GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

Address:  5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086

Salary Range: $70,000 - $100,989 

Grade: 24

Closing Date: 08/27/2026

WILDLIFE SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR STATEWIDE
“Water Quality and Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager”
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION / AQUATIC WILDLIFE BRANCH / PHOENIX, AZ BASED
FLSA-EXEMPT / GRADE 24 / $70,000 - $100,989
CLOSING DATE: 08/27/2026

Join the only state agency in Arizona responsible for conserving and protecting more than 800 wildlife species. The Arizona Game and Fish Department celebrates the diversity of Arizona's people, landscapes, and wildlife. We dedicate ourselves to excellence, value our employees, and support a culture of stewardship, teamwork, and partnerships.

Whether it is fishing, boating, hunting, or wildlife watching, AZGFD supports it all. We use the best available science to ensure the outdoors remains open for all current and future generations.

Location: Phoenix, Arizona (Hybrid Remote: minimum 2 days per week in-office)
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8-hour days (Occasional overnight/all-day travel required)

Required Education & Credentials
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Management, Biology, or Fisheries/Wildlife Science (with an emphasis on fisheries or aquatic ecosystems).
Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid state-issued driver's license.
Screenings: Contingent upon a post-offer medical exam and E-Verify employment check.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
Scientific Expertise: Strong background in southwest ecosystems, fisheries biology, toxicology standards, and aquatic species habitat needs.
Regulatory Acumen: Familiarity with NEPA, EPA, and Endangered Species Act (Sections 7, 9, and 10) regulations, alongside 404/401 permitting.
Leadership & Admin: Proven experience in personnel management, budget administration, strategic planning, and multi-stakeholder project coordination.
Data & Analytics: Proficient in standardized field-sampling, study design, statistical analysis, and interpreting complex data sets.
Communication: Exceptional negotiation, conflict resolution, verbal communication, and technical report-writing skills.

This position may be available for remote work within Arizona (2 days per week in the office) based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The Statewide Water Quality and Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager serves as the lead scientist and administrator for Arizona’s statewide water quality program and is responsible for program administration, oversight over water quality monitoring and assessment, fish kill investigations, incident response, and overall program direction. This position also oversees the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program and ensures its effective integration with the statewide water quality program statewide.

Major duties include:

● Represents the Department and State's interests on water quality issues for the protection and benefit of the aquatic and wildlife resource. This representation includes a variety of statewide inter-agency working groups, task forces, and committees. Provides written comments and information on the development and review of statewide water quality standards. Serves as Waters of the United States expert on comments to federal water projects.
● Ensures the Department’s hatchery system maintains compliance with the Clean Water Act through the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for surface water quality and groundwater protection through Aquifer Protection Planning. Leads negotiations with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency on discharge permits for the Department's hatcheries, water quality standards, and contaminant advisories. Advises on water rights related issues at hatcheries and aquatic facilities.
● Supervises activities and ensures the Department’s Environmental Laboratory Certification through Arizona Department of Health Services. Serves as the laboratory director and supervises the activities of the Chemist and Water Quality Specialist.
● Acts as Department liaison with other state and federal agencies on water quality issues including the development of fish consumption advisories and statewide water quality standards. Oversees statewide stream and limnological investigations pertaining to fish, aquatic, and riparian health and AIS.
● Serves as the lead to ensure piscicide application projects follow the ADEQ permitting process in the Department’s Piscicide Project Planning and Procedures Manual and ensures all applicable state and federal laws and internal compliance is completed prior to implementation.
● Oversees the AIS program, actively incorporating its activities into the Water Quality Program and supervises the AIS Coordinator. Ensures the AIS program is coordinating and monitoring AIS in Arizona and preventing the future spread of AIS within and out of state, the development of outreach tools to manage known AIS and prevent the illegal transport of AIS, and advises on the management of illegally introduced nonnative fish. Serves on teams related to AIS and Department regulations.
● Leads and coordinates investigations of fish kills and resource damage incidents caused by pollution to the surface waters of the state. Coordinates efforts with regional personnel and provides expert opinion in public inquiries. Manages fish kill database and public report dashboard. Develops communication materials for Department staff on fish kills to maintain consistent messaging.
● Maintains competency with water quality and toxicology standards and methods and deploys information through a statewide fisheries program. Advises staff on 404 and 401 permit requirements and application process.
● Performs other duties as assigned.

The candidate must have knowledge of personnel management and supervision rules and regulations, interpersonal relations techniques, strategic planning processes and application, Department policies and procedures, budget administration, development, monitoring and amendment procedures, federal, state and local agency role and function relative to wildlife management and environmental issues, knowledge of lakes, streams, rivers, fish and aquatic wildlife resources, southwest ecosystems, fisheries biology, ecology, application of management and conservation principles and concepts, frog and snake biology, ecology and management, fisheries investigation techniques and collection procedures, and study design, mathematics, statistical and analysis and interpretation of field collected data, water quality and habitat requirements of fishes and other aquatics species and their habitats, report and correspondence, environmental compliance procedures and application, National Environmental Policy Act regulations, Environmental Protection Agency regulations, Endangered Species Act regulations and policies with an emphasis on Section 7, 9 and 10.

Candidates must be skilled in fact assessment and complex/technical/administrative decision-making, oral, verbal and written communications, coordination, organization, leadership outreach, critical thinking and negotiation, project planning and execution, work management and leadership and time management, data gathering, applying standardized sampling techniques and fishery/general aquatic wildlife management and research principles, and techniques in field and laboratory setting, and perform statistical analysis, evaluation and interpretation.

The ideal candidate will be able to adapt to changing priorities and work assignments, identify and translate priorities into action through directed resource deployment, supervision, negotiate, facilitate, work well with others while motivating and leading others, organize, plan for and coordinate complex projects involving multiple stakeholders (internal and external), critically and evaluate actions and make sound judgements and decisions, work independently or in a group environment to solve problems and make recommendations and decisions regarding controversial or high profile issues, demonstrate leadership and promote work environment and gather and use information from scientific, gray literature or internal and external expertise.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Management, or Biology, Fisheries or Wildlife Science with emphasis on fisheries or aquatic ecosystems.

Employment is contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

Position requires possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Health and dental insurance
Retirement plan
Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Milani Barron at mbarron@azgfd.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.