Reporting to the Native Lands Partnerships Senior Conservation Manager (Senior Conservation Manager) and working with programs across the organization, the Native Lands Partnerships Conservation Specialist (Conservation Specialist) will support and execute organizational projects and initiatives with Tribal Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and Indigenous communities. With the oversight from the Senior Conservation Manager, they will engage in a range of campaigns through partnerships, coalitions and coordination, outreach activities, communications, and other efforts.
This position plays a critical role in fostering an organizational culture where people feel respected, included, and accountable to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made it a priority to ensure that our work reflects fairness, representation, and accessibility. The Conservation Specialist will carry those commitments into our conservation work in Tribal Nations and indigenous communities —expanding partnerships, strengthening community connections, and ensuring our work is responsive to a broad range of perspectives and needs. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign-oriented, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Support the Senior Conservation Manager in the execution of strategic program priorities to advance TWS’ overarching goals and vision across the country, educating staff and supporting external partners on conservation issues impacting Tribal Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and Indigenous communities.
- Participate in coalitions where needed, providing assistance to partners to help deliver shared organizational goals, and position TWS as a trusted collaborator among partners and decision makers.
- Support TWS’ mission to unite people to protect America’s wild places and ensure that TWS’s public lands work is rooted in community and demonstrates fairness, representation, and accessibility for all in both our approach and its impact.
- As needed, build relationships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and Indigenous communities and a wide variety of community partners including, but not limited to, elected officials and their staff, non-profit partners, agency staff, scientists, members of industry (e.g., timber, mining, etc.), public land user groups (e.g., recreationalists, ranchers etc.) and grassroots activists.
- Participate in and help plan public and private gatherings and educational events, raising awareness of national and local organizational priorities and programs.
- Support the senior conservation manager, effectively engage with government relations, research, agency policy, legal, communications, and fundraising experts at TWS to ensure our work is well-integrated with organizational and state-specific priorities and fully utilizes TWS’ expertise and resources.
- Assist in the development of written and visual materials such as fact sheets, blogs, and action alerts that demonstrate impact of policies, rules, and laws impacting Tribal Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and Indigenous communities.
- Adhere to all policies and procedures set forth by TWS (including, but not limited to, finance, human resources and legal) to maintain a compliant and efficient work environment.
- Travel as needed in support of mission-critical activities (expected to be irregular, but up to 3-5 days per month on average, and may depend on location) to gain first-hand knowledge of public lands, plan and host events and site visits, and develop relationships with partners and key stakeholders throughout the country, occasionally in Washington, D.C., and other locations as necessary.
- Perform other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years of experience working on issue advocacy or political campaigns and/or working to advance public policy changes at the local, state or federal level, including through community organizing.
- Experience building relationships and collaborating with diverse stakeholders in an inclusive, transparent, and effective manner.
- Experience working with Native and Indigenous people and communities and a solid understanding of Native and Indigenous culture, traditions, tribal governments, and issues.
- Knowledge of public lands, environmental, and/or conservation issues impacting Tribal Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and Indigenous communities is helpful, but not required.
- Ability to think strategically and provide support to achieve campaign and conservation goals in a dynamic environment.
- Solid communication skills, with an ability to write and speak concisely and persuasively to diverse audiences.
- Motivated self-starter with the ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines.
- Must exhibit integrity, trustworthiness, transparency, tact, and discretion.
- Willingness and ability to travel across the country, but also to Washington, D.C., and other locations as necessary.