Outdoor Community Engagement Specialist

The Outdoor Community Engagement Specialist is a professional-level position within the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Nature Preserves, Office of Planning and Public Engagement. This role works closely with the Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) team, Public Engagement team, and other partners to develop and implement communication and outreach strategies that support R3 programs and initiatives.

The position leads efforts to increase public awareness and participation in fishing, hunting, trapping, shooting, and other wildlife‑based outdoor recreation activities through content creation, audience engagement initiatives, events, and programs. The incumbent oversees outreach and communication efforts, evaluates program effectiveness, and serves as a liaison across Division staff, the public, and partner organizations.

Success in this role requires strong communication and project‑management skills, along with the ability to develop clear, compelling messages tailored to diverse audiences. The ideal candidate can analyze audience behavior and engagement trends, use data to guide outreach strategies, and create content that increases awareness and participation in outdoor recreation opportunities. This role benefits from experience coordinating public‑facing campaigns, managing digital communication channels, and planning initiatives that expand community involvement. Knowledge of outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation is essential, as is the ability to work independently while building collaborative relationships across teams, partners, and stakeholder groups. The position primarily works work week days, however will be required to work some evenings and or weekends as needed. Some travel in state and out of state will also be required.

Salary Statement:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $53,222.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience.

The ideal candidate in this role should minimally have either:

• a Master’s Degree with 1+ years of experience, or
• a Bachelor’s Degree with 3+ years of experience, or
• a Associate’s Degree with 5+ years of experience, or
• at least 7+ years of experience applying the below, outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role.

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for employment:

• Specialized knowledge in program subject matter obtained through experience and/or education.
• Specialized knowledge of program area including pertinent rules and regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of all source materials and references including federal and state laws governing the programs.
• Ability to develop and implement new principles and policies and discern any far-reaching implications.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of accounting and budget principles.
• Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively give feedback, provide guidance or corrective action, coach, and develop employee skillsets.
• Able to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation

Tagged as: Outdoor Education