Working Title: License Center Director
Job Class: State Program Administrator, Director
Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources
Job ID : 94171
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes, hybrid
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 05/20/2026
Closing Date : 06/02/2026
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 : Yes, occasionally
Salary Range: $38.16 - $54.97 / hourly; $79,678 - $114,777 / annually
Job Class Option : DNR Licensing
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 216 - Middle Management Association/MMA
FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive
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.
The Department of Natural Resources is seeking to fill one (1) full-time License Center Director position in St. Paul, MN.
The License Center Director position exists to provide statewide leadership and strategic direction for Minnesota's electronic licensing and recreational registration programs that support hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation activities. The position ensures effective administration, modernization, and continuous improvement of licensing operations, including electronic licensing systems, commercial licensing platforms, controlled hunt applications, recreational vehicle registration and titling, and the issuance of game and fish licenses and permits. The role is responsible for ensuring accessible, accurate, secure, and customer-focused service delivery through both digital platforms and statewide licensing agents.
This position exists to ensure licensing programs operate in compliance with state statutes, administrative rules, and conservation objectives while supporting sustainable wildlife management and outdoor recreation opportunities. The incumbent provides statewide oversight, operational leadership, and policy guidance to licensing agents, deputy registrars, agency leadership, and external stakeholders. The position collaborates with information technology, enforcement, legal, and program divisions to implement system enhancements, improve operational performance, safeguard licensing data, and respond to evolving business and legislative requirements. In addition, the position serves as a primary agency representative on licensing-related legislative, policy, and stakeholder matters and promotes innovation, accountability, equity, and public trust in the delivery of licensing services throughout the state.
Responsibilities include:
Oversee the administration of the statewide licensing and registration systems for outdoor recreation and resource management. This includes administering the issuance of game and fish licenses, commercial permits, controlled hunt applications and tags, as well as recreational vehicle registrations and titles. Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, maintain data integrity across platforms, coordinate with internal departments and external vendors, and provide responsive service to the public and partner agencies. This role plays a critical part in supporting conservation funding, public access, and regulatory enforcement.
Supervise and manage the human resource functions of the License Center to ensure appropriate staffing, training, performance management, and employee engagement that support efficient, customer-focused operations.
Represent the State's Game and Fish Licensing and Recreational Vehicle and Titling programs at governmental meetings, interagency forums, and stakeholder engagements to ensure accurate, timely, and clear communication of licensing, registration, and titling policies, procedures, and program information to government officials, agency partners, and customers.
Develop, implement, and manage financial systems and processes for the State's licensing programs to ensure compliance with state and federal budget, audit, and reporting requirements. Oversee the collection, deposit, and distribution of fees, direct financial operations within the Electronic Licensing System (ELS), and provide guidance, training, and documentation to staff and system users on financial policies, procedures, and responsibilities.
Provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure the agency's ELS data assets are protected and managed in compliance with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, cybersecurity standards, and internal policies. Oversee staff, processes, agents, and vendor relationships involved in handling sensitive information. Establish a culture of accountability for data stewardship, manage risk, and ensure consistent implementation of data governance and privacy practices across all program areas.
Provide oversight and coordination of state and federal contracts, interagency agreements, and amendments supporting licensing and registration operations to ensure compliance with state procurement laws, fiscal controls, and program requirements while maintaining effective partnerships with state agencies and vendors.
Develop, implement, and oversee an employee safety plan for the License Center/Service Desk environment to ensure a safe, secure, and healthy workplace for all staff. Ensure compliance with state safety regulations, agency policies, and occupational health standards, and foster a culture of safety awareness and proactive risk management.
Coordinate and oversee operational, compliance, and strategic activities supporting statewide licensing operations, ensuring continuity of service, regulatory consistency, audit readiness, interagency coordination, and effective representation of the agency while serving as operational support and backup to the Administrative Section Manager.
This position has a flexible work arrangement and may be eligible to telework on a part-time basis which is subject to change. If approved, the employee would be required to complete an annual telework agreement.
Minimum Qualifications
Four (4) years of professional level experience in licensing operations, customer service operations, business operations, program administration, call center management, or electronic transaction systems management.
Two (2) years supervisory or lead work experience to professional staff in planning and coordinating resource management for a multi-discipline environment. Experience must include working knowledge of human resources policy and procedures, understanding of labor contracts sufficient to interview and select staff affirmatively, assignment of work, scheduling, and performance management.
Demonstrated experience administering or supporting complex electronic systems, databases, or transactional platforms.
Knowledge of operational practices related to licensing, permitting, registration, or public-facing service delivery programs.
Experience developing, implementing, or improving business processes, operational procedures, or customer service standards.
Ability to analyze operational issues, interpret policies and procedures and recommend solutions.
Experience working with financial transactions, reconciliation processes, reporting, or compliance requirements.
Strong communication skills sufficient to communicate with staff, vendors, stakeholders, agents, and the public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners.
Human relations and coaching skills to motivate, provide guidance and training, resolve conflict in a positive manner, generate public support, and achieve cooperation with clients, peers, public, and staff.
Ability to establish goals and objectives that equitably empower employees, diverse community groups, stakeholders, and the public.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and reporting tools, including knowledge of databases, spreadsheets and word processing.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's or advanced-level Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Systems, Communications, Natural Resource Administration, or related field.
Experience working with electronic licensing systems (ELS), point-of-sale systems, e-commerce platforms, or government transaction systems.
Experience overseeing a customer contact center or high-volume customer service operation.
Experience managing vendor relationships, service level agreements, contracts, or system implementation activities.
Five (5) years of progressive administrative and supervisory experience, in a unionized environment and/or within public sector operations.
Experience developing operational metrics, dashboards, performance measures, or continuous improvement initiatives.
Leadership competencies:
Knowledge of governmental budgeting and legislative processes sufficient to consolidate multiple program activities and to propose legislative initiatives to meet current and future program needs.
Ability to lead organizational change and support staff through operational transitions.
Experience conducting long range strategic planning with the ability to set long-term and short-term goals and objectives that equitably empower all employees, stakeholders, and the public.
Additional Requirements
No driving duties are required.
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. The background check may consist of 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.
