Description

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Senior Representative, Northwest Program

CLASSIFICATION: Professional 4

SALARY: $70,000 - $78,000

FLSA: Exempt

DEPARTMENT: Field Conservation

LOCATION: Home Office (Oregon or Washington state)

REPORTS TO: Director, Northwest Program

NUMBER OF DIRECT/INDIRECT REPORTS: 0

LAST REVISED: October 2022

POSITION SUMMARY

This professional-level position is responsible for implementing assigned Defenders' strategic plan conservation goals and objectives in the Northwest, with a deep focus on positively influencing wildlife and human interactions, from conflict to coexistence, and fostering transformation in human attitudes and willingness to share the landscape with imperiled wildlife. By promoting healthy native predator populations through human-predator coexistence and sound management policies in the Northwest, this position fulfills Defenders' mission to protect all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. The Senior Representative will have a lead role in the organization's advocacy on wolf recovery in Oregon and Washington. This is a full-time, nonsupervisory position with potential opportunities to manage contracts and volunteers.

The Senior Representative will lead the growth and evolution of the human-wildlife coexistence program in the Northwest with a focus on apex predators. Key strategies to achieve this goal involve community engagement through empowering and equipping communities with skills, strategies and tools to reduce conflicts, and proactively developing, evaluating, improving and implementing coexistence initiatives. To do so, the Senior Representative will stay informed on the emerging and cutting edge science, seek to identify and trial new technologies and science-led practices, advocate for government funding, prioritization and appropriate application of these initiatives, and promote improved wildlife conservation policies overall, especially pertaining to areas of chronic conflict and movement corridors. The Senior Representative will have a strong role in state-level policy planning for the species in both Washington and Oregon to help ensure robust recovery across the region. Program strategies and objectives are achieved by collaborating with a variety of external partners, including state and federal agencies and officials, tribal governments, private landowners and individuals, and other conservation and community organizations requiring an ability to maintain productive working relationships with community leaders and decision makers, etc. This position requires up-to-date knowledge of natural resource conservation issues, such as human-wildlife conflict prevention, state and federal endangered species policy, human dimensions of wildlife management, best available science related to species status, distribution and threats and other pertinent aspects of conservation biology.

The Senior Representative serves both Washington and Oregon with travel throughout. The position will collaborate closely with the Northwest Director to develop strategy and set priorities, and along with other Northwest staff, to implement and communicate outcomes. The Senior Representative may also collaborate on and/or lead inter-department and external working groups related to coexistence and priority species for Defenders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead on and advocate for Defenders' primary positions related to wolf recovery and distribution across their former range in the Pacific Northwest.
• Identify and advocate for principles, goals, objectives, positions and management practices that promote the ecologically functional recovery of the species based on the best available science.
• Liaise with State wildlife agencies, fish and wildlife Commissions and governors' offices to educate and inform decision-makers about the need and purpose of wolf recovery as a priority. Shape and advocate for various management directives required to affect recovery in reasonable time frames to achieve stated recovery goals and provide testimony in public for these as needed.
• Engage with specialized working groups in either state as the opportunity arises to achieve wolf recovery.
• Manage, implement, and expand coexistence priorities in the Pacific Northwest:
• Identify and implement targeted coexistence initiatives to increase social acceptance for gray wolves, grizzly bears, and other wildlife.
• Build partnerships with public and private landowners and tribes to improve and expand human-wildlife coexistence projects.
• Promote pilot projects to test innovative technologies and conservation strategies for priority species and habitats.
• Advocate for coexistence programs and funding at the local and state level through strategic engagement with wildlife and agricultural agencies, commissions, and legislatures.
• Provide support and information as needed to other Defenders' staff, programs and departments (Communications, Marketing, Development, Legal, Government Relations) related to coexistence work;
• Work with other Northwest Program staff to mobilize a broader constituency for coexistence and wildlife conservation:
• Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice principles into Defenders' programmatic and outreach work in the Northwest.
• Establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships and partnerships with local conservation organizations, state and federal agencies and officials, Native American tribes, community organizations, and other stakeholders and foster local community leaders when the opportunity arises.
• Work closely with Defenders' Communications and Marketing staff to develop relevant local messaging and storytelling (through alerts, blogs, videos, publications, etc.) to promote coexistence to a wide audience including rural and urban communities, current and prospective members, and decision makers.
• Work closely with Northwest Program outreach staff to engage and grow our regional base of members and supporters - including identifying how our programs can better include communities historically marginalized by the conservation movement.
• Work with Development staff to provide information to funders and help identify and develop potential sources of funding to support local coexistence work.
• Serve as a spokesperson for Defenders on wildlife coexistence in the Northwest; represent Defenders and Defenders' interests to the public, the media, and key decision-makers, and in working groups, committees, and processes.
• Engage with other Northwest Program and other Field Conservation Program staff to develop and execute conservation campaigns for gray wolves, grizzly bears and other species as assigned.
• Supervise contractors and volunteers as necessary.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent

Experience: 6 years of relevant experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for All Defenders

https://defenders.org/knowledge-skills-and-abilities

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Professional 4

Administrative

• Ability to accurately maintain electronic and physical records
• Anticipate and meet the needs of internal and/or external stakeholders delivering excellent service

Communication

• Ability to clearly and accurately communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately and concisely
• Ability to convey effective messages to broad and diverse constituencies
• Ability and willingness to effectively represent Defenders' interests in external environments
• Ability to exert influence and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders

Critical Thinking

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
• Strong research and data analysis skills, including ability to gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to produce high quality work products in a consistent, efficient, accurate, and timely manner
• Creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with willingness to experiment and innovate new methods.
• Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies into Defenders' work.
• Ability to independently exercise appropriate judgment in response to complex and/or fluid environments
• Strategic thinker with the ability to take high-level strategy and translate into relatable points and action steps.

Project Management

• Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines while balancing competing assignments.
• Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities while remaining responsive to urgent requests.
• Ability to take ownership of a project or process and to use problem solving skills to resolve issues.
• Ability to manage deadlines on multiple cross-functional projects in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated ability in managing competing interests on complex issues.
• Ability to independently initiate project and initiative ideas; managing projects and initiatives through to completion.

Coalition and Community Engagement

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to form effective working relationships with diverse constituencies including federal/state agencies; elected officials and their staff; Defenders' members and donors; private landowners; hunters and anglers; community leaders; religious, scientific, and academic communities; and /or the general public.
• Ability to lead diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities, to anticipate issues impacting Defenders' mission and make recommendations within Defenders, other organizations, and coalitions.
• Networking skills to engage with leaders in the conservation community, federal and state agencies, NGOs, and other organizations.

Conservation Knowledge

• Expert-level knowledge of Defenders' legal, scientific, and/or political issues
• Expert-level knowledge of national and regional social, political, and ecological landscapes

Leadership and Management

• Ability to foster a team culture which models the tenets of the Commitment Statement
• Ability to connect employees and their work to Defenders' mission
• Ability to set and maintain clear expectations, ensuring clarity of roles, accountabilities, and responsibilities
• Ability to ensure that staff have the skills and support required to perform at the highest level
• Working knowledge of Defenders' business and people systems and processes

Other

• Valid driver's license

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Senior Representative, Northwest Program

• Advanced knowledge of natural resource conservation issues in the Pacific Northwest, including human-wildlife conflict prevention, state and federal endangered species policy (particularly related to predator species), human dimensions of wildlife management, best available science related to species status, distribution and threats and other pertinent aspects of conservation biology.
• Demonstrated ability to work constructively as a remote member of the Northwest team and to independently initiate project ideas and manage them through to completion with minimal supervision.
• Strong oral advocacy skills, superior writing and analytical/research skills with attention to detail to anticipate, share knowledge and make recommendations on practices and policy issues impacting wildlife.
• Experience with coalitions, convening diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities and productively working with opponents on environmental, land management and species- specific issues.
• Experience engaging with state wildlife agencies, Commissions and other state government offices in the Pacific Northwest to shape management practices, rule-making and recovery planning related to wolves.
• Experience with community building to elevate public awareness of issues and build a constituency for solutions.
• Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in response to rapid change and complex situations.
• Personal interest in and demonstrated commitment to wildlife conservation as well as the holistic success of the Program Team.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Activities

Check all that apply

Frequency

(N)Never, (O)Occasionally or (C)Constantly

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like.

O

Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.

O

Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

O

Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

O

Adjusting or moving objects up to 50 pounds in all directions.

O

Communicating with others to exchange information.

C

Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

C

Operating machinery and/or power tools.

O

Operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment.

O

Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.

O

Environmental Conditions

Check all that apply

Frequency

(N)Never, (O)Occasionally or (C)Constantly

Low temperatures.

O

High temperatures.

O

Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.

O

Noisy environments.

N

Hazardous conditions.

O

Poor ventilation.

N

Small and/or enclosed spaces.

N

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Physical Demands

Check only one

Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.

Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.

Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.

X

Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more.

Visit www.defenders.org to apply.

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Defenders of Wildlife requires employees who engage in in-person work activities, including business travel or onsite work, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An applicant (i) who is disabled or pregnant or who has a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination or (ii) who objects to being vaccinated on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice may request an exemption from this vaccination policy. This determination will be made on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with applicable law. Any medical information concerning an applicant's disability will be treated as a confidential medical record in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Defenders of Wildlife provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, sex national origin, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family/parental status, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic in all personnel actions.

Please be advised this position is union-eligible.