Working Title: Fisheries Research Administrative Specialist
Job Class: Office and Administrative Specialist, Senior
Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources
Job ID : 92621
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 03/11/2026
Closing Date : 03/31/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources
Division/Unit : Fish and Wildlife
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $22.23 - $30.09 / hourly; $46,416 - $62,827 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 206 - Clerical/AFSCME
Work Area : Division of Fish & Wildlife, Central Office Headquarters
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position provides key administrative, fiscal, clerical, and customer service support to help department programs operate efficiently and effectively, the public is served efficiently, state requirements and federal aid guidelines are met, and fisheries and wildlife resources are managed, protected, sustained, and enhanced for the greatest public benefit. This position is the only administrative support staff for the Fisheries Research program, which conducts applied fisheries research to better inform management decision making, and has staff located at area office located throughout Minnesota. This position provides lead work direction and coordination to OAS staff in one or multiple offices, provides periodic support to other programs and divisions, and is the point person for Fisheries Research inquiries. This position must be able to handle a broad scope of operations and issues, multiple programs with complicated rules and procedures included but not limited to the scientific and educational permitting program, and possesses significant autonomy. At this level, incumbents are responsible for an administrative area that typically supports a complex program. Responsibilities include:
Perform office management and administrative support functions to meet customers' needs.
Support budget management, grant tracking, purchasing, and fleet/asset management so that financial obligations are met timely and incompliance with State, Federal, and DNR policies and procedures. Gathers, verifies, and summarizes data for fiscal and administrative reports. Provides technical advice to office staff. Schedules, trains, and gives technical guidance to co-workers.
Process and archive reports in accordance with State and Federal retention guidelines. Maintain thorough knowledge of data-entry and result retrieval with department and division database programs.
Assist in the entire process for issuing scientific and educational permits, including providing customers with the information needed to apply for permits, providing an initial review of permit applications for completeness and accuracy, preparing permit applications for technical review by the Permit Administrator, and process and enter permits and reports into the permit database.
Provide lead work guidance and direction to other clerical staff by coordinating work and ensuring responsibilities are being done in an accurate and timely manner.
Minimum Qualifications
Customer service skills sufficient to remain courteous, helpful, tactful, effective and professional in manner, while serving as the information specialist regarding projects, working under time constraints, working with diverse people, and with conflicting priorities.
English skills sufficient to generate readable and accurate written materials (e.g., letters, memos, reports and instructional documents) free of spelling and grammar errors.
Database management skills and knowledge sufficient to enter, compile, research and create reports and analyze suggestions for modifications or upgrades to database systems.
Word processing and typing skills sufficient to prepare advanced correspondence, documents, informational articles, policies and procedure statements.
Accounting and budgeting skills sufficient to create purchasing orders, code invoices, track budgets and maintain accurate financial records and reports.
Spreadsheet skills sufficient to organize data and enter information from a variety of sources, compile lists, and prepare spreadsheets necessary for tracking budgets, expenditures and projects.
Accounting skills and business principles sufficient to analyze, interpret, compile, and reconcile items purchased or services rendered.
Leadwork skills sufficient to review and resolve complex issues.
Demonstrated experience establishing and maintaining electronic and paper filing systems.
Demonstrated organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects of varying size and complexity.
Ability to interpret and analyze general operating policies, procedures and documents to make recommendations to management for new or revised administrative and program practices and procedures for smooth and efficient office operations.
Preferred Qualifications
Three (3) years of general office experience including, but not limited to writing, keyboarding, editing, filing, electronic publishing, workload organization, public relations, postal and other shipping methods and regulations, and operation of various office equipment (e.g. copy machines, telephones, faxes, printers).
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access) at an advanced level sufficient to compose, create, modify, and publish documents and materials.
Experience with Adobe Acrobat Pro sufficient to manage PDF documents.
Advanced organization skills using project management and/or other measures such as computer software programs that enable efficient work organization, including the work of others.
Workload organization and scheduling skills are required to effectively manage office operations, work under time constraints and large workloads, and to complete work assignments.
Additional Requirements
Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).
It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. All job offers are contingent upon passing the following components:
Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
