Salary: $230,992.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: GOVELECT_EDDNR_ESW11.04.26
Department: Office of the Governor
Opening Date: 11/04/2026
Closing Date: 11/30/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 200 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80203
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Type of Announcement: This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Online applications through the Colorado Jobs portal will not be accepted. Please follow instructions on the job announcement for submitting an application.
Department Contact Information: [redacted] HOW TO APPLY: Please submit an online application for this position at buildingcoloradosfuturetogether.org. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date.
Department InformationThe Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages and conserves Colorado's natural resources for the benefit of people today and tomorrow. That work means balancing development with conservation so the state offers the same kinds of opportunities to future generations. Coloradans encounter the department's work when they camp in a state park, drink a glass of water, or spot a bighorn sheep on a canyon drive.
With 43 state parks and more than 350 state wildlife areas, Colorado Parks and Wildlife touches the lives of everyone who hunts, fishes, hikes, or admires Colorado's wildlife and landscapes. Three million acres and significant mineral rights are managed by the State Land Board to raise revenue dedicated to K-12 education in Colorado. Other DNR agencies oversee oil and gas development and the mining of coal, metals, and construction rock, and they make sure these industries operate safely and protect the environment.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board helps local governments and utilities plan to meet future water needs, funds projects that store and deliver water to farmers and communities, and helps keep water flowing in rivers for fish and recreation. The State Engineer and the Division of Water Resources enforce the rules that ensure water users receive their lawful supplies, and they work with authorities inside and outside Colorado to meet the state's interstate compacts. The department is also home to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Its forecasts alert backcountry skiers, local governments, highway crews, and emergency responders to dangerous snow conditions. The department's other divisions include the Division of Forestry and the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety.
Description of JobDepartment: Office of the Governor; Department of Natural Resources
Position Title: Executive Director
Summary of Functions: The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The position is part of the Governor's Cabinet and is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the department and for the consistent achievement of its mission and objectives. Its purpose is to manage Colorado's land, mineral, water, and wildlife resources in balance for the use and benefit of current and future generations. The Executive Director will also direct the state's wildfire prevention coordination and will work with the Director of Water Policy on Colorado Water Plan funding and conservation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:- Oversee and manage the department's operations and direct the implementation of its services, policies, and programs in alignment with department goals, the Governor's initiatives, and the expectations of stakeholders
- Direct and oversee the department's budget with fiscal management that operates within the approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, and maintains a positive financial position
- Build and cultivate a high-performing team through effective leadership focused on recruiting and retaining top talent and providing guidance, coaching, and development to direct reports
- Direct the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, the Division of Forestry, and the Avalanche Information Center
- Exercise the functions of the Commissioner of Mines
- Provide budgeting, purchasing, and planning for the independently governed divisions and management commissions
- Hold a non-voting seat on the Parks and Wildlife Commission and the Energy and Carbon Management Commission
- Coordinate the department's position on the interstate compacts the State Engineer administers and work with the Director of Water Policy on Water Plan funding and conservation
- Direct the state's wildfire prevention coordination and act as a central point of contact for local, regional, and federal partners on forest health
- Represent the department before the General Assembly and federal land agencies
- Protect Colorado's state parks and federal public lands so they remain accessible and champion the state's outdoor recreation economy
- Partner with hunting, angling, and outdoor recreation organizations, agricultural and ranching organizations, the oil and gas industry, conservation organizations, ski area operators, and Tribal governments
- Brief the Governor's Office on all relevant policy issues arising from state and federal legislative activities
- Build a good relationship with the General Assembly and serve as the point person for directing the department's response to proposed legislation that may affect its operations
Organizational Relationships: Parks and Wildlife Commission and Division; Colorado Water Conservation Board; State Board of Land Commissioners; Energy and Carbon Management Commission; State Engineer and division engineers; Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Division of Fire Prevention and Control; Department of Agriculture; Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Forest Service; Chief Resilience Officer; Director of Rural Advancement; Director of Water Policy
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsPreferred Education/Experience:- A bachelor's or advanced degree in natural resource management, environmental science, engineering, public administration, law, or a closely related field
- Ten or more years of experience in natural resources, water, land management, or public administration
- Five or more years of professional executive management experience that includes setting goals and objectives and managing a budget to achieve them
- Five or more years of experience fostering effective and efficient process improvements for an organization of twenty-five or more employees
- Five or more years of experience managing land, mineral, water, or wildlife resources
- Experience building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders with varying perspectives and interests
Preferred Qualifications:- Demonstrated knowledge of the general field of natural resource management and environmental protection
- Demonstrated command of water rights administration, interstate compacts, and public land policy
- Experience overseeing mineral extraction and reclamation regulation
- Experience leading wildfire prevention and forest health management at landscape scale
- Experience working with federal land agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service
- Experience working with Tribal governments
- Experience championing outdoor recreation, state parks, or wildlife programs
- Demonstrated ability to balance development with conservation across agricultural, energy, recreation, and environmental interests
Conditions of employment: Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed
Supplemental InformationHOW TO APPLY: Please submit an online application for this position at buildingcoloradosfuturetogether.org. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date.
A resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.
Benefits The State of Colorado offers a competitive benefits package to permanent employees:
- PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage
- Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
- 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave
- Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.
