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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. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that all Americans have access to clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change.

The Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization Program is committed to unraveling systems of oppression to achieve healthy, sustainable, and just communities by addressing environmental injustices that have overburdened lower wealth, communities of color, and Indigenous people by using our resources, cultivating strong partnerships, and prioritizing on-the-ground solutions that communities find value in.

To support our growing environmental justice portfolio, we seek to hire a Community and Partnerships Specialist to support our ability to develop and maintain authentic partnerships with community leaders and organizations across the country. The Community and Partnerships Specialist will serve a vital role in our ability to work in collaboration with various leaders to uplift shared wins and priorities for both wildlife and people. This organizer and advocate will work closely with the Associate Vice President of Environmental Justice and Climate Justice to ensure the Federation is able to engage with a broader set of constituents in an effort to connect federal and state policy with community needs.

Principle Duties (major areas of responsibility):

Maintain Existing Partnerships and Projects

• Manage existing relationships and partnerships in key urban centers, including Birmingham, AL; Jackson, MS; Detroit, MI; Flint, MI; New Orleans, LA; Cincinnati, OH; and Chicago, IL
• Build and manage relationships in key rural centers across Appalachia, the Midwest, and the West
• Serve as the main point of contact and liaison for the Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization Program when interfacing with partners and community-based stakeholders
• Report to the Associate Vice President of Environmental Justice and Climate Justice

Expand New Partnerships

• Strategize and implement tactics to connect with frontline and fence-line communities to inform environmental justice policy stances and advocacy
• Write memos from research and community engagement efforts to supplement strategies and keep track of ongoing efforts
• Build and maintain partnerships with organizations and institutions across local, state, and federal agencies that represent and/or work closely with Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander constituent groups

Identify Opportunities for Collaboration

• Work with stakeholders to identify shared priorities among communities and the Federation to enhance policy advocacy on issue topics including, but not limited to, water, land, air, health, and habitats
• Identify opportunities for the Federation to provide advanced planning and rapid responsiveness to community partners to address conservation urgencies
• Create and implement tactics to ensure the environmental justice team is informed about issues and opportunities occurring in key target areas and among key constituent groups

Connect Communities of Color and Conservation Issues

• Assist teams in building a new narrative that centers Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander environmentalists and conservationists
• Write articles, alerts, opinion pieces, memos, etc. that build a stronger connection between history, cultural identities, and the environment
• Organize and facilitate discussions with community leaders and decisionmakers to uplift shared priorities
• Perform additional duties as needed to ensure the success of the Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization Program

Minimum Experience:

• 5+ years of community organizing, advocacy, and/or campaign experience on a local, state-wide or national basis
• Demonstrated experience on developing and implementing long-term projects
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications

Required Competencies:

• Experienced organizer with the ability to bring together stakeholders across Black, Indigenous, Latinx/e, Asian, Pacific Islander constituent groups and communities of lower wealth around a common goal
• Expert communication skills (e.g., verbal, written) and welcoming of constructive feedback
• Environmental justice subject-matter expertise through educational or lived experience
• Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development, and partner engagement
• Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
• Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality
• Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege (both personally and professionally) and its attendant impacts
• Consistently brings a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions
• Acknowledges when mistakes are made and harm is done; works to repair breaches in relationships
• Openly holds space, and invites others into conversations during sensitive engagements, exhibiting a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners
• Demonstrates awareness of the attributes associated with a white dominant culture and takes actions to dismantle hierarchies of oppression within that culture
• Dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work
• Commitment to growth and professional development
• Must be a strategic thinker, self-starter, well organized, and relationship builder
• Must have a passion for and commitment to NWF’s mission

Travel:

Frequent travel is required for the position—approximately 12 times per year.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is currently $60,000 - $70,000 annually, dependent upon qualifications and 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, and are continuing to explore what our future of work will be moving forward. Proof of vaccination will be required to join the National Wildlife Federation.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 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.