Eric Verwys
Tucson,AZ
Summary
Strategic leader with expertise in conservation program administration and budget development. Cultivated interagency partnerships to drive initiatives that enhance resource protection and community engagement. Guided teams in achieving organizational goals while maintaining fiscal integrity.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director
Natural Resources Department
, USA
01.2023 - 01.2026
- Provide executive oversight and operational leadership for 13 distinct programs within the Natural Resources Department, ensuring alignment with long-term conservation priorities and organizational strategy.
- Direct supervision of program managers, professional staff, and field personnel across wildlife, vegetation management, environmental protection, and resource management divisions.
- Lead strategic planning efforts and implement programmatic improvements to increase efficiency, accountability, and conservation impact.
- Advise executive leadership and elected officials on natural resource policy, funding strategies, and long-term land management initiatives.
- Strengthen partnerships with federal agencies, state entities, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to advance collaborative conservation efforts.
- Oversee grant development, administration, and reporting for multiple funding streams supporting wildlife conservation, land stewardship, and habitat restoration.
- Develop and manage departmental budgets, including federal and grant-funded allocations; ensure fiscal integrity, reporting compliance, and sustainable financial planning.
- Serve as departmental representative in public forums, intergovernmental meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
- Tohono O’odham Nation | Arizona
Ecologist
Natural Resources Department
, USA
01.2019 - 01.2023
- Led ecological monitoring, habitat restoration, and species conservation initiatives across diverse desert and rural landscapes.
- Managed wildlife research and vegetation monitoring to inform conservation planning and enhance habitat protection efforts.
- Directed biological assessments and land-use evaluations to ensure environmental compliance and support sustainable practices.
- Designed data-driven conservation strategies to guide land stewardship and habitat protection efforts.
- Collaborated with federal agencies including USFWS, BIA, USDA, and state conservation partners.
- Developed outreach initiatives that increased conservation awareness and fostered community engagement.
- This role established the scientific and technical foundation that informs executive-level decision-making today.
- Tohono O’odham Nation | Arizona
United States Navy Corpsman
United States Navy, Unit
TUCSON, AZ
07.2009 - 04.2014
- Delivered emergency medical care to personnel during high-pressure situations, ensuring immediate attention to critical needs.
- Administered vaccinations and medications in accordance with military protocols.
- Performed routine health assessments and screenings for service members, contributing to overall health management and readiness.
- Trained new corpsmen on medical procedures and equipment use, enhancing team competency and operational efficiency.
- Provided assistance with minor medical procedures, such as wound cleaning and dressing changes.
- Evaluated scene for hazards or dangerous situations upon arrival.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Natural Resources Conservation Science
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX12-2018
Skills
- Conservation administration
- Land Stewardship
- Resource Protection
- Grant Acquisition
- Fundraising
- Budget Development
- Policy Development
- Government Relations
- Interagency Partnerships
- Organizational Leadership
- Strategic Vision
- Executive collaboration
- Staff Supervision
Selected Leadership Highlights
- Executive oversight of 13 natural resource programs serving a large sovereign tribal nation.
- Management of complex, multi-source budgets including federal grants and tribal allocations.
- Experience advising executive leadership and governing bodies on conservation strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to balance conservation mission with financial and operational realities.
- Extensive experience working across rural landscapes and culturally significant lands.
Core Executive Competencies
- Organizational Leadership & Strategic Vision
- Board & Executive-Level Collaboration
- Conservation Program Administration
- Land Stewardship & Resource Protection
- Budget Development & Fiscal Oversight
- Fundraising & Grant Acquisition
- Staff Supervision & Talent Development
- Public & Government Relations
- Policy Development & Regulatory Compliance
- Interagency & Community Partnerships
Executive Leadership Profile
Strategic conservation executive and natural resources leader with over seven years of progressive leadership experience and a professional foundation in ecology and land stewardship. Currently serving as Assistant Director of a Natural Resources Department overseeing 13 programs spanning wildlife management, habitat restoration, environmental compliance, waste management, and land stewardship initiatives across large rural landscapes. Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex budgets, guide policy development, secure and administer grant funding, and build strategic partnerships at tribal, federal, state, and nonprofit levels. Recognized for balancing mission-driven conservation priorities with sound financial management, operational discipline, and long-term strategic growth.
Timeline
Assistant Director
Natural Resources Department
01.2023 - 01.2026
Ecologist
Natural Resources Department
01.2019 - 01.2023
United States Navy Corpsman
United States Navy, Unit
07.2009 - 04.2014
Bachelor of Science - Natural Resources Conservation Science
Texas Tech University