NRDC is seeking a native carnivore advocate for its Wildlife Conservation Project. The position will be based in NRDC’s office in Bozeman, Montana. This position will be responsible for providing highly effective advocacy, collaboration, and policy analysis regarding the conservation and protection of wolves, grizzly bears, and other carnivores native to the Rocky Mountain West. This work will include reducing human-carnivore conflicts, reforming carnivore management practices, and protecting imperiled carnivore populations and their habitat.
This will be a three-year position, with the hope of it becoming permanent with continued funding.
- Conducting creative and successful advocacy related to the conservation and protection of native carnivores throughout the western United States;
- Collaborating with agricultural producers, conservation partners, and state and federal wildlife management officials to implement on-the-ground non-lethal conflict prevention measures;
- Securing policy reforms related to trapping, poisoning, trophy hunting, and other aspects of carnivore management;
- Providing scientific, legal, technical, and other support for carnivore-related litigation;
- Attending meetings with and testifying before local, state, and federal lawmakers and wildlife managers;
- Drafting reports, fact sheets, formal comments, op-eds, blogs, and other advocacy documents;
- Researching, discussing, and developing strong substantive expertise in scientific, technical, and legal issues relevant to western carnivore conservation;
- Communicating effectively with media professionals about carnivore issues;
- Coordinating with and enhancing the advocacy efforts of other groups working to conserve carnivores in the West, including local and regional conservation organizations, state and federal government agencies, and Native American tribes; and
- Contributing to making NRDC’s carnivore advocacy more relevant to diverse communities and interest groups.
The ideal candidate will have the personal and professional skills to advance NRDC’s objectives, including:
- 1-3 years of relevant experience, including time in a wildlife advocacy, legal, scientific, state or federal agency, or policy position;
- Ability to work with local communities, lawmakers, state and federal wildlife managers, and a diverse range of organizations on complex issues;
- Field work experience, such as installing electric fences and placing field cameras;
- Excellent speaking, writing, research, and analytical skills, including the ability to translate complex scientific information into understandable policy and media-targeted documents;
- Strong interpersonal skills;
- Experience working with public officials, media, and members of the public in an advocacy context;
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting;
- Strong interest in carnivore conservation and enthusiasm for NRDC’s mission; and
- High degree of proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.