respect- and safety-focused culture that empowers staff to carry out the Department’s

mission and fosters an environment of positive accountability for performance.

• Perform all job responsibilities in a manner that supports a healthy, safe, and productive and

inclusive work environment for all employees.

This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a part-time basis which
is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete a telework agreement.
This position will require reporting to the primary work location on a regular basis for meetings and field
activities within the region.

Minimum Qualifications

*See the 'How to Apply' section below for additional application requirements*

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in natural or cultural resource management, parks and recreation,

natural or physical sciences, communications, public relations, business management, political
science, public administration, social science, or closely related field.

AND

• Three years of directly related managerial or advanced supervisory experience, that includes

leading and managing large, complex operations and/or multiple geographically distributed
units with responsibility for directing outdoor recreation or natural resources management
programs. Experience must include developing stakeholder and partnership engagement
strategies, budget and finance, human resources, safety, and other related activities.

In addition, applicants will be evaluated on the following:

• Leadership

o Demonstrated leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills including experience
leading geographically distributed teams.

o Skills in conflict management and consensus building with diverse groups in order to
solve difficult and sensitive problems and management skills to analyze and resolve
ambiguous or controversial situations and make difficult decisions.

o Experience leading organizational change.

• Knowledge of different cultural and community groups sufficient to administer the

programmatic area, as well as the ability to treat all employees inclusively to ensure that long-
term and short-term goals and objectives equitably empower all employees, stakeholders, and
the public.

• Demonstrated ability to work in an environment of multi-dimensional relationships (e.g., local

legislators, landowners, local units of government), which may have competing objectives.

• Experience applying broad knowledge to complex issues sufficient to anticipate trends, analyze

data and find solutions that balance long-term resource conservation with social and economic
values and recreation demands.

• Experience developing complex, integrated work plans and budgets.

• Experience overseeing and managing large projects.

• Ability to apply systems thinking perspectives and practices.

• Experience providing organizational safety leadership.

• Ability to read, write, and speak English to effectively communicate complex information to a

wide variety of audiences.

• Ability to treat employees inclusively in the areas of accommodation, scheduling, expectations,

individualized resource needs, training, and development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years of directly related managerial or advanced supervisory experience that includes

leading and managing large, complex operations and/or multiple geographically distributed
units with responsibility for directing outdoor recreation or natural resources management

programs that include developing stakeholder and partnership engagement strategies, budget
and finance, human resources, safety, and other related activities.

• Experience building relationships with under-served communities that led to increased

collaboration, participation and/or employment of community members.

• Experience applying continuous improvement principles or green belt CI certification.

• Experience working in an organization guided by complex policies and procedures.

• Experience developing policies and directing and evaluating multiple program activities.

• Knowledge of recreational facility maintenance, development, and operations.

• Knowledge of outdoor recreation and natural and cultural resource management principles,

including interpretation.

• Advanced degree or other education/training in areas pertinent to the position responsibilities.

• Knowledge of DNR programs and areas of responsibilities.

• Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish or another language.

• Emergency management training and/or recipient of a safety leadership recognition award.

• Knowledge of the legislative process and functions.

Physical Requirements

Very Light Work - occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as file folders, ledgers, and small
tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and
standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties.

Additional Requirements

*This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s License with a clear driving record*

It is our policy that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background
check may consist of the following components:

• Employment Reference Check

• SEMA4 Records Check

• Criminal History Check

• Conflict of Interest Review

• Education/license verification

How to Apply

IN ADDITION TO APPLYING HERE WITH YOUR APPLICATION AND/OR RESUME, PLEASE ATTACH A
COVER LETTER AND A WRITTEN ESSAY THAT DESCRIBES YOUR EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING IN THE
FOLLOWING AREAS (maximum of 300 words each):

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills including experience leading

geographically distributed teams. Describe your leadership style and philosophy and how
you’ve applied them to geographically distributed teams.

• Skills in conflict management and consensus building with diverse groups in order to solve

difficult and sensitive problems and management skills to analyze and resolve ambiguous or
controversial situations and make difficult decisions. Describe a situation and your role in.

• Experience leading organizational change. Describe a situation and your role in leading the

change.

Applicants who fail to provide BOTH your Application/Resume and Cover letter by the end of the
posting period WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the
job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about
the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

If you have questions about the position, contact Philip Leversedge at phil.leversedge@state.mn.us or
651-259-5650.

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the
Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Erin Tappan
at erin.tappan@state.mn.us

Why Work for Us

Diverse Workforce

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the
populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we
do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:

• 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission

• 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs

• 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when

doing their job

• 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness,
financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits
may include:

• Public pension plan

• Training and professional development

• Paid vacation and sick leave

• 11 paid holidays each year

• Paid parental leave

• Low-cost medical and dental coverage

• Prescription drug coverage

• Vision coverage

• Wellness programs and resources

• Employer paid life insurance

• Short-term and long-term disability

• Health care spending and savings accounts

• Dependent care spending account

• Tax-deferred compensation

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Tuition reimbursement

• Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding
availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of
Minnesota.