Apply here (Non-U.S. citizens are not eligible to apply for this position.)

• Website: http://wilderness.org/
• Location: Preferably based in Washington, DC, Durango or Denver, CO; other cities with a TWS office considered.
• Position title: Climate & Conservation Policy Fellow
• Department: Federal Policy Department
• Reports to: Kim Stevens, Director, Climate Policy Advocacy
• Address of fellowship placement: 1309 East 3rd Avenue, Suite 36. Durango, CO 81301

Department Description

The Wilderness Society’s Federal Policy Department and Conservation and Communities Department work to leverage law and policy to advance the organization’s conservation, climate and equity priorities through pursuit of national policy changes via national policy campaigns and direct support of colleagues leading regional and local work. We strive to ensure our work embodies the cultures and perspectives of people and communities across our nation and connects and inspires people to care about public lands and the outdoors.

Position Description

Preferably based in Durango or Denver, CO, or Washington, DC, with other cities with a TWS office considered. The Climate & Conservation Fellow will play a key role in the execution of The Wilderness Society's campaign to ensure public lands are part of the climate solution. Reporting directly to the Director of Climate Policy Advocacy, the Fellow will be engaged in implementing and advocating for TWS’s energy and climate policy initiatives in three primary areas:

1. Aligning federal fossil energy programs with the steep emissions reductions required by science
2. Advancing responsible renewable energy on public lands, and
3. Supporting policies that ensure fossil reliant communities can transition to more sustainable
   economic alternatives.

The Fellow will also coordinate closely with TWS staff in Colorado and throughout the Southwest Region (CO, NM, AZ, UT, and NV) to provide research and strategic support for emerging policy proposals and issues and to support both
climate and conservation advocacy priorities in the region. Both working in the region and nationally, the fellow will have opportunities to develop their own strategy proposals for consideration by program leaders. The Fellow will also participate in advocacy campaigns to drive needed changes in federal programs.

Responsibilities

• Work with the TWS Agency Policy and Southwest teams to help craft, evaluate and advocate for innovative, equitable, and effective policy solutions that reduce climate emissions from energy development on public lands and drive conservation progress for climate and nature goals.
• Work with colleagues across the organization to create and execute events, letters, petitions, and other means of organizing key constituencies to advocate for and reduce climate emissions from public lands energy development.
• Engage coalition partners through regular meetings and events to coordinate on policy development and advocacy, alongside other members of TWS’s team.
• Work with TWS staff to provide analysis that identifies important carbon storing and conservation areas on federal public lands and advocate for agency policies to protect and restore them.
• Produce research and analysis on issues relating to energy development and conservation
  on public lands, including how to better measure, track and manage the climate, biodiversity, and equity consequences of development and conservation.
• Author and edit materials in support of TWS’s energy and conservation policy and advocacy goals, such as reports, fact sheets, blogs, story maps, newsletters, and educational materials.
• Identify emerging and contentious issues in the climate policy and public lands arenas and help produce research, white papers, and other materials.
• Analyze legislative and regulatory proposals and help develop and support execution of TWS’s policy responses.

Qualifications

• Capacity to learn and effectively explain complex and technical issues to diverse audiences, sometimes under tight time constraints.
• Demonstrated research and writing skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of small teams in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to manage a broad portfolio of projects with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• A genuine interest in conservation and responsible use of our public lands, and a commitment to fight climate change.
• Track record working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives—across race and gender.

Professional Development

TWS supports Fellows through internal training on a range of topics (including especially equity, diversity and inclusion), participation in external training opportunities and fellowship programs (such as the Clean Energy Leadership Institute and multiple professional conferences that feature diverse learning opportunities), and by connecting Fellows with professional networks within the environmental conservation and recreation fields. 

TWS also strives to provide fellows with mentoring and coaching from within and outside the Federal Policy Department, the Conservation and Communities Department, and the Climate Solutions team. Finally, TWS regularly provides knowledge-sharing opportunities across our teams, both formal and informal. This position will require travel to TWS regional offices and other events or conferences as well.