Conservation America Program Director, Environment America, Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Denver, CO.
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Conservation America Program Director
Environment America is seeking an experienced campaigner and manager to run our Conservation America Program. Responsibilities include driving and coordinating program development, advocacy, field organizing and communications for our conservation work; managing and building a team of staff; and fundraising to support and expand the program.
Our national parks and open spaces are where we go to spend time outdoors with our families and friends, to hike, bike, fish, and see wild animals. Places like Yellowstone and the Blue Ridge Parkway are a part of our natural heritage. They are home to diverse wildlife, and they’re more popular than ever. Our national parks had a record-breaking 292 million visits last year, and already in 2015, President Obama has announced 2 new national monuments and his “Every Kid in a Park” initiative, which will give all fourth graders and their families a pass to enjoy all federal lands for a year.
Yet even with this progress, instead of helping protect and preserve these places for wildlife and for our kids to enjoy, some shortsighted leaders in Congress want to eliminate funding for our successful lands programs. If they get their way, funding will be slashed and more of our special places will have less protection against pollution, logging, and overdevelopment. These places and our families deserve better. It’s up to us to protect them for the next generation.
Environment America is a national grassroots advocacy organization tackling today’s toughest environmental problems. Working with our state affiliates and members across the country we use creative strategies, effective tactics, grit and determination to win positive change for our environment and our families’ health. That’s how we helped bring millions of people together with thousands of constituency groups, coalition partners and elected officials to call on President Obama to tackle global warming pollution from power plants. And it’s how we succeeded in pushing the EPA to propose new rules to close loopholes in the Clean Water Act despite opposition from the Farm Bureau, Home Builders and other powerful interests.
The Conservation America Program Director’s Role:
The Conservation America Program Director will lead our efforts to win protections for public lands and keep our open spaces and the wildlife that reside in them safe from pollution, mining, drilling, logging, and overdevelopment. S/he will be our representative on conservation issues in national coalitions, advocate for protecting our open spaces with decision-makers, build the clout and resources for our Conservation America Program, and will recruit and lead a strong team of advocates, campaigners, writers and digital organizers. On a day-to-day basis, our Conservation America Program Director will be responsible for:
Campaign Strategy Development: Winning real victories takes much more than good policy ideas and strong inside relationships – we need to determine the best strategies for building and using our power. The Program Director will assess opportunities for building political and public support through coalition-building, grassroots organizing, grasstops mobilization, and generating media coverage, and will develop strong plans for putting our resources to use and winning our campaigns.
Media Outreach: The Conservation America Program Director will serve as the public spokesperson for Environment America on conservation issues. S/he will organize media events, write press releases, meet with editorial boards, and work with our Communications Director and digital organizers to develop other tactics with a goal of building name recognition, garnering broad support and educating the public.
Building the Community: More voices lead to more power and more action. The Conservation America Program Director will play a critical role in building relationships and mobilizing support within the national environmental community and regional and local communities seeking to protect local parks and open spaces. The Program Director will also oversee our outreach coordinators as they work with key constituencies that share our concerns– from outdoor recreational businesses to ranchers to local elected officials.
Advocacy: Present both problems and solutions to decision-makers at the local, state and federal levels. Make a compelling case for action. Build access and influence with key players who can help us move our agenda forward.
Fundraising: The Conservation America Program Director will write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and meet with large individual donors, all to bring more resources to our campaigns. S/he will also work with our citizen outreach and online staff to build and develop a strong membership base to sustain and increase our work.
Program and Policy Development: Develop an effective approach to environmental problems within a broader political context. Participate in and oversee policy development, research and messaging for our program.
Recruiting and Developing Staff: If we’re not growing, we’re not winning. The Conservation America Program Director will help recruit new staff, new interns and new volunteers to increase our impact and build more power. S/he will oversee all staff on the Conservation America Program team including developing and implementing work plans and providing training and leadership development opportunities.
Qualifications:
Candidates must have at least 8 years of relevant professional experience. Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to environmental issues and to citizen-based social change as well as a track-record of leadership. We're looking for goal-driven and results-oriented individuals who have excellent verbal, writing and analytical skills, the ability to speak persuasively in a charged atmosphere, and enthusiasm for the work.
Salary & Benefits:
Salary for this position is commensurate with relevant professional experience and/or advanced degrees. Environment America offers a competitive benefits package. Eligible staff receive paid holidays, sick days, and vacation days; and the opportunity to enroll in our group health care, college and graduate loan assistance, and 401(k) programs. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.
Locations:
Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Denver, CO.
To Apply:
Apply here: http://jobs.environmentamerica.org/apply.html. Direct your application to Courtney Abrams.
Environment America is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status.