Wildlife Program Budget Manager - WMS Band 2 - Permanent - 2026-04515
Title – Wildlife Program Budget Manager
Classification - WMS Band 2
Job Status - Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program – Financial Services Program, Budget Office
Duty Station – Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Remote Employment – This position may include telework options up to 2 days per week, at the discretion of the supervisor.
Posting Timeframe - This recruitment is scheduled to be posted until June 14, 2026. Application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible, this recruitment may be closed at any time.
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
As the Wildlife Program Budget Manager, you will provide strategic leadership in the development, coordination, and oversight of the Wildlife Program’s operating budget and financial systems, ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources in support of WDFW’s mission and statewide priorities.
Serving as a key advisor on budget strategy, fiscal policy, and operational planning, you will lead agency-wide coordination of control totals, spending plans, allotments, and fund balance projections for an operating budget exceeding $400 million per biennium.
In this role, you will drive continuous improvement of financial systems and statewide business processes by developing tools, training, and procedures that strengthen budget development and monitoring across the agency.
Through data-informed decision-making and strong fiscal oversight, you will help ensure public trust, legislative credibility, and the financial stability needed to sustain Washington’s fish and wildlife resources.
What to Expect -
In this role, you will support development and oversight of the Wildlife Program’s spending plans and state financial system entries. Key responsibilities include:
- Serving as the key budget advisor to the Wildlife Program on the development of agency control totals and the development and maintenance of agency allotments.
- Leading your team in budget monitoring and reporting for the Wildlife program.
- Developing and coordinating with the Wildlife program for timeline, content, and collaboration for budget packages for the department.
- Coordinating the development of internal program allotments in the Contracts and Project System (CAPS) database and monitors their accurate upload into TALS.
- Providing technical assistance to programs as needed to help them interpret Office of Financial Management (OFM) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) rules and principles.
- Improving and maintaining coordination between the Fiscal, Human Resources, Contracts, and Budget divisions to ensure the agency reports accurate data in state financial systems.
- Focusing on process improvements between divisions and developing working relationships and periodic meetings to improve coordination and quality of information provided to budget and programs.
- Working directly with the other Budget Managers, developing, drafting and presenting standard operating procedures to the Budget Officer to ensure budget management principles are consistent throughout the agency.
- Training and mentoring budget staff on internal agency budget processes and internal and external financial systems.
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards: Work environment is a busy office setting.
Schedule: Standard business hours – Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., may be required to work more than 40 hours per week or on weekends to meet deadlines during peak periods and/or to meet business needs. A flexible work schedule can be considered at the incumbent’s request, subject to supervisory approval.
Travel Requirements: Some travel may be required throughout the State to attend training, meetings, and conferences.
Qualifications:
Closely related professional experience may substitute, year for year, for the education requirement if this experience is in accounting, budgeting, finance, or public administration.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, economics, business or public administration, statistics, or a closely related field.
AND all of the following experience (may be gained concurrently):
- Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in budget development, monitoring, and administration.
- Analyzing complex budget and revenue issues.
- Conducting administrative and operational studies.
- Maintaining accurate records and files.
- Meeting deadlines and determining priorities.
- Manipulating data in Excel using pivot tables and X-Lookup/V-Lookup, creating charts and graphs.
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices related to the development and administration of operating budgets.
- Applicable laws and regulations.
- Techniques and methods in interpreting reports and statistical data.
- Basic functions of a state or local government.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:
- Master’s degree in accounting, economics, business or public administration, statistics, or a closely related field
- Experience supervising and providing leadership to professional staff, including workload management, performance oversight, and staff development.
- Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in budget development, monitoring, and administration.
- Professional experience in budget development, monitoring, and administration within a state or local government.
- Working knowledge of the statewide budgeting and accounting systems:
- Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS), The Allotment System (TALS), Salary Projection System (SPS), Novatus, Agency Budget System (ABS), Capital Budget System (CBS), Enterprise Reporting, and Web Intelligence (AdHoc).
- Experience with WDFW's Contracts System and Centralized Accounting and Processing System (CAPS) Financial.
Your application should include the following:
- A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
- An up-to-date resume.
- A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
- At least three professional references with current contact information.
Supplemental Information
In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
Important Note:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:
Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:
- Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov.
-
Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
- Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2026-04515.
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