[Hiring] Wildlife Conservation Advocate @Center for Biological Diversity

Role Description

The Urban Wildlands program aims to stop development and land use policies that threaten critical wildlife connectivity and habitat, create pollution, disrupt hydrology and freshwater systems, exhaust limited water supplies, increase wildfire risk, amplify climate change, and drive species extinction. By working closely with scientists, lawyers, organizers, and media professionals, the wildlife conservation advocate will be expected to play an active role in influencing and shaping land-use policy, decision-making, and planning in California and beyond. In particular, the Wildlife Conservation Advocate will work to advance land-use policies and practices to protect habitats and important wildlife connectivity areas in the urban-wildland interface.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a public expert on wildlife connectivity and conservation, focusing on the threats from unchecked urban sprawl, habitat loss, and climate change.
• Research and draft comment letters, reports, policy documents, factsheets, and educational materials for social media posts based on sound science and principles.
• Support the development, identification, and advancement of strategic policy positions and initiatives that benefit freshwater systems and wildlife connectivity vital to threatened and endangered species survival and climate change adaptability and resilience.
• Give presentations at public hearings for decision-makers, work with local planning staff, and be available for interviews with the media.
• Help build alliances with other environmental and community groups, including environmental justice and frontline communities.
• Work collaboratively with lawyers, scientists, organizers, and media professionals to challenge poorly-planned, destructive developments while advocating for proactive and environmentally-protective land use policies.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of professional experience or advanced degree in conservation biology, ecology, public policy, planning, or a related field.
• Scientific literacy and familiarity with scientific literature on specific program issues.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated abilities to write clear, organized research documents.
• Familiarity with relevant environmental laws and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and state and federal Endangered Species Act.
• Proven experience working with coalitions and diverse groups of people and organizations.
• Working knowledge of state-level policies and trends related to land use and growth, climate change, private land development, and endangered species protection preferred.
• Experience with public speaking, community outreach, and engagement with the media.
• Demonstrated abilities to balance multiple tasks and deadlines in a busy working environment.
• Experience working with a conservation organization preferred.
• A strong work ethic and good time-management skills.
• Ability to complete long-term projects like listing petitions and comments in a timely manner and produce high-quality work products.
• Ability to communicate politely and effectively with individuals from different regions and cultures around the world.
• A demonstrated commitment to environmental protection.
• Ability to work 40+ hours per week.

Requirements

• Occasional travel to conferences and meetings.
• Requires work in an office setting, with a typical schedule of Monday-Friday with some night and weekend work required at times due to deadlines.
• Will need to use typical office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, etc.

Benefits

• Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.
• Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.
• Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
• Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long-Term Disability provided for all staff.
• Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.
• Discounted premiums for pet discount program.
• 403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
• Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
• Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
• Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave, and even pet caretaker leave.
• After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.
• Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.