(Sr.) Government Relations Representative, Land

To Apply: Please submit resume & cover letter through our online application system at www.wilderness.org by May 23rd.

This role is being considered at both the Representative (3-5 years of experience) & Sr. Representative (5-7 years of experience) levels.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Wilderness Society seeks a highly creative and skilled individual to join our Government Relations team in DC to develop and implement strategies and tactics to protect priority lands and advance equitable conservation policies as part of the solution to the climate and extinction crises.

Reporting to a Director of Government Relations and working in coordination with field, legal, communications and other staff from across the organization, this role will develop and lead government relations strategies to advance legislative and administrative protections for priority lands to help achieve The Wilderness Society’s goals of protecting 30% of US lands and waters by 2030 (30x30) and ensuring that all people benefit equitably from public lands.

In addition to supporting legislative and administrative protection proposals for landscape conservation, this person will be tasked with supporting other strategies and proposals necessary to meet The Wilderness Society’s 30x30 goal, including defending against efforts to eliminate or reduce safeguards against reckless mining on federal lands and supporting Tribes and Indigenous community partners efforts to advance protections for culturally significant lands, sacred sites and cultural resources on federal lands.

This position plays an important role in supporting an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization and this role will integrate these priorities throughout their work, including by developing equitable advocacy outcomes and campaign strategies through inclusive processes that bring partners to the table early and give a voice to historically underrepresented communities. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

The Wilderness Society (TWS), is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to unite people to protect America’s wild places. We believe public lands belong to and should benefit all of us. Our organization and work must embody the cultures and perspectives of people and communities across our nation and connect and inspire people to care about the outdoors.

PRIORITY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and lead the execution of TWS’s government relations strategies – with Congress and the Administration – to support and advance key policies and designation proposals to protect priority lands and waters and meet a 30x30 goal, partnering with field, legal, communications and other TWS staff.

• Lead and support TWS’s government relations strategies to support Tribes, Indigenous communities, and other Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) partners in advancing efforts to protect culturally significant lands and heal historic harms, including through the support of Tribal co-management efforts for sacred sites and cultural resources on public lands and improved public land management policies.

• Track and manage an evolving portfolio of land conservation legislation and public lands management policy proposals that impact priority landscapes and/or efforts to meet a 30x30 goal. Educate Members of Congress, congressional staff, and agency officials on priority conservation issues; support TWS staff and partners to lobby and work with Congress and the Administration. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with congressional and Administration staff.

• Build TWS’ national partnerships and engage in coalitions with key stakeholders, including public land user groups and BIPOC partners, particularly with Tribes and Indigenous communities, while working to build more inclusive and diverse coalitions for public lands conservation.

• Analyze public lands legislation and other formal policies in support of TWS’ priorities.

• Develop fact sheets, talking points and other outreach and advocacy materials; represent TWS with the media where appropriate; and partner with policy, legal and communications staff as needed.

• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience and Competencies

• GR Representative Level: minimum 3-5 years’ experience working on policy or advocacy campaigns or a related field. Senior Representative level: minimum 5-7 years of experience working on policy or advocacy campaigns or a related field.

• Track record working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives—across race and gender.

• Strong experience working with elected officials and a solid understanding of the legislative process at the federal level. Experience working on Capitol Hill or in federal agencies preferred.

• Proven ability to evaluate and analyze legislation and/or Administration policy.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to translate complex policies succinctly and clearly for a public audience and decision makers. Working knowledge of public lands issues, a plus.

• Experience working collaboratively within and providing leadership to coalitions and engaging a diverse set of partners. Experience working with Tribes, Indigenous communities and Black, Indigenous, People of Color led organizations preferred.

• Proven ability to develop strategies and tactics to achieve an advocacy goal.

• Strong problem-solving skills and careful attention to detail.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not exposed to adverse weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position of Senior Representative and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of experience, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; and a retirement plan. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation.

As an organization, we aspire to being inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society