Natural Resources Partnerships and Outreach Coordinator

Partnerships and Outreach Coordinator, Environmental Planner 3 (EP3)
Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered
Salary: $5,779.00 – $7,774.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 9/24/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Recreation and jobshiringnearme.org Division as the Recreation Partnerships and Outreach Coordinator. The Recreation and jobshiringnearme.org Division supports public use and conservation on over three million acres of DNR-managed lands by implementing DNR’s Recreation, Natural Areas, Natural Heritage, and jobshiringnearme.org Acquisitions programs. The Recreation Program supports all types of public access to department-managed lands, including hiking, mountain biking, horse, motorcycle and ATV trail riding, camping, boating, wildlife viewing and others. This access occurs on over 230 recreation sites, including 1,300 miles of trails and 80 campgrounds across state trust lands and DNR-managed natural areas. 

This position provides centralized, statewide planning, project management, and coordination for the volunteer and recreational signage programs, two critical, public-facing DNR programs. It also manages Recreation’s statewide cooperative agreements and contracts with partner organizations. The volunteer program supplements limited staff resources to engage volunteers in trail and facility maintenance, trash cleanup, ambassadorship, and more. This position has duties related to both agency-wide and Recreation-specific volunteers. The recreational signage program plans, develops, and prints signs to ensure public safety, reduce agency risk, communicate rules and laws, and to educate users about DNR lands and management responsibilities where public use is promoted and facilitated.

Responsibilities:

Manage Recreational Sign Program

• Determining appropriate signage that balances region management objectives with other considerations and requirements (legal risk, public safety, user experience, consistency, adherence to standards, policies, rules, statutes, etc.)
• Managing and tracking all sign and map orders from intake through delivery.
• Serving as central point of contact and coordinator between client (regions), vendors, and agency subject matter experts involved with recreation sign and map creation and orders.

Plan, develop, and manage policy documents and resource materials for the Recreational Sign Program.

• Gathering input from staff for program modifications and planning/managing projects to implement those modifications.
• Creating, modifying, or assisting in the development of documents including standards, policies, procedures, guidelines, manuals, etc. through collaborative work with region recreation managers, communications staff, division staff, and contractors.
• Supporting staff to implement signage policy documents and resource materials.

Coordinate Recreation Volunteer Program and Agency Volunteer Reporting

• Developing and/or launching tracking tools for tracking agency volunteers, including training staff on their use.
• Managing records for recreation program volunteers requiring specialized training and approvals.
• Setting schedules and creating processes for submission of agency-wide volunteer hours.
• Compiling and submitting quarterly agency-wide volunteer data for internal and external audiences to support mandatory reporting requirements, reports to funders, and to support funding and policy requests to the legislature.
• Managing Application processes for Forest Watch and Camp Host volunteers.
• Develop and coordinate recognition system for recreation volunteers.
• Serving as recreation program and agency main point of contact for volunteer topics.

Plan, develop, and manage policy documents and resource materials for volunteers

• Gathering input from staff for program modifications and planning/managing projects to implement those modifications.
• Developing, updating, and maintaining the agency-wide Volunteer Manual, policy documents, and guidelines in accordance with agency policy development processes.
• Developing, updating, and maintaining recreation volunteer reference materials and handbooks.
• Supporting staff to implement volunteer policy documents and resource materials through the creation of procedures and guidelines.
• Collaborating with recreation volunteer managers to create or improve tools to increase success and efficiency of volunteer management, including Camps Hosts, Forest Watch and Trailhead Ambassadors.
• Developing and/or updating processes and guidance for the recruitment and support of Campground Hosts.

Manage Partner Agreements and Engagement

• Creating, reviewing, updating, and managing statewide cooperative agreements, interagency agreements, and service contracts with recreation partners.
• Managing cooperative agreement-based work orders generated by region project managers, including reviewing, providing feedback, and stewarding the process with DNR’s procurement office.
• Managing Interagency Agreements related to volunteer support or management across jurisdictions.
• Serving as the primary point of contact with DNR’s procurement office for any contracts within the scope of position duties.
• Represents DNR on work groups and advisory councils, including those organized by the Recreate Responsibly Coalition, the Recreation and jobshiringnearme.org Office, and others as needed.

Required Qualifications: 
You must meet all the Required Qualifications and Competencies to be considered for this position. There are multiple pathways to meet qualifications, such as education, volunteer work, life skills, and experience.  Please clearly communicate in your application material that your skills align with the position and qualifications. 

• Bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation, natural resource sciences, public administration, environmental studies, or a related field AND three (3) years of relevant professional experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and professional experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Knowledge of:
  • Current trends in outdoor recreation management, laws, policies, and programs.
  • Volunteer management best practices
  • Project management principles, tools, and techniques

Required Competencies: 

• Accustomed to and competent with a range of technologies including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and cloud-based collaboration tools, including the ability to learn new tools.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Manage multiple complex tasks at once, setting work priorities for self and teams, and completing tasks on time.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills as demonstrated by the ability to resolve conflicts, write effectively, and communicate with diverse groups both internal and external.
• Accustomed to researching, interpreting, and applying agency laws, regulations, and policies.
• Active listening skills as demonstrated by the ability to resolve conflicts; receive and convey ideas, thoughts, and information to a variety of people and groups.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.