Game Warden Sergeant - Region 7

State of Montana • Miles City, MT

6d

About The Position

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.
Announcement:
Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.
Resume
Cover Letter
Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on February 12, 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.
Special Information:
This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase of $1.00 an hour effective July 1, 2026.
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental, and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.
Women and minorities are underrepresented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.
Specific Job Information:
By the nature and complexity of warden sergeants' duties, typically the warden sergeant is available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to support field staff, respond to the public and address wildlife issues. Job demands are heaviest during weekends & holidays. Warden sergeants may work odd hours, generally alone with no backup. Officers must regularly respond to verbal communication, alarms, telephones and radio communications.
Officers must be in excellent physical health and condition. This position requires frequent climbing, bending, pushing, pulling, and dragging. Requires lifting 50lbs unassisted. Working with sick or injured wildlife, removing illegal kills, trapping and relocating animals, backpacking, horseback patrols, loading and unloading, operating boats, snowmobiles, and OHVs, physical labor in deep snow, and use of force incidents require physical strength, stamina and/or force. Officers must be in excellent mental condition as a warden sergeant must deal with all types of personalities and stress levels.
The warden sergeant is required to function in all weather extremes, under adverse working conditions for prolonged patrols and activities. Patrolling often requires sitting for long periods of time in a vehicle. Handling various wildlife and equipment, traversing rough terrain, including water, operating vehicles/vessels at high speeds and under unstable conditions may result in injury. Dangerous interactions with criminals, executing arrests and being subject to assault and to dangerous substances, including drugs and bodily fluids, is to be expected.
The Warden Sergeant is a first-line supervisor, law enforcement officer responsible for supervising law enforcement field staff and implementing the law enforcement program in the region, including assisting in the development, monitoring, and evaluation of enforcement aspects of FWP programs in the region. Warden Sergeants are knowledgeable in criminal law, criminal procedure, search & seizure, detention & arrest, the judicial process, and general personnel matters, including the elements of progressive discipline. They facilitate and coordinate criminal investigations within the region accordingly.

Requirements

• The required knowledge and skills are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience in Law Enforcement, Fish and Wildlife Biology or Management, Park Management, Outdoor Recreation, Criminal Justice, or a closely related field.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree is not required but is preferred.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Supervises field staff: monitors and is immediately responsible for the overall regional law enforcement activities of assigned field wardens and their respective districts.
• Assists in the development and implementation of warden district plans, ensuring statutory duties are prioritized.
• Sergeants monitor and evaluate field staff performance to make sure the goals in each warden district they supervise are accomplished.
• Responsible for writing, tracking, and giving performance evaluations.
• Ensures division priorities and direction is followed by field staff, as well as ensuring consistency and quality over quantity in handling violations and educating the public.
• Monitors data generated from the SmartCop Data Management Plan, including the number of tickets and written warnings issued.
• Responsible for maintaining standards of work and conduct of subordinates.
• Makes every effort to minimize public complaints by coaching, mentoring and developing the field staff.
• Responsible for handling personnel matters and conducting internal investigations regarding warden conduct, including informal, oral or detailed written investigations.
• Provides guidance, direction and supervision to subordinate officers in investigation duties using knowledge, skills and abilities of law enforcement investigative methodology and law enforcement policy and procedures.
• Assists Captain in coordinating enforcement activities within the region to ensure protection, conservation and propagation of public resources and personnel/budget efficiency.
• Ensures law enforcement needs of agency programs are met, policy is adhered to, and fiscal responsibility is observed.
• Is responsible for ensuring TIPMONT response and tracking is completed properly.
• Ensures investigative resources are used, i.e. regional investigators and criminal investigation section.
• Serves as a liaison between FWP and other law enforcement agencies.
• Organizes and supervises simulated wildlife operations, search warrants, various check stations, saturation patrols and other enforcement operations while ensuring proper manpower and equipment is assigned, state law and department policy is followed, and employee safety is prioritized.
• Coordinates field efforts in water safety, snowmobile safety and OHV safety programs to ensure public safety by providing formal instruction, information and ensuring compliance of laws and regulations.
• Is responsible for all equipment assigned to field staff that they immediately supervise and ensures all equipment is maintained and tracked utilizing the Frontline system.
• Works collaboratively with the fish, wildlife, and parks programs to organize and plan enforcement services accordingly throughout the region.
• Oversees field warden work in State Parks and Fishing Access Sites to ensure coverage in these areas and works with field wardens and other FWP staff to prevent vandalism, user conflicts and maintain site security.
• Coordinates saturation patrols through the assignment of personnel and equipment to specific areas, providing a high-visibility presence to deter illegal activities.
• Works in cooperation with field wardens and the Regional Investigator to plan and execute high-profile and complex special investigations to achieve successful prosecution as assigned.
• Coordinates enforcement activities with other state, federal, tribal and local enforcement agencies to maximize enforcement efforts and capabilities.
• Oversight of Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) within the region.
• Participates in the assignment of new officers to FTO's.
• Act as a key component of the FTO program and its critical function in training and evaluating new officers.
• Responsible for training newly employed wardens for a thirty-day orientation phase.
• Assists the Captain and field instructors in implementing and monitoring in-service and on-the-job training programs for field staff.
• Sergeants perform field-level enforcement duties and investigations as necessary to supplement field staff and to cover vacant warden districts or areas in need of added enforcement presence.
• Sergeants issue citations and written warnings as well as write search warrants.
• Sergeants also perform a wide array of other duties as assigned by the Captain and/or other duties or responsibilities acquired through taking on additional assignments.

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental, and life insurance.
• Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
• This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees