Deputy Director (Division Operations Manager)

What You Will Be Doing

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is recruiting for a Deputy Director (Division Operations Manager) for its forestry program. This position complements the Deputy Director for DOF’s fire program and offers an excellent opportunity to lead and shape forestry across Alaska. 

The successful candidate will work closely with state and federal land management agencies, legislators, the Board of Forestry, landowners, communities, and the public to promote sound, professional forest management in Alaska. Applicants should understand state and local government processes, work well with the state legislature and diverse interests and organizations, and show enthusiasm for forestry in Alaska.

Mission and Culture

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection supports forest resource management on 20 million acres of Alaska wildlands and provides fire protection services and management on 150 million acres. The Division is responsible for fire suppression to protect Alaskans' lives and property; developing, conserving, and enhancing Alaska`s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans; and creating a hazardous fuels reduction program to proactively protect communities in fire-prone areas statewide.

Benefits of Joining Our Team

This position makes high-level decisions for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection and the Department of Natural Resources. The tasks vary greatly, providing an intellectually stimulating, constantly challenging, and interesting work environment that rewards an innovative problem-solver. Tasks include policymaking on complex natural resources management issues, drafting and reviewing new legislation and regulations, making presentations for forestry initiatives and forestry budget requests, speaking to a wide variety of audiences at conferences and public meetings, and responding to appeals and requests for information.

This position manages a variety of Division staff, from foresters to administrative staff, GIS analysts, and land use planners. The successful applicant will direct and assist staff throughout Alaska, from the temperate rainforests of Ketchikan (Southeast Alaska) to the boreal forests of Fairbanks (Interior Alaska).

The Division has recently expanded, adding staff and programs due to increased support for and interest in fire protection, timber production, carbon offset projects, and hazardous fuels management throughout Alaska. This position plays a key role in the Division's dedicated, high-functioning management team.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

Forestry has offices throughout the state, but the physical location will depend on the chosen candidate's location. The daily work environment encompasses working with different levels of staff and diversified and geographically remote programs in multiple area offices. The job also offers flexibility to work some days remotely.

The position-specific knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to be successful in this position include:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work quickly and effectively under time pressure and to prioritize while handling multiple projects.
• Ability to independently gather information and data, analyze complex issues and situations, draw logical conclusions, and propose viable solutions and courses of action.
• Ability to formulate long-range goals, develop organizational and operational plans, and help implement action.
• Ability to work with the public and agencies on complex issues, facilitate meetings, and help the Division determine a plan of action.

Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of professional experience in the broad occupational fields of the division or department and two years of supervisory and/or managerial experience, which may be concurrent with the professional experience.

Special Note:
"Professional experience in the broad occupational fields of the division or department," means experience in one of the professional areas that compose the division's purpose and function to ensure the applicant has the knowledge of the work of the division to be managed.

For example, in an administrative services division, qualifying professional experience could be in any one of the professional areas that compose business administration; such as accounting, procurement, human resources, and so on.

In a line division, for example the Division of Mining, Land, & Water in the Department of Natural Resources, qualifying experience could be in any one of the professional areas that provide for the use and protection of Alaska's State-owned land and water, such as geology, hydrology, forestry, natural resource management, and so on.

Additional Required Information

**NOTE: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY**

At the time of application, the applicant must attach as individual documents the following items (If unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below):

• Cover letter – see instructions below.

If selected for an interview, the applicant must provide the following:

• A list of three (3) professional references, one of which should be your most recent supervisor, including name, job title, employer, and current phone number(s).
• A copy of your last three performance evaluations or, if unavailable, explain why they are unavailable.
• A sample of your professional writing.

SPECIAL NOTICES

• The incumbent will be required to travel within the State (normally one trip every month) and occasionally outside the state to conferences (normally two or three times/year).

Application Notice

You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or a hardcopy application. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska “How to Apply" page. Your application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.  

Cover Letter

A cover letter is required for this position. It should be two to three paragraphs (no longer than one page) and address your knowledge and experience related to the desired position-specific competencies listed above. Your cover letter will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment. 

Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online; if you cannot attach it, fax or email it to the contact number below.  

Supplemental Questions

This recruitment utilizes a supplemental questionnaire as part of the application process. The questions may be a mix of yes/no, multiple-choice, and select-all-that-apply. Your responses will allow you to tell us about your experience and/or education. Your complete application, including supplemental questions, will help determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process. 

Education

If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. 

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. 

Work Experience

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase. 

Note: Attaching a resume is not an alternative to filling out the application entirely. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.  

Bargaining Unit

If you are a current state employee, please mark the union you are a member of at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee. 

Multiple Locations

This position is being recruited in all current Forestry locations; the final location is dependent upon the location of the most qualified candidate. There is only ONE position to be filled.  

Driver’s License Requirement

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.  

Firearms

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EEO Statement

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or 465-4095 in Juneau or (907) 465-3412 (TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information

Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For assistance with your password, please visit the reset password page.

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Joely Bernas

Administrative Operations Manager – Forestry

Phone: 907-269-8477

Email: joely.bernas@alaska.gov