DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Career Family: DIRECTOR
In the unclassified service, Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife is appointed rather than examined for, and its pay is often negotiated case by case.
Qualifying takes a bachelor's degree and 10 years of relevant experience. Its salary schedule (frozen at an older rate) lists $96,322 to $134,847, though managerial and exempt titles like this are usually paid individually rather than on the step schedule.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
The Director of the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife is appointed by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council subject to the approval of the Governor. Under the general direction of the Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife consisting of the Bureau of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Wildlife Management, Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries, Bureau Marine Fisheries and Bureau of Shellfisheries Management programs.
Responsibilities include: development and implementation of policy and programs and development of regulations related to the management of the Division's programs. Supervises the Program which may include one Deputy Division Director, Administrator of Marine Fisheries, Bureau Chiefs, one section head, a staff with expertise in accounting, law, federal aid, planning, economics and statistics, and employees including professional biologists, conservation officers, conservation educators, technicians, clerical, maintenance workers, and volunteers, trained deputy conservation officers and hunter education volunteer instructors; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Serves as Executive Advisor to the Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection on all fisheries and wildlife scientific and management matters.
- Directs the activities of the Bureaus of Freshwater Fisheries, Wildlife Management, Law Enforcement, Marine Fisheries and Shellfisheries.
- Develops a total wildlife resource inventory and develops appropriate management plans encompassing the establishment of hunting and fishing seasons and the management of resources associated with these programs based on scientific research.
- Responsible for the long range planning and evaluation of the State's land and water resources coming under the jurisdiction of the Division.
- Directs the analysis and forecasting of existing and future wildlife resources correlated to the State's recreational and natural resource needs.
- Insures that wildlife and fisheries resources are not depleted and recommends to the Commissioner appropriate programs to protect against resource depletion.
- Administers existing laws and proposes new legislation for the continuing regulation of the State's fish, wildlife and natural resources.
- Insures that the statewide police powers of the Division are carried out in accordance with Department and State laws, rules and regulations.
- Directs the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- Directs the management and regulation of the programs of the State's commercial fish and shellfish resources. This includes the development of long range plans for the enhancement of these resources and the development of harvesting and marketing programs.
- Directs the Administration of programs for Non-game and Endangered species cooperating with the various federal and private agencies in achieving objectives.
- Formulates guidelines to assure uniform interpretation of policy and approves the necessary rules and regulations for their implementation.
- Coordinates the activities of the Division at the executive level with other Departmental units, Departments of the State Government, Interstate Agencies and the Federal Government.
- Directs the development, planning, organization and direction of the technical, administrative planning and legal activities of the entire Division.
- Serves as executive officer to the Fish and Game Council, Marine Fisheries Council, Shellfisheries Council, and the Nongame Committee.
- Represents the State as its Principal Fisheries Administrator to the Mid-Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council; to the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission; to the Atlantic Waterfowl Council; and to other formalized interstate fisheries and wildlife institutions.
- Directs the control of activities of licensing agents throughout the State in the annual issuance of hunting, inland fishing, shellfishing, trapping and archery licenses.
- Directs the preparation and allocation of budgets and workload objectives for each Bureau within the Division, modifying plans of service as required to meet the larger goals of the Department.
- Prepares and directs the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate and informative reports.
- Presents formal papers at national and international meetings.
- Directs a statewide education and public information program pertaining to fish and wildlife conservation. Implements statewide standardized hunter education and trapping education programs.
- Prepares and directs the preparation of official correspondence.
- Maintains essential records and files.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree.
Experience
Ten (10) years of experience in development of fisheries or wildlife management programs, five (5) years of which shall have been in a supervisory and/or managerial capacity.
A Master's degree in fisheries, Wildlife Management, or other related field, may be substituted for one (1) year of non-managerial experience.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of and familiarity with the philosophy, objectives, standards, and procedures of modern fish, shellfish, and wildlife management programs.
- Knowledge of the Federal and State conservation laws designed to assist in the management of fisheries and wildlife resources.
- Knowledge of modern public administration and management principles and procedures and their utilization in the conduct of a Division in accordance with established procedures.
- Ability to acquire knowledge of the laws of New Jersey relating to State fisheries and wildlife resources.
- Ability to acquire knowledge of the laws of New Jersey and the regulations, procedures, standards and policies of the Department of Environmental Protection promulgated thereunder relating to the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife.
- Ability to comprehend economic sociological implications of fisheries and wildlife programs and the utilization of this information in developing management programs.
- Ability to administer a statewide fisheries and wildlife management program employing quality scientific personnel to assure that programs are scientifically sound.
- Ability to administer statewide fisheries and wildlife law enforcement programs.
- Ability to organize assigned technical and administrative work, establish realistic work schedules, programs and internal organization and develop effective work procedures.
- Ability to delegate appropriate assignments and instruction to professional, technical and clerical employees.
- Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret the standards, policies, procedures, regulations and functions of the Department of Environmental Protection to apply them to specific planning projects.
- Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret complex financial, technical and personnel problems.
- Ability to give talks before lay, professional, civic, educational and other groups to further the programs of the Division.
- Ability to compile and interpret extensive statistical data.
- Ability to prepare and direct the preparation of fiscal, statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.