Senior Climate Conservation Associate

Scope of Organization

Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC), named one of Outside Magazine’s Top 100 places to work two years

in a row, seeks a Senior Climate Conservation Associate to play a key role in our work with communities,

tribes, agencies, partners, and stakeholders to improve climate resilience and adaptation within the

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The GYE is a remarkable natural landscape: home to a complete

array of native wildlife, the headwaters of the west, an important place in the history of conservation, and

of deep importance to Native Americans who have made this place home since time immemorial.

Scope of Responsibilities

The Senior Climate Conservation Associate (SCCA) plays a key role in GYC’s work to conserve the lands,

waters, and wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Working with the Climate Change Coordinator

and other GYC staff, the SCCA will help develop and execute GYC programs, campaigns, and projects

across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that achieve GYC’s climate and conservation goals. Primarily,

the SCCA will be responsible for helping develop and implement an ecosystem-wide program to identify

priority watersheds as climate refugia, implement low-tech restoration projects, promote community

floodplain protections, protect priority streams and rivers in southern Montana through Wild and Scenic

Rivers designations, and build community support to address climate impacts to native fish and waters.

The position will also work with the Deputy Director of Conservation and other conservation staff to help

develop and shape local, state, and federal policies on these issues. These campaigns are ecosystem-wide,

with a portion of the work focused on Montana watersheds.

Specific duties include coordinating with federal and state partnerships to identify watersheds that are

suitable for low-tech restoration projects, leading fieldwork to build beaver dam analogues, restore beaver

habitat, and protecting climate refugia through land management planning processes. The SCCA may also

research and develop appropriate climate and water-related policy by developing and maintaining

working relationships with key partners including agency officials, elected representatives, landowners,

conservation organizations, indigenous communities, and other influential leaders.

The SCCA will be a critical member of Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s conservation team, as this position

will be involved in proactive, landscape scale conservation. Teamwork is a core competency at GYC,

making close coordination between GYC’s other offices and departments an essential duty of this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with the development of a framework for prioritizing and planning low-tech stream restoration

projects to improve stream resilience to wildfire.

• Coordinate efforts with agency partners to prioritize key areas for the work across the GYE.

• Create a work plan that will be used as the foundation for securing funding to test costeffective project planning and the implementation of pilot projects.

• Serve as an integral partner with the Montanans for Healthy Rivers coalition to grow grassroots

community support and host the annual Wild Rivers Film Tour to promote passage of the Montana

Headwaters Legacy Act.

• Work with county governments, community leaders, and conservation partners to develop a strategy

and implement local-based solutions that protects floodplains from development to avoid disruption

of ecological function and reduce risks to infrastructure damage caused by a changing climate.

• Review proposed agency actions and legislation, develop comments and support GYC campaigns in

implementing strategies to achieve policy goals.

• Work with partner organizations or contractors as appropriate in providing legislative,

administrative, or scientific support on conservation issues.

• Develop close working relationships with partner organizations, agency personnel and community

leaders.

• Be a spokesperson for GYC’s conservation programs and perspectives.

• Be an active participant in achieving GYC’s development and fundraising goals.

• Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Educational and work experience:

• Bachelor’s or higher-level degree in relevant field (substantial experience may substitute).

• Three – five years of experience working on water resource management, climate change impacts,

and/or conservation issues in the west.

• Conversant in freshwater conservation, floodplain and riparian restoration, and climate change

resiliency and adaptation in aquatic and terrestrial landscapes

Practical experience:

• Demonstrated understanding of conservation issues and policies in rural western landscapes.

• Demonstrated ability to review and synthesize best available science or other sources of knowledge

and information, and craft strong conservation policy positions

• Proven ability to complete on-the-ground projects with landowners, agencies, and other partners

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to discuss science and policy with people representing varying interests,

backgrounds, and expertise, including landowners and community leaders

• Excellent strategic/critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• Experience using Microsoft Office and willingness to use shared project software/programs

• Mapping and GIS skills preferred.

Work schedule and travel obligations:

• Willingness to travel, primarily in the region (valid driver’s license required)

Expectations

• Commitment to continual growth and learning

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Commitment to the mission and goals of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $53,000-58,000 DOE

• Employer paid health premiums for employees and contributions for dependents, spouses, and

domestic partners

• Employer paid long term disability

• Employees can elect to have additional premiums for vision, dental, life, and accident policies

• Generous time-off: vacation, sick, personal, paid holidays, and sabbatical

• Tuition reimbursement program

• Employer contribution 401k with additional match

Physical Working Conditions

GYC is committed to honoring and improving accommodations within our existing infrastructure.

• Business office environment with moderate noise

• Will sit or stand at a desk and move between offices. Accommodations can be made.

• Work on a computer, use a telephone, and other general office equipment

• Lift and carry up to 25 pounds. The use of a dolly, cart, etc. is available. Accommodations honored

and assistance from other staff are strongly encouraged.

• This position will be up to 20% travel, mostly by car, to our regional offices.

• GYC is currently operating under a hybrid, remote and office work setting due to the pandemic

To Apply:

Please email a letter of interest explaining how your skills and experience match the position description, as well as a resume, and names of three references to jobs@greateryellowstone.org. Please enter “SCCA2022” into the subject line of the email to ensure a timely review of your materials. Applications will begin to be reviewed on December 1, 2022. Submissions are strongly encouraged before then. The position is open until filled. GYC is an equal-opportunity employer. No phone calls please.