Chief of Law Enforcement

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Announcement:

Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.

• Resume

• Cover Letter

Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on May 13th 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Contact to request the full position description.

Special Information:

This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase of $1.00 an hour effective July 1 2026.

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement paid vacation sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Specific Job Information:

The Law Enforcement Division helps fulfill FWPs mandate to protect and wisely manage Montanas natural and cultural resources for the benefit of the public. It enforces relevant laws and rules delivers safety and education programs and supports conservation along with Montanas hunting fishing trapping and outdoor recreation heritage through consistent statewide enforcement.

Job Overview:

The Chief of Law Enforcement is an executive-level position responsible for leading FWPs statewide conservation law enforcement program including policy development program planning budgeting and internal and external communication. The Chief oversees all aspects of division administration and operations and regularly represents the division before the Director executive team Legislature Fish & Wildlife Commission Parks Board and other partners.

Executive Leadership

• Serves on the Departments Management Team to set strategic vision mission and goals; leads division planning and priority setting (legislative capital and program initiatives) and drives organizational alignment performance measures and continuous improvement.
• Represents the division and Department before the Commission Legislature and public by delivering testimony and presentations on conservation law enforcement priorities issues and outcomes.

Enforcement Operations

• Directs statewide law enforcement operations and division resources including strategic planning program development budget development and monitoring and policy implementation and evaluation ensuring alignment with statutes legislative intent and department priorities.
• Leads organizational and personnel management functions including supervision workforce planning labor relations performance management and disciplinary actions; monitors emerging trends collaborates with state and national partners and ensures consistent implementation of laws rules training and policies across the division.

Leadership Profile

Looking for a Chief of Enforcement who is a strategic collaborative leader focused on culture relationships and the longterm effectiveness of the division.

• Provides forward-thinking executive leadership with enforcement expertise to advocate for the division with the Director executive team Legislature Commission and other divisions while modeling professionalism transparency and a service-minded attitude.
• Builds and sustains a strong division culture focused on effective hiring and retention safety science principles accountability and a healthy balance between enforcement and conservation engaging staff through clear consistent and honest communication.
• Leads an engaged command staff that prioritizes support for field staff incorporates regional perspectives into statewide priorities and consistently models unity advocacy collaboration transparent and honest communication and a serviceminded attitude toward staff and the broader department.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Professional office environment with frequent high-pressure deadlines
• Regularly requires extended hours beyond 40-hour workweek including weekends
• Significant in-state travel required
• May involve in direct law enforcement activity commensurate with independent field warden positional duties
• Capable of attending to the environmental and behavioral dangers associated with law enforcement work

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of conservation law enforcement natural resource issues and their impact on Montana.

• Understanding of law enforcement practices technologies statutes rules policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of personnel management program development workforce planning training and accountability.

• Build relationships solve problems collaboratively negotiate outcomes and resolve disputes.

• Communicate complex or sensitive issues clearly to staff partners the media and the public.

• Plan implement and evaluate programs aligned with agency goals and mission.

• Prepare and deliver effective briefings presentations and written materials.

• Make sound decisions in complex sensitive or controversial situations.

• Lead with professionalism fairness accountability and integrity.

• See issues from a broad statewide perspective and work effectively in a decentralized environment.

• Adapt to ambiguity share decision-making and motivate teams toward strong performance.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

The knowledge skills and abilities of this position are normally attained throughacombination of education and experience equivalent to:

• Bachelors degree in natural resource management criminal justice public administration or related field

• 10 years of experience demonstrating progressive responsibility including 5 years in a supervisory capacity in conservation law enforcement law enforcement or closely related field

The incumbent must possess and maintain Montana peace officer basic certification or possess a state peace officer certification and obtain Montana equivalency within one year and possess a valid motor vehicle operators license. An applicant for this position must be at least 18 years of age on the date of appointment be a United States citizen and must be or become a Montana resident be in excellent physical and mental health and must pass a physical examination an extensive background investigation and a psychological evaluation approved by the agency.