To Apply: Please submit resume & cover letter through our online application system by February 26th.

Location: Washington, DC - https://www.wilderness.org/careers-internships

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is seeking two highly skilled and experienced Government Relations professionals in Washington, DC, to lead our engagement with Congress and the administration on our core issue portfolios: climate and energy, equitable access to nature and land conservation. A successful candidate for these positions will be an experienced strategist and skilled manager who brings political savvy and creative thinking to achieving legislative and administrative policy and program goals.

These Director-level positions will lead strategy development and implementation of our government relations activities on renewable energy deployment on public lands, oil and gas development and leasing, protecting 30% of public lands and waters by 2030 and equitable access to nature. The ideal candidate will have previous experience working in or liaising with Congress or executive branch on one or more of these issues.

These highly collaborative positions will report to the Senior Director of Government Relations and work an integrated way with staff from across the organization in our field and functional offices. These positions will manage and develop a team of talented staff to build and maintain strong relationships with key decision makers and their staff on Capitol Hill and in the administration.

The Directors will play 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 the Directors will integrate these priorities throughout their work, including by developing equitable policy outcomes and campaign strategies through inclusive processes that bring partners to the table early and lift up the voices of historically underrepresented communities. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

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.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

· Develop and lead the execution of government relations strategies – with Congress and the Administration – to educate and lobby Members of Congress, congressional staff and agency officials on key policies addressing renewable energy deployment, oil and gas phase down on public lands, equitable access to nature, and land conservation.

· Build and maintain strong working relationships with congressional and Administration staff in a way that is integrated and aligned with the organization inside and outside the Beltway, and empower junior staff to do the same.

· Help ensure that our federal policy work is advancing racial justice and equity, including through partnerships and coalitions, and through engagement with leaders of color in Congress.

· Supervise government relations staff working within landscape, issue and policy campaign teams to design smart political strategies and well-coordinated implementation plans to achieve programmatic goals in a highly dynamic national political environment.

· Support and build TWS’ national partnerships with a focus on more inclusive and diverse coalitions that center the voices of impacted communities and work collaboratively to develop and advance just and equitable policy solutions.

· Analyze 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.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience and Competencies

· Minimum 7 years of demonstrated experience working on public policy issues at the federal level, which could include working in a legislative office, in the executive branch, or at an advocacy or political organization.

· Deep knowledge of one or more of our priority policy areas: responsible renewable energy deployment, oil and gas phase down on public lands, equitable access to nature, and protection and conservation of nature.

· Understanding and commitment to advancing equity and justice in the policy-making process. Experience working with coalitions focused on environmental and/or social justice issues preferred.

· Proven track record working collaboratively within and providing leadership to inclusive coalitions and engaging a broad set of partners across lines of difference including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, and interests.

· Demonstrated ability to evaluate and analyze legislation and/or other policy solutions.

· Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to translate complex policies succinctly and clearly for a public audience and decision makers.

· Demonstrated success developing and implementing strategies and tactics to achieve an advocacy goal.

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

Desired Characteristics

· High emotional intelligence and outstanding listening skills in both public and private settings, who can bring a special blend of tact, humor and diplomatic savvy to a complex position.

· Strong experience working with elected officials and a solid understanding of the legislative process at the federal level. Recent experience working on Capitol Hill or within the Administration strongly preferred.

· Excellence in communicating complex ideas in writing and public speaking.

· A willingness to travel when needed.

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; 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.

TWS has instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all staff reporting to a TWS office or engaging in in-person work meetings. There is an exception to the vaccine mandate for any staff who have an objection because of a medical or religious reason. We will do our best to devise reasonable accommodation that respects your objection while balancing the competing demands of your specific 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; paid parental leave 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