Policy Advocate

Saving wildlife through law

What does a Conservation Policy Advocate do?

A small tweak to some legislation can make an enormous, global difference for wildlife conservation efforts, and this may be where your passion lies. Building sound policies, and lobbying for them to be implemented and enforced is the job of a growing band of conservation policy and advocacy professionals.

Typical Conservation Policy Advocate duties

Conservation Policy Advocate roles often include the following duties:

  • Identifying and develop key policy issues for the conservation organisations.
  • Drafting position papers, policy briefings and reports and communicate results.
  • Participating in related policy fora.
Indigenous women impacting law. Credit: Public Policy Forum on Flickr.

Conservation Policy Advocate employer types

Types of conservation employers that hire Policy Advocates include:

Conservation Policy Advocate sub roles

Conservation Policy Advocate sub-roles include:

  • Campaigning – engage, inspire and organise individuals, groups and/or organisations to support and deliver campaigns addressing conservation issues – such as altering government policy or changing business practices.
  • Environmental law – advocating for individuals, organisations and/or government agencies with a focus on environmental rights and laws.
Once highly persecuted and under sever threat in the United States, the Bald Eagle is currently classified as Least Concern in North America on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, thanks in part to successful campaigns to protect the species and its habitat. Credit: Richard Lee via Unsplash.

Conservation Policy Advocate context

What contexts support your happiness at work? Typical Conservation Policy Advocate roles include the following contexts:

Conservation Policy Advocate salaries & key stats

Here’s how most Conservation Policy Advocate roles compare with other conservation roles. We’ve considered pay, popularity (how many applicants roles receive) and availability (how many jobs are available at a given time). Keep in mind that this is a general guide, and that pay, popularity and availability can vary with employer type, location and job level.
 
 
*Pay for senior-level Organisational Manager roles can reach a 5.
**Pay for veterinary sub roles can reach a 4.
 
To research salaries for general Policy Advocate roles in your region, we recommend searching the Economic Research Institute’s Compensation HubTo research salaries and availability for Conservation Policy Advocates in your region, we recommend searching our Conservation Job Archive as a Conservation Careers Academy member.
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Conservation Policy Advocate requirements

Typical early-career Conservation Policy Advocate roles require the following:
Conservation Policy Advocate sub roles, mid-level roles and senior roles may have different requirements. Find specific Conservation Policy Advocate requirements by searching our Conservation Job Archive as a Conservation Careers Academy member.
 

Typical job titles for Conservation Policy Advocates

Examples of Early Career Policy Advocate job titles include: 

Examples of Mid and Senior Policy Advocate job titles include:

Find more examples of Policy Advocate job titles by searching our Conservation Job Archive as a Conservation Careers Academy member.

Communication skills, including communicating with diverse stakeholders, is one of the most valued skills for Conservation Policy Advocates. Credit: INASP on Flickr.

Conservation Policy Advocate resources

Podcast episodes

André Mader is the Programme Director at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. André is a conservation biologist by training who has worked mostly in biodiversity policy, and we discuss the role of policy and strategy in wildlife conservation efforts. Listen here.

Fisheries policy - whether targeting local subsistence fishing or global commercial fisheries - can have an impact on conservation goals.

Example Conservation Policy Advocate jobs

To help illustrate Conservation Policy Advocate roles, here are seven job descriptions that represent (real) entry level Policy Advocate jobs. Pay particular attention to the selection criteria (specifications) to learn more about what conservation employers are looking for when they hire Policy Advocates.

Policy Assistant | BirdLife International | Cambridge, UK (2022)

  • Full time: 35 hours per week
  • Contract: 12 month fixed term contract
  • Salary: circa £24,000 pro rata plus competitive 12% pension benefit, dependant on skills and experience
  • Leave: 25 days pro rata in year 1, increasing by 1 day pa to 28 days

BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation partnership. Through our unique local-to-global approach, we deliver high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.

We are looking for a Policy Assistant to join our Policy team in the Global Secretariat to work with us to support the coordination and timely delivery of BirdLife’s global policy and advocacy agenda and engagement across key UN Convention meetings on nature and climate, working closely with BirdLife Partners across the world.

The Post 2020 global biodiversity framework will be negotiated and agreed by the world’s governments in Canada in December. The Paris Climate Agreement will come into effect and important decisions will be adopted at the United Nations Climate Change Convention Conference of Parties in Egypt in November. Importantly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be reviewed and high-level political meetings will take place at the United Nations General Assembly in September in New York. These three agendas are inextricably linked and the months ahead present a major opportunity to set us on a path for the recovery of nature to benefit all. BirdLife International is working as a global partnership through effective and coordinated policy and communications to make sure these moments deliver ambition and action for nature.

As part of the BirdLife policy team you will have the opportunity to work closely with and support nature and climate policy colleagues organising our Partnership-wide policy and advocacy input and presence in the lead up to and at key meetings and consultations. You will work with the BirdLife International Partnership and help coordinate engagement with them at this busy time.

Main Duties / Work Programme Responsibilities

To support BirdLife’s Policy Department on tasks related to nature and climate policy, including to:

  1. Provide support in the development of BirdLife’s policy positions and briefings on issues associated with nature, climate and sustainable development. This will include policy research and analysis, soliciting input and incorporating feedback from colleagues and Partner staff, and administrative support in finalising documents.
  2. Support coordination, including set up, input documents and capturing and sharing action points, of BirdLife policy meetings, including virtual meetings of the BirdLife Post 2020 Task Team, the Climate Change Core Policy team, the BirdLife Policy Multi-lateral Environment Agreement Working Group.
  3. Support the organisation of BirdLife Partnership-wide regional and global online meetings and webinars.
  4. Support the development of capacity development materials to amplify the BirdLife Partnership’s engagement on the Post 2020 agenda.
  5. Ensure all policy materials are effectively stored, managed and accessible on the BirdLife extranet, Hatch.
  6. Provide administrative, organisational and logistical support for BirdLife staff and Partners’ input to and, physical presence at, key international policy meetings.
  7. Support the delivery and reporting of various nature and climate policy projects that further BirdLife’s policy advocacy objectives.

The ideal candidate will have:

  • A degree in a relevant environmental or development subject
  • Good knowledge of biodiversity conservation/climate change/environmental issues and a specific interest in global, regional or national policy
  • Excellent organisational skills and confident working across a coordinated global network
  • Willingness to work on administrative tasks with good attention to detail
  • Solutions oriented and focussed

Detailed Education/Skills and Other Special Requirements

  • Minimum General Education: Educated to at least degree level
  • Job Specific Education/ Qualification: A degree in a relevant environmental or development subject.
  • Job Specific Knowledge: Good general knowledge of global biodiversity conservation and environmental issues. Ideally knowledge of global conservation or climate policy and multilateral environment agreements and processes.
  • Experience: Relevant general experience of environmental policy an advantage
  • Management & organisational skills: Excellent organisational and administrative skills. Ability to manage work and meet deadlines and prioritise effectively. Good concentration and attention to detail.
  • Communications skills: Excellent English writing skills. At ease discussing work with a wide range of colleagues.
  • Creativity & Initiative: Solutions oriented – good at problem solving.
  • Computer Literacy: Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word and Excel. Languages Highly proficient in English (other languages beneficial, but not essential).
  • Travel requirements: Possible
 

Graduate Policy Advisor | Department of Conservation | Wellington, New Zealand

  • New Graduate roles ! – No better place to start your career in conservation policy.
  • Two 18 month fixed term roles either with the Marine Policy or Tourism and Economic Development teams.
  • All roles based in Wellington

Toitū te marae a Tāne, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata. If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.

At Te Papa Atawhai, our Policy Unit leads the organisation’s work across all areas of policy that stand to impact on conservation. We work on general conservation policy such as biodiversity and the management of public conservation lands and waters, Resource Management Act policy and reform, oceans and marine protection policy, Aotearoa’s science system, climate change, the freshwater domains, economic development and wider sector policy (e.g. forestry, mining), and the tourism system.

At the heart of this mahi is our commitment to honouring our Treaty partnership for the benefit of iwi, hapū and whanau; and restoring our natural beauty while ensuring people can connect to our natural and cultural heritage.

He angitūtanga: About the Role

There is no better place than working with us to get government policy experience servicing ministers but also a practical sense of how this is applied in the real world, due to the large operational component of our business.  As we have a small policy unit with four teams, you will get exposure to different topics and stages of the policy cycle, from strategic thinking to the technical implementation of different of policies.

In joining one of our specialist teams, you will contribute to policy analysis and project delivery, working alongside our team of Advisors and Senior Advisors to develop robust policy proposals. You will develop and deliver strategic policy advice that meets the needs of our Minister, Treaty partners, and senior leaders.  You will also support the drafting of briefing notes to Ministers, speech notes, Cabinet papers and reports, ministerial correspondence, and responses to parliamentary questions.

The Marine Policy Team are progressing exciting new initiatives to increase marine protection in Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes new marine protection zones in the Hauraki Gulf, exploring reform of marine protection legislation, and working across DOC and other agencies to guide or support protected species and fisheries management policy work. The team also hosts the Government’s Oceans Secretariat, which is driving greater coordination of marine policy across government agencies.

The Tourism and Economic Development Policy Team work on a wide range of interesting policy topics. This includes three areas for legislative change: improving tools in the conservation management planning framework to be more efficient, improving the process for reclassifying stewardship land, and amending the Trade in Endangered Species Act to be more efficient and better implement international obligations. We also work across the Department and with other organisations on the future of tourism and implications for conservation.

He kōrero mōu: What we are looking for

We are looking for motivated and passionate graduates with a genuine interest and aspirations in environmental or conservation policy.  You will also have

  • A university degree preferably with relevance to policy work (for example, but not limited to economics, political science, geography, environmental studies or social sciences);
  • Cultural awareness – understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi including the willingness to engage in Te Ao Māori concepts and/or understanding tikanga Māori.
  • Awareness of and the ability to apply analytical frameworks and methods to evidence;
  • Ability to quickly acquire subject matter knowledge and build technical know-how;
  • Ability to build and maintain collaborative peer and working relationships;
  • Good communication skills including the ability to produce high-quality written work; and

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What’s in it for you:

You will join a team who pride themselves on their excellent work culture, being collegial, friendly, and social and supporting each other’s work and professional development.  They epitomise the words “DOC whanau”!

DOC is committed to building a workplace where our differences are recognised, respected, and embraced. Our organisation’s success is dependent on our people feeling valued for their differences, empowered to contribute, and respected for what they bring to their role.

 

Save The BayPolicy Associate | Save The Bay | California, USA

Save The Bay seeks a Policy Associate to support the organization’s advocacy for a resilient and equitable Bay Area and a healthy San Francisco Bay. The Policy Associate utilizes advocacy and conducts policy research to improve regional climate resilience along the shoreline and within communities; reduce trash and other pollution in the Bay, and encourage the development of sustainable transit and affordable housing throughout the region. The work schedule for this position will be forty hours per week with the flexibility to modify schedules as needed.

REPORTS TO: Policy Manager

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assist with research and outreach to build Save The Bay’s strategy to advance sea level rise resilience policies and projects across the region.
  • Support efforts to enforce Clean Water Act requirements on cities, Caltrans, and other jurisdictions to regulate trash flows into the Bay from stormwater and other direct discharge sources. Analyze agency budgets and reports, craft compelling social media campaigns, and deliver public testimony.
  • Collaborate with Policy and Communications staff to develop social media content to support Policy priorities and improve digital engagement.
  • Other responsibilities as assigned, including potentially efforts to ensure that general plans, climate action plans, and local hazard mitigation plans incorporate nature-based adaptation and advance equity within communities.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

  • Excellent writing, research, editing, and public speaking skills
  • Demonstrated initiative, creativity, and collaborative work style
  • Proven ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with colleagues
  • Computer proficiency with Windows, Microsoft Office applications, internet research applications.
  • Ability to attend occasional evening/weekend meetings and events
  • Passion for Save The Bay’s mission

Preferred

  • Knowledge of environmental policy
  • Familiarity with Bay ecology and issues
  • Experience working effectively with elected and agency officials, community leaders, environmental activists, and diverse groups of other stakeholders

Position Logistics

Location: Our work is performed mostly remotely (apart from our Habitat Restoration Staff) with periodic in-person staff and team meetings in our office based in Oakland, CA, and our various restoration sites around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Start Date: The priority deadline for applications is 8/5/2022; Preferred start date is 9/1/2022.

Compensation and Benefits: This is a full-time, non-exempt, 40 hours per week position. The hourly rate for this position is $25/hour. We offer an excellent benefit package including medical, dental, vision, acupuncture/chiropractic, and life insurance; 12 paid vacation days per year to start, 13-14 paid holidays and 12 days of sick leave per calendar year; 403(b) retirement plan; stipend for working remotely and funds for home office workstation equipment and furniture.

 

Policy Officers | WWF | Cardiff, Wales (2022)

Salary £26,713
Package Hybrid working
Contractual hours 35
Basis Full time
Job category/type Advocacy and Campaigns

This is a remarkable opportunity to work with an incredibly dedicated team and use your knowledge of policy development in the areas of conservation and sustainability to help save our planet. We want you to use your expertise with the world’s leading independent conservation organisation in Wales and continue our successful track record of working with the Senedd and Welsh Government to secure better decisions for our environment

As Policy Officer, you will support senior policy leads and networks by researching and developing policy in the areas of sustainable food production and consumption, agriculture and land use. In particular, you will work to influence the Welsh Government’s Agriculture (Wales) Bill 2022 and forthcoming Sustainable Farming Scheme, Community Food Strategy, and Food (Wales) Bill 2022.

We will look to you to create and deliver compelling bespoke Welsh messages in traditional and social media and for wider public campaigning. This will include seeking diverse inputs and inclusive approaches to deliver impactful ideas too. You will also produce technical reports, consultation responses, documents and briefings for internal and external stakeholders. Important in this role will be the ability to engage with relevant coalition partners and other stakeholders.

You must have experience or an interest in climate, food system, agricultural land use or biodiversity. You will demonstrate an understanding of how policy is developed and influenced and the ability to use evidence to analyse problems and create solutions. Comfortable at identifying key or underlying issues in complex situations, you will be an experienced researcher too. You will possess excellent influencing, relationship building and communication skills. Naturally, you will have an understanding of devolution in the Welsh context.

The roles are designed to support individuals new to the sector gain important insights, knowledge and skills, whilst contributing to our exciting programme of projects and advocacy at the forefront of environmental policy in the Wales. It is a great opportunity for a recent graduate and / or someone looking to gain experience within the environmental sector.

If you have the knowledge to develop high-quality policy to tackle the climate and nature crisis, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website via the link, complete the online registration and submit a copy of your up-to-date CV with the Supporting Statement highlighting what makes you a good fit for us.

Every role at WWF is open to applications from all sections of society. We believe in the potential of everyone regardless of; sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic origin, different physical ability, family structure, socio-economics, age, nationality or citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other aspect that makes you, well you.  Here at WWF, we are committed to conscious inclusion that helps cultivate an ethos of belonging, connection and shared purpose.  We believe that the more diverse we are the better we become; this brings us together and empowers us to develop, engage and inspire; and critically to help build a future where people can live in harmony with nature.

 

Advocacy Coordinator | Washington Trails Association | Seattle, WA, USA (2022)

Inspiring Hikers to Create Trails for Everyone, Forever

Washington is home to extraordinary hiking destinations, including desert dunes, wild beaches, tranquil mountain tops and raging rivers. Washington is also home to a community of people who are passionate about exploring and protecting these places. This constituency—our members and supporters—is key to the future of trails in Washington.

Washington Trails Association (WTA) is the nation’s largest hiking and trail maintenance nonprofit. We have a 50-year legacy of engaging the hiking community to ensure Washington’s trails stand the test of time.  With more than 27,000 members and an online community of over 300,000 and growing, we are connecting people to the outdoors — from everyday adventures to backcountry explorations. Each year 4,500 WTA volunteers perform over 160,000 hours of trail maintenance across the state. We mobilize hikers as public lands advocates, trail stewards, and on-the-ground experts sharing knowledge with fellow hikers. WTA’s strength is our community and our vision depends on fostering an inclusive organization where everyone feels welcome and represented. Together we can ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

Position summary

WTA seeks an Advocacy Coordinator to support our advocacy team and advance our mission to mobilize people to explore, steward and champion trails and public lands. The ideal candidate will be someone who is excited about the opportunity to galvanize engagement, support the team’s advocacy projects and seeks creative conduits to do so. This position will contribute to the overall success of WTA by strengthening the relationship our hiking community has to decisions that impact them by both encouraging people to take action and supporting WTA’s work to take action on behalf of hikers.

The Advocacy Coordinator is a full-time, non-exempt position based in WTA’s downtown Seattle office that reports to the Statewide Advocacy Senior Coordinator and works closely with WTA’s advocacy and communications teams.

Primary Responsibilities

Grassroots Engagement & Communications (50%)

  • Coordinate WTA’s advocate engagement system, including developing action-oriented communications, reviewing marketing and performance analytics and stewarding growth of the advocate community.
  • Develop and implement strategies to engage new and existing grassroots advocates.
  • Develop and implement engagement campaigns on advocacy issues, policies and positions through action alerts, blogs, magazine articles, presentations, managing key webpages, advocacy trainings and advocacy capacity-building activities.
  • Implement creative storytelling and narrative strategies to mobilize hiking community.
  • Track information in advocacy databases, including Capitol Canary, Salesforce and Campaign Monitor.
  • Work with Statewide Engagement and Events Coordinator to offer opportunities for action in WTA’s volunteer community and at events.

Advocacy Projects and Coalition Support (40%)

  • Build agenda, templates, slides and other materials to support productive and collaborative meetings.
  • Assist in the coordination and scheduling of diverse stakeholders and agencies.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders or groups to advance joint priorities.
  • Support advocacy projects, including initiatives, policy and planning issues through research and analysis, developing communications materials and monitoring and evaluating issues.
  • Develop print and online materials in support of WTA’s advocacy, including talking points, legislative summaries, factsheets, testimony, web content, comment letters, reports, letters, blogs and articles.
  • Work independently and through collaboration with the advocacy team on priority projects and campaigns to further WTA’s mission.

Other (10%)

  • Support the coordination of advocacy events, such as WTA’s Washington Trails Day and Hiker Rally Day.
  • Attend and participate in WTA trainings, retreats and other program events.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Skills, Knowledge, and Values

Competitive candidates will highlight the following experience in their application, or express willingness to learn:

  • Demonstrated commitment to WTA’s mission and values on diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Ability to accept and integrate feedback graciously, and give effective feedback to team members.
  • Ability to work independently to set priorities, be adaptive to changing deadlines and enthusiastic to be an integral part of a dynamic team.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to inspire others to support organizational priorities and take action.
  • Cultural competency experience and demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities and economic backgrounds.
  • Excited for the opportunity to engage in creative storytelling and advocate engagement with the goal of invoking action in the hiking community.
  • Experience in engagement stewardship – building and maintaining an engaged digital community.
  • Ability to manage work that includes rapid response deadlines as well as the development of strategy over time.
  • Interest in the development of advocacy positioning and public lands policy, including interest in researching and reporting on complex subjects.
  • Working knowledge of online advocacy and engagement tools, preferably with systems such as Campaign Monitor and Capital Canary.
  • Experience working with the Salesforce CRM database is a plus.
  • Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Location and Schedule

The Advocacy Coordinator position is a full-time, non-exempt position based in WTA’s Seattle office. WTA has a hybrid work model with at least 2 days of work per week in-person at our Seattle office. Some tasks may require in-person presence at the office or occasional evening or weekend work for special events. Vaccination requirements are in place for WTA staff and volunteers.

Compensation

Compensation for this position is $23.00 – $25.00/hour depending on experience. WTA offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and long-term disability insurance; retirement plan; and holiday, vacation, parental and sick leave.

About Washington Trails Association

Washington Trails Association mobilizes hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors to explore, steward and champion trails and public lands.

We believe:
That exploring nature is good for people’s hearts, minds and bodies, and that hiking is a powerful way for everyone to connect with Washington’s natural wonders.

That people will protect the places they love to hike, from local parks to remote wilderness.
It is vitally important for everyone to have the opportunity to access the outdoors, and we are committed to reducing barriers to hiking trails and lands.

History
WTA began in 1966 as Signpost magazine and has grown into a diverse community of hikers speaking out for trails and wildlands.

OUR WORK
Programs approach: Learn about the multifaceted approach of our program work to educate, inspire and engage hikers—all to protect the trails and wild places we love. Strategic Plan 2021-2025: We invite you to join in the journey of creating trails for everyone, forever.

Accomplishments: From creating Washington’s largest volunteer trail maintenance program to reforming legislation that allocates trail funding, find out what WTA has accomplished since our founding in 1966.

 

Pacific Northwest Conservation Advocate | WildEarth Guardians | Portland/Seattle, USA (2022)

Salary Range: $56,000 – $65,000
Location: Pacific Northwest, with Portland or Seattle areas preferred

WildEarth Guardians is seeking a full-time advocate in our Wild Places Program to lead Guardians’ regional efforts to protect and restore lands, waters, and wildlife and fish habitat on national forests in Oregon, Washington, and northern California from the impacts of forest roads and decades of exploitation and mismanagement. The PNW Conservation Advocate is responsible for tracking, commenting on, and building cases to challenge National Forest projects and plans to advance Guardians’ ReWilding Initiative and Wild Places Program goals. Part of this work will include integrating the concept of “Forest Wisdom” (as related to new science around mycorrhizal networks in forests, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge and beliefs long held by Indigenous Peoples) in advocating for forest protection on Forest Service lands.

Additionally, the PNW Advocate will lead Guardians advocacy for the Legacy Roads and Trails (LRT) program at local, regional, and national levels. This includes participating in partnerships, advocating for congressional funding, communicating with offices of elected officials, and tracking LRT funding implementation. The Pacific Northwest Conservation Advocate will also develop and maintain relationships with Tribal Nations impacted by actions on National Forest lands and promote the incorporation of indigenous perspectives into land management perspectives through improved government-to-government relations.

The PNW Conservation Advocate will report to the Public Lands Attorney and work closely with the Wild Places Team, Wild Places Program Director, Wild Places Staff Attorney, and ReWilding Manager, as well external partners to implement existing and develop new strategies that advance the ReWilding Initiative’s and Wild Places Program’s goals and objectives in support of Guardians’ overall mission

About WildEarth Guardians

WildEarth Guardians (Guardians) is a highly-effective west-wide nonprofit environmental advocacy organization headquartered in Santa Fe, NM with offices in Denver, CO; Missoula, MT; Boise, ID; Seattle, WA; and Tucson, AZ. With a 33-year history of bold environmental action, we wage innovative legal, political, and grassroots campaigns to protect and restore wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and community health in the American West.

WildEarth Guardians’ ReWilding Initiative uses advocacy, education, and the effective use of the law to restore wilderness to public lands scarred by decades of exploitation and mismanagement, and to reconnect wildlife habitat and waterways across the American West. Our goal is to protect the wildlands and waters on the more than 300 million acres of federal public lands in the American West, with an eye towards rewilding fragmented and degraded landscapes, and protecting habitat for priority wildlife species.

Position Summary

The PNW Conservation Advocate will:

  • Advocate for improved ecological integrity of the nation’s National Forests, the protection and restoration of fish & wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity, improved forest road and travel management, and creation of climate change refugia through engagement on proposed projects on US Forest Service (FS) lands in Oregon, Washington, and northern California.
  • Advocate for continued and increased funding for Legacy Roads and Trails; ensure that implementation of LRT funds results in true ecological restoration that benefits endangered, threatened, or otherwise imperiled species.
  • Ensure the FS adequately protects old-growth forests and habitat for priority imperiled species like the Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout by:
    • Identifying, reviewing, tracking, and engaging in project-level NEPA processes
    • IEngaging in Forest Plan Revision and Travel Management Plan processes in parts of FS Region 5 and Region 6
  • Learn about and promote Tribal efforts to restore wild salmon populations by supporting activities in the Green/White River watersheds (Puyallup, Muckleshoot and Tulalip Tribes) and Willamette basin (Grande Ronde, Warm Springs Tribes) to foster relationships, develop and share communications about treaty rights and restoration work with partners and Guardians supporters, and advocate for tribal interests when aligned with Guardians’ objectives.
  • Support the Wild Places Program, organization, and other staff members as needed on communications, events, fundraising, committees, and other efforts to advance Guardians’ interests and improve workplace productivity and effectiveness.
  • Learn,practice and seek opportunities to advance Guardians’ diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion initiatives.

The position is supervised by the Public Lands Attorney who is based in Seattle, WA.

Principal Responsibilities

  • Project and Forest Plan Advocacy (45%)
  • Legacy Roads and Trails (35%)
  • Tribal Engagement (10%)
  • Administration & Organizational Support (10%)

Required Knowledge and Skills:

  • A 4-year college degree or equivalent skills and knowledge developed through professional or life experience.
  • Established background and familiarity with laws and policies related to the environment, and/or public lands.
  • Knowledge of, and some experience with, Forest Service planning processes and project engagement and demonstrated technical writing experience.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including strong relational skills (including ability to connect with and build coalitions with diverse stakeholders) and demonstrated experience in public outreach.
  • Passion for protecting and restoring wild places and wildlife habitat of the Pacific Northwest of the US.
  • Commitment to creating a new paradigm for forest management, combating climate change, and restoring ecological processes and habitat for imperiled wildlife.
  • Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively.
  • Strong organizational skills and an ability to succeed in a fast-paced environment with a full workload where it is necessary to balance multiple tasks and deadlines.

Additional preferred skills include, but are not limited to:

  • Two years or more of professional experience in related fields.
  • Familiarity with Legacy Roads and Trails issues and policy.
  • Knowledge and understanding of communities and cultures, including Tribal Nations, in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Basic to intermediate understanding of “forest wisdom” as it relates to mycorrhizal networks in forests and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
  • Steadfast commitment to bolstering issues of equity while confronting environmental injustice.
  • Unwavering moral compass, kindness, sense of humor, a healthy sense of outrage, and ability to stand against the tide.
  • Bilingual (Spanish and/or Native Languages)

Benefits: WildEarth Guardians offers a friendly and flexible, team-based environment with an excellent benefits package. We provide opportunities to select benefits based on your personal preferences, your family situation, and/or your financial objectives. They include full health, vision, dental, life, and disability coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% match after your first year, paid and unpaid health and family leave, a sabbatical policy, sick leave, three weeks paid vacation to start, and ten holidays including your birthday. Salary is negotiable within salary range, based on experience.

 

Policy Officer | IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group | Cambridge, UK (2022)

The IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group is an interdisciplinary expert-based advisory group and think tank that supports professionals, organisations and governments working on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence (HWCC) by providing interdisciplinary guidance, resources, and capacity building. Founded in 2016, the Specialist Group (SG) was established to foster links between policy, science, and communities, and assimilate knowledge and capacity for human-wildlife conflict and coexistence management.

To help achieve this, we are recruiting a Policy Officer to support the Chair and the SG in ongoing science-policy bridging work, including coordinating and engaging on policy matters with the major biodiversity conventions, as well as governments around the world in their efforts to develop national policies for the management of HWC.

Responsibilities: The role of the Policy Officer will be to:

  • coordinate the SG’s inputs into the UN CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and COP15, EU biodiversity policy and other global or regional treaties and policies
  • help to draft and coordinate inputs for policy documents by the SG to inform or influence policy on HWCC and the SG’s coordination of IUCN Resolution (WCC 2020 Res 101)
  • prepare and maintain a new dedicated policy page and library section on the SG’s website
  • support the Chair in communications with CBD Secretariat, WCMC Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, and other multilateral bodies on matters related to HWCC policy
  • participate in and/or help organise meetings and webinars on HWCC policy, laws, and monitoring topics, help build HWCC policy-related resource pages and content
  • facilitate science-policy bridging, including building links between capacity-building outputs of the SG (guidelines, technical resources, training courses), policy and implementation
  • coordinate the SG’s regular communications with government Focal Points, providing information, inviting to events, answering queries, etc

Qualifications: Candidates must have substantial knowledge of biodiversity policy which may have been acquired via a postgraduate degree, thesis or research on biodiversity policy, and/or prior work experience in this subject areas. Knowledge of the topic of human-wildlife conflict would be beneficial but not a requirement if the candidate has a demonstrated strongly interdisciplinary understanding of biodiversity conservation. The Policy Officer needs to be highly organized, skilled at researching information and processing communications, and able to produce clear and well-written drafts of technical documents. The working language will be English, knowledge of additional UN languages is advantageous but not a requirement.

Position: This is a full-time position, initially for 12 months, based in the UK (location flexible), and with a remuneration of between £23,500 – £26,000 per year depending on experience. The jobholder will be employed by Jamma International and seconded to the IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group, reporting to its Chair. The work may include the opportunity for some travel, although this is not a requirement.

About IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group

The IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group is an interdisciplinary expert-based advisory group and think tank that supports professionals, organisations and governments working on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence (HWCC) by providing interdisciplinary guidance, resources, and capacity building. Founded in 2016, the Specialist Group (SG) was established to foster links between policy, science, and communities, and assimilate knowledge and capacity for human-wildlife conflict and coexistence management

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To date we have published 3,435 Policy Advocate jobs on Conservation Careers. Discover the latest policy advocate conservation jobs.

Explore other conservation roles

On Conservation Careers to date we’ve listed over 50,000 conservation jobs which cover over 15,000 different job titles! With so many different roles available within conservation, we’ve simplified them into eleven key roles:

  1. Conservation Communicator | Raising the profile of conservation. Any job focussed on communications and/or marketing, including photography and filmmaking.
  2. Ecologist | Ensuring ecologically-sensitive development. Any job focused on undertaking surveys or research to provide advice to clients (usually wishing to undertake developments).
  3. Economist | Putting a value on nature. Any job focussed on valuing nature economically.
  4. Educator | Increasing awareness and support for nature. Any job focused on environmental education for children or adults, including events and visitor engagement.
  5. Fundraiser | Raising money for nature. Any job focused on raising money.
  6. Land Manager | Protecting key sites for nature. Any job focussed on the practical conservation of sites (both habitat and visitors), including wardens and rangers.
  7. Organisational Manager | Running organisations that conserve nature. Any job focussed on managing an organisation.
  8. Policy Advocate | Saving wildlife through law. Any job focussed on policy and/or advocacy.
  9. Project Manager | Saving the world one project at a time. Any job focused on project or programme management (i.e. management of a themed area of work).
  10. Scientist | Answering the key questions to tackle biodiversity loss. Any job focussed on science and research (field and/or desk-based), including GIS and mapping and data analysis.
  11. Wildlife Carer | Caring for wildlife. Any Job focused on caring for animals, often in captivity such as Zoos, Veterinary Clinics or Shelters.

Useful links & free stuff

The cover of The Step-by-Step System to Get Hired as a Wildlife ConservationistTo help you navigate your options, please select which best describes you:
  • You want to work in conservation but you’re feeling lost, disillusioned or confused?!? Check out our Kick-Starter training designed to help you understand the job market, to navigate your career options, and to get hired more quickly. It’s designed for students, graduates, job-seekers and career-switchers. We’re proud to say it also has 100% satisfaction and recommendation ratings. We know you’ll love it. Find out more about our Kick-Starter – Online Course.
  • You need answers to top questions about working in conservation? Check out our free Ultimate Guides covering topics like the Top Conservation Skills, Top Conservation Internships | Paid or Free and Marine Conservation Jobs, and answering questions like How to Switch Careers into Conservation, Do I need a Master’s Degree? and much more! Or download our free guides to keep and read later!
  • You feel ready to be applying for jobs in conservation? Check out our membership packages for job seekers which provide access to the world’s biggest conservation job board – with over 15,000 conservation jobs shared each year – plus a range of other benefits. Check out our monthly memberships here.
  • You’re submitting applications, but failing to get many interviews? Check out our FREE eBook Conservation Jobs: The Step-by-Step System to Get Hired as a Wildlife Conservationist – available on Kindle, EPUB and PDF. We can also review your applications, and provide 1:1 advice on how to improve them. Check out our application support here.
  • You’ve got an interview (well done!) and would like our help to prepare for it? We know what employers want, and have helped many people prepare for and deliver successful interviews. Check out our interview preparation here.
  • You’re feeling stuck, struggling with a career decision or something’s holding you back from pursuing the career of your dreams? Our 1:1 career coaching can help you gain clarity about your next steps and form a plan of action. Check out our career coaching here.

Main image: A pangolin by flowcomm on Flickr.