Local recruitment: Senior Specialist, Riparian Connectivity

National Wildlife Federation

Denver, CO, USA 🇺🇸

Job Category: Conservation

Requisition Number: RIPAR001523

Job Details

Description

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of NWF is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist to join our Western Water Program based in the Upper Rio Grande Basin of Colorado or New Mexico. NWF’s Water for Wildlife goal is “to protect and restore the natural function and quality of the nation’s waters, wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations.” The availability of water for wildlife and people in the Western U.S. is subject to long-term aridification, extreme heat events and forest fires, habitat degradation, and severely competing interests for scarce water resources. The quantity and quality of water in the West is heavily dependent on the lands that surround the West’s waterways, including the riparian and wetland areas that filter, enhance, and extend water supplies.

NWF’s Western Water Program is seeking a Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist to focus on conserving and restoring riparian connectivity in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. This position will provide cross-jurisdictional leadership with the goal of fostering a a well-connected, collaborative, and functional riparian corridor network, while strengthening the conditions that are necessary to support long-term riparian conservation efforts. The Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will also support the Western Water Program’s broader efforts to achieve the following vision: “There is adequate water for people and wildlife in the West through sustainable and equitable land and water management policies and practices. Headwaters and riparian ecosystems that are critical to water quality and quantity are conserved, restored, and resilient to support wildlife habitat and equitable community needs.” The Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will provide leadership on riparian conservation and restoration in the Upper Rio Grande Basin to the Western Water team and lead coalitions and projects that help to achieve this vision, while collaborating across NWF regions and programs to achieve greater benefits for water in the West.

NWF’s Western Water priorities support the implementation of the National Wildlife Federation’s strategic plan and our Equity and Justice Strategic Plan, while advancing efforts to magnify and elevate water-focused conservation efforts to address environmental injustice in the West.

The Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist reports to the Director of Western Water while working closely with other members of the Western Water Program, and staff from across NWF’s Western Regions and relevant national and regional programs (e.g., Wildlife, Public Lands, Water, Tribal Partnerships, Hispanics Enjoy Camping and Hunting Outdoors (HECHO)) with a specific goal to advance riparian connectivity in the Upper Rio Grande Basin and beyond.

Major Areas of Responsibility (and Principal Duties)

The primary focus of the Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will be to oversee the Western Water Program’s Riparian Conservation and Restoration work in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. This work will focus on supporting local partners, agencies, and other stakeholders to advance riparian conservation and restoration, while providing leadership to address priorities identified through the ‘Ribbons of Life Initiative’ and the resulting Upper Rio Grande Riparian Action Plan.  

In this role, the Riparian Connectivity Senior Specialist will be expected to do the following with a geographic focus on the Upper Rio Grande Basin of northern New Mexico and the San Luis Valley of Colorado:

  • Cultivate effective partnerships: Build authentic relationships with local stakeholders throughout the Upper Rio Grande Basin, learn priorities, and identify areas where additional support is needed to advance riparian connectivity efforts. Participate in existing stakeholder, partnership, and collaboration meetings to learn from local experts and support existing work. Identify specific actions that would add value to existing riparian work in the Upper Rio Grande Basin that is guided by existing activities and expertise. Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with federal, state, Tribal and local agencies and partners, includingthe U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, as well as others, to foster adoption of best practices and policies.
  • Steward the Upper Rio Grande Riparian Action Plan and provide leadership for the coalition: Serve as the steward for the evolving Action Plan to assure that it reflects the most critical priorities and actions needed to support riparian conservation and restoration work throughout the Upper Rio Grande Basin. In addition to participating in other regional collaboratives and coalitions, this position willfacilitate cross-jurisdictional communication and collaboration between stakeholders to support existing riparian connectivity work and strengthen the network across the region. Convene and facilitate a steering committee and broader coalition meetings, as needed.
  • Foster the advancement and/or implementation of priority riparian connectivity actions: Based on input and feedback from partners and coalition members, implement actions that will strengthen the conditions that are necessary to support long-term riparian conservation efforts throughout the Basin and across jurisdictions. This may include leading multi-partner funding/grant requests and the development and implementation of communication strategies; collaborating with partners to advocate for policies that support riparian connectivity efforts; organizing trainings, workshops, or other events that advance collective goals; supporting on-the-ground projects; or other activities.
  • Contribute guidance and leadership for the Western Water Riparian Restoration and Conservation team: Participate in the development and implementation of effective programmatic strategies; contribute to fundraising efforts; and perform other programmatic duties (e.g., communications, budgeting) needed to advance NWF’s work at the programmatic, regional, and national level. Develop communications materials and present at conferences and workshops.

Qualifications:

Strong candidates for this position will bring experience in project development and implementation in a water or related natural resources setting, including teambuilding, leadership, and collaboration to achieve lasting results, and have a strong understanding and familiarity of water and natural resource management issues in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. These proficiencies are typically consistent with five or more years of professional experience, including all of the following:

  • At least five years of successful professional experience in fields related to natural resource management (e.g., water policy, planning or management; natural resources; environmental sciences, land management, etc.);
  • Supervisory and leadership experience, and/or experience motivating, setting objectives and managing performance.
  • Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads, and finances under deadlines
  • Experience facilitating collaborative coalitions, including cultivating and maintaining relationships with community and organizational partners
  • B.A. or B.S. in Natural Resources, Environmental Science or Policy, or related field; post-graduate degree and/or relevant work experience desirable
  • Strong familiarity with water and/or riparian resources, policy, or conservation, as well as the use of nature-based solutions to conserve and restore aquatic resources.
  • Experience working for or with public resource agencies at a variety of levels (federal, state, Tribal and local), or a solid understanding of their mandates and practices
  • Strong analytic and communication skills, both oral and written;
  • Strategic thinking and vision – quickly grasps the subtleties of complex issues, and identifies ways to tackle problems with insight and equity, and a solutions orientation;
  • Ability to identify, engage and cultivate key contacts to develop strategic partnerships
  • Ability to establish and cultivate relationships with potential funders and provide substantial assistance in preparing funding proposals and reporting on grants
  • Ability to engage diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities, and to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments
  • Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process
  • Growth mindset

Desired Competencies:

The employee’s actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. These may be demonstrated by:

  • Working collaboratively with diverse teams of professionals
  • Appreciating diversity of opinion as well as respect for individuals
  • Be a self-starter capable of putting plans into action and meeting deadlines
  • Prioritizing time and working efficiently
  • Showing a high-level of performance in independent work and using problem solving, initiative and creativity
  • Organizing and presenting thoughts coherently and confidently in front of groups of all sizes
  • Negotiating and being innovative when presented with obstacles
  • Setting long-range goals and achieving measurable outcomes to achieve goals
  • Delegating work while providing necessary direction and resources to ensure success
  • Exercising good judgment
  • Handling conflict effectively by listening and encouraging productive resolutions
  • Motivating and inspiring others by providing passion and optimism that is grounded in reality
  • Fostering an environment that is enjoyable and meaningful and plays to each team member’s strengths.

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

  • Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized.
  • Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions.
  • Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them.
  • Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
  • Passion for and commitment to NWF’s mission

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s required equity competencies at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Travel Requirements:      

Regular travel will be required to attend meetings, conduct site visits, facilitate workshops, or perform other in-person actions throughout the Upper Rio Grande Valley, Santa Fe, Albuqurque and Denver. Occasional travel for training, conferences and meetings will also be expected. Successful candidates must work safely and independently in remote locations around and demonstrate self-discipline and accountability for managing their field and home office workload efficiently.

Location and Work Mode: 

This is a remote position based in the Upper Rio Grande Basin with a strong preference given to applicants physically located in northern New Mexico or the San Luis Valley of Colorado. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff.

Physical Requirements of the Job:

The position will be required to attend, and on occasions perhaps help facilitate or lead, on-the-ground projects in the Upper Rio Grande Basin.

Please Note

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may”, the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $62,000 – $73,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefitsin 2021, and by Forbes as one of America’s best small employers!  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 based on a full-time schedule, 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), and 11 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.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

For more information on our recruiting process, please review our Careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

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.


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