Program Specialist - Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager

Overview

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values: The Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

We value and respect each other. We create collaborative work environments. We build and maintain strong relationships. We practice accountability. We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work.

The Forestry Assistance Bureau is part of the Forestry and Trust Lands Division (FTLD) of DNRC. There are seven inter-related programs within Forestry Assistance that are delivered across the state. Bureau staff in Missoula lead, support, and build capacity to enable program delivery by the Land Offices, Unit Offices, Service Foresters and other personnel committed to the mission of the program.

This framework facilitates program delivery aligned with state-level strategies and priorities but customized for the unique conditions in each field area.

The seven programs are:

• Nursery Program – provides plants for conservation projects throughout Montana. The Nursery produces containerized seedlings and eco-regional native seed, with fields covering 80 acres, five greenhouses, and the capacity to grow one million seedlings annually.
• Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) – focuses on Montana’s urban and community forests; serves approximately 75 communities through grants, technical expertise, and education.
• Stewardship Program – supports private and community forest owners with annual grant dollars to reduce wildfire risk near communities and provide educational assistance to landowners.
• Forest Pest Management Program – helps non-federal landowners and managers prevent, identify, and manage forest insects and diseases; offers training and financial assistance.
• Forest Products Program – provides technical assistance to support forest product businesses, biomass energy, market development, and wood construction.
• Local Government Assistance Program – provides grant funding, training, information, and technical support to counties and cities for federal forestry engagement.
• Forest Practices Program – provides education on timber harvest and forest operations; promotes compliance with BMPs and stream protection laws.

The Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program Manager leads the planning and implementation of Montana’s UCF Program. This position drives statewide efforts to help communities manage and enhance their urban forest resources through financial assistance, technical guidance, training, and strategic partnerships.

This role is Montana’s lead for implementing the USDA Forest Service’s UCF grant program within state, tribal, and private forestry, ensuring alignment with the Montana Forest Action Plan. The Program Manager provides direction and support to DNRC Service Foresters and other field staff on UCF program implementation.

The Program Manager oversees the programs’ budget, grants, resources, and directly supervises two UCF Service Foresters and a Grant Management Specialist. The role coordinates with division-level grant support staff to deliver community forestry grants efficiently. The Program Manager oversees the UCF portion of the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant totaling over $9 million.

Working collaboratively with DNRC leadership and partners, the Program Manager assesses statewide needs, develops strategic initiatives, and implements new programs,…