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Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, etc. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The organization's programs focus on conserving wildlife, restoring habitat and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

The National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center (GLRC) is a leading voice for the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes. We are one of the only Great Lakes organizations that combine policy, legal, communications, educational, and scientific expertise to educate decision makers, inform public policy, and conduct public outreach efforts. We are trusted conveners and collaborators, leveraging the strengths of multiple sectors and organizations to achieve direct results for the Great Lakes, and lead or co-lead coalitions such as the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes coalition, the Great Lakes Business Network, the Changing Seasons coalition, and the Great Lakes Conservation Coalition. We are centering equity and justice throughout our work and partnerships.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW), led by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), is seeking an Equity and Justice Partnerships Coordinator, housed in NWF’s Great Lakes Regional Center, to support strategic community outreach efforts. In this role you will lead the outreach to community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations with a focus on those organizations who are led by people from marginalized communities, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, low-income, and/or disabled in the Great Lakes region. You will build relationships and facilitate conversations to integrate priorities into regional policies and funding. Your work will give a greater voice to these organizations and leaders through Coalition and GLRC communications. You will report directly to the HOW Coalition Field Manager and work closely with the Coalition and GLRC staff.

You will assist the Coalition Field Director and the Executive Director in planning and implementing a robust strategic outreach and inclusion plan that advances Coalition goals by effectively working with community-based organizations, coalition members, and allies (75% of your time). You will also assist NWF’s GLRC by making connections with community-based organizations and the programs and campaigns of the GLRC, with a primary focus on access to clean water (25% of your time).

Principle Duties:

• Build relationships with community-based organizations and NGOs led by those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color in the Great Lakes Region whose mission intersects with the goals of the Coalition;
• Facilitate conversations with identified organizations to integrate priorities into Great Lakes policies and funding, and give a greater voice to these organizations and leaders through Coalition communications;
• Work with Coalition staff and members to advocate that equity principles be integrated and highlighted in Great Lakes policies, funding, and implementation;
• Lead and facilitate the HOW Coalition’s Equity Advisory and Action Committee and any developing affinity groups;
• Identify opportunities and partnerships with community organizations and the GLRC to strengthen connections in the region.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred experience working on issues of racial diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and community organizing.
• Excellent analysis, organization skills and gives great attention to detail
• Works effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to set priorities and multitask
• Strong analytical skills
• Good communication skills

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Location:

Our preference is for this position to be based in a major city in the Great Lakes region that includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (due to COVID-19 all NWF employees are working remotely until further notice).

Travel Requirements:

You will travel approximately 6-10 times per year (once it is safe to do so), including the Coalition’s two marquee events—the annual fly-in in Washington, D.C., and the annual conference.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position pays $45,000 to 50,000, depending on experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits in 2021! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), 10 holidays, and 3 floating holidays
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

COVID Consideration:

The National Wildlife Federation closely follows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease and has implemented processes that promote the safety of our employees, candidates, and communities. Because the health of our employees and candidates is a top priority, we conduct our hiring process virtually via phone or video until further notice. We are currently starting our positions as remote, but will transition to onsite work when our offices re-open. Proof of vaccination will be required to join the National Wildlife Federation.

Application:

Applications are due 2/28/2022. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.

Background

The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) is a coalition of more than 170 organizations from around the Great Lakes regions dedicated to protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. HOW has seen significant victories since its inception in 2004, including playing a critical role in the establishment of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, bringing over $3.8 billion in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through strong, bipartisan advocacy, and advocating for federal action and funding to address critical Great Lakes issues such as water infrastructure, harmful algal blooms, Clean Water Act rollbacks, and invasive carp. A top priority for the Coalition is to advance ecological outcomes while reversing environmental injustices, and in the past several years the Coalition has worked to advance solutions to water shut-offs, water affordability, lead contamination, and other threats that disproportionately impact people of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous people.

The Coalition uses a three-pronged approach of direct political advocacy, strategic communications, and agile grasstops organizing to bring environmental protections and restoration funding to the Great Lakes region. Staffed out of NWF’s Great Lakes office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the National Parks Conservation Association’s Washington, D.C. office, HOW has a strong team with many years of experience in environmental policy and advocacy.