PROGRAM MANAGER III
Recruitment #26-005478-0033
| Department | DNR - Maryland Park Service - State Wide Operation |
|---|---|
| Date Opened | 9/29/2026 11:59:00 PM |
| Filing Deadline | 10/16/2026 11:59:00 PM |
| Salary | $93,138.00 - $146,883.00/year |
| Employment Type |
Full-Time
|
| HR Analyst | Emilee Knott |
| Work Location |
Anne Arundel
|
Introduction
This is a position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. Future vacancies may also be filled via other recruitments. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year.
Please note, this is a Management Services position, which serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.
GRADE
STD0021
LOCATION OF POSITION
DNR Headquarters: 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 (Anne Arundel County)
Please note, there are field offices throughout the assigned region (must be willing to travel to various Maryland Park facilities throughout the State of Maryland on a regular basis)
Main Purpose of Job
This position is responsible for the overall daily operation and administration of the Mid-West
Region State Parks, including Cunningham Falls State Park, Gambrill State Park, Gathland State
Park, Greenbrier State Park, South Mountain Battlefield, South Mountain State Park,
Washington Monument, Fort Frederick, and Sideling Hill Creek State Parks, Western Maryland
Rail Trail and Woodmont NRMA. This position develops strategies to address issues and
opportunities to enhance park programs and operations, maximize revenues, and meet visitor
expectations for quality resource-based recreation and interpretive services. This position is
responsible for ensuring proper allocation and use of Maryland Park Service resources such as
personnel, equipment, and funding. The position reviews, evaluates, and assists in emergency
response capabilities and planning for visitor services, resource protection, and employee safety
activities within the region to safeguard visitors, personnel, and resources. This position
represents the agency as a liaison with local governments, business and community groups, and
enforces Department of Natural Resources regulations and policies to ensure public safety, as
well as the protection of Maryland’s natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
POSITION DUTIES
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Park Service (MPS), is currently accepting
Applications for a Program Manager III position, which serves as the Mid-West Regional Manager.
The offices of this position will be in field offices throughout the assigned region. Duties require
routine and consistent travel through the Western Region of Maryland and throughout the state.
This position serves under the managerial supervision of the Deputy Director of the MPS and is
responsible for overseeing the visitor services management, natural and historical resource
management, personnel management, equipment and facility management, interpretive services
management, budget management, maintenance and protection of Western Region State Parks,
including: Cunningham Falls, Gambrill, Gathland, Greenbrier, South Mountain Battlefield, South
Mountain, Washington Monument, Fort Frederick, and Sideling Hill Creek State Parks, Woodmont
NRMA and Western Maryland Rail Trail.
The selected candidate develops and implements strategies to address a wide variety of operational
issues and to support and enhance park programs and operations, maximize revenues and meet
visitor expectations for quality resource-based recreation and interpretive services. The incumbent
represents the Maryland Park Service to park visitors, stakeholders, press, elected officials, park
volunteers and ‘Friends’ groups, and reviews documents, publications and other information for the public. The selected candidate is responsible for ensuring proper allocation and use of MPS
resources such as personnel, equipment and funding. Duties also include the review, evaluation and
support of public safety and emergency response capabilities and plans for visitor services, resource
protection and employee safety activities in the Western Region designed to safeguard visitors,
critical maintenance and capital improvement projects, land management and use proposals through
the internal review process, land acquisition opportunities, personnel and resources. The position
represents the MPS with other DNR units, and represents DNR as a liaison with allied state
agencies, local governments, businesses and community groups. Duties also include collaboration
with the Natural Resources Police and allied law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of DNR
regulations and policies to ensure public safety, as well as the protection of Maryland’s natural,
cultural, historical and recreational resources.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the field of forestry, forest management, natural resources management, parks and recreational, history, business administration, or a related natural science.
Experience: Eight years of experience in forest/park administration and/or operations or a related field. Five years of experience must have been in a supervisory capacity over full-time personnel engaged in forest/park operations work.
Notes:
1. Candidates may substitute additional experience as defined above for the required education at a rate of one year of experience to one year of education for up to four years of the required education.
2. Candidates may substitute graduate education for the required general experience at the rate of one year of education to one year of experience, for up to two years of the required general experience.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Three years of professional experience in managing park operations and supervising employees in a Maryland State Park is preferred.
- Five years of professional field-level experience working in a park setting is preferred.
- Three years of experience managing budgets and personnel, managing and maintaining park facilities/grounds, and environmental education programs is preferred.
- Three years of experience working with community and government agency partners to provide public safety, resource protection and other government services is preferred.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your minimum qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.
For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.
EXAMINATION PROCESS
Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you provide all the experience and education related to this position completely and accurately.
BENEFITS
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to: Department of Natural Resources, Human Resources, 580 Taylor Avenue, C-3 Annapolis, MD 21401. The Human Resources Unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address.
Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the application.
If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management at Application.Help@maryland.gov ; ATTN: Recruitment and Examination Division. Please note, standard business hours for the help desk are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Inquiries made after hours will be reviewed no earlier than the following business day.
If you need to make adjustments to a submitted application or if you have general inquiries regarding this recruitment, please contact Emilee Knott at Emilee.Knott@maryland.gov.
Supplemental materials and/or edits to your application will not be accepted once the announcement deadline has passed. Candidates will only be able to submit an application once, so it is extremely important that you are following the application instructions.
Please provide ample time to complete the application template. If you are having technical difficulties submitting an application on the day of the deadline, it is strongly advised that you complete the JobAps physical application template and hand deliver to DNR - HRS at 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 before 4:30 p.m. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources cannot guarantee that late submissions, as a result of technical difficulties, will be accepted.
TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay
Candidates with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.
Click on a link below to apply for this position:
| Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. | Apply Online |
| View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. | This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here. |
| Apply via Paper Application. | You may also download and complete the Paper Application here. |



