Alaska Representative – Anchorage, AK

Organization: Defenders of Wildlife

Job Title: Alaska Representative

Location: Anchorage, AK

Hours and Compensation: Full time; $43K-48K

Position Dates:

Application Deadline:

Posted On: August 24,  2012

Organization Overview

Defenders of Wildlife is a national, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.

At Defenders of Wildlife, we focus our programs on what scientists consider two of the most serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity, and habitat alteration and destruction. We work to protect and restore America’s native wildlife, safeguard habitat, resolve conflicts, work across international borders and educate and mobilize the public. We stand out in our commitment to saving imperiled wildlife and championing the Endangered Species Act, the landmark law that protects them.

We seek talented individuals dedicated to the conservation of our nation’s wildlife and natural resources, and we offer our staff competitive salary and exceptional benefits.

Description

This professional-level position is responsible for assisting in promoting and expanding the Alaska field conservation program and implementing assigned work plans for the Alaska field office implementing Defenders’ strategic plan. The position will involve advancing specific campaigns and working in areas involving climate change adaptation, species conservation, habitat conservation, media, and fundraising. This position requires a strong grounding in the biological and physical sciences and works as part of a team to design conservation and ecosystem-based management strategies at a range of spatial scales. It requires a high level of creativity and capacity to evaluate information needs and opportunities, as well as strong conceptual and communication skills to frame activities within larger strategic objectives. Assignments are results- or goal-oriented, requiring substantial discretion on the part of the position in determining how to meet the assigned goal (e.g., putting together a new conservation campaign or producing a research report) in a timely manner.

Defenders of Wildlife is launching an exciting organization-wide strategic plan for FY2013 forward. The Alaska Program will focus on two focal landscapes: the Arctic and Alaska Gulf and Mountains encompassing Cook Inlet, the Kenai Peninsula and the Chugach National Forest. The primary responsibilities for this position at the focal landscape level are to: develop and promote conservation and climate change policy reforms that will effectively maintain the ecological integrity of target landscapes, with an emphasis on the conservation of at-risk and vulnerable wildlife species; and, to work to ensure that these conservation approaches and strategies inform national policy and serve as models for implementation elsewhere to help Defenders meet conservation benchmarks for priority species and their habitats.

The Alaska Representative will work with an integrated team to understand the impacts of climate change in Alaska on wildlife and habitat; develop adaptation strategies, guidance or tools to mitigate the impacts; and communicate these impacts and strategies to policymakers, media, government agencies, the scientific community, Defenders’ members and the public. He/she will identify and link technical scientific findings to conservation action and will offer technical assistance and play a leading role in integrating climate adaptation strategies into Defenders’ conservation programs and into federal and state government agency programs.

Responsibilities

• Actively promote and expand Defenders’ Alaska program through science, field-based projects, testimony, comments on proposed policies, media development, lobbying and coalition-building with our traditional partners in the conservation community, relevant government land management agencies as well as Alaska Native and rural communities.
• Maintain strong connections to the climate change adaptation community, including building effective, enduring collaborations with relevant academic and government institutions
• Prepare technical analyses and written comments in response to the climate change adaptation policy initiatives. In particular, advance effective wildlife and climate change adaptation policy by engaging Alaska and Arctic-based organizations. U.S federal agencies and in the development of the programs and research agendas.
• Represent Defenders in public meetings, hearings, press events, conferences, and elsewhere
• Work with Defenders’ Communications team in drafting articles, editorial pieces, op-eds, and letters to editors, and in pursuing national, regional, and local coverage.
• Work with staff and attorneys to prepare legal affidavits to support litigation.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: A masters degree in conservation biology, ecology, climate change, conservation planning or a related discipline in the natural resources disciplines.
• Experience: Experience with climate change adaptation science, conservation biology and conservation policy.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Other:

• Demonstrated ability to work independently to initiate, implement, apply, and/or publish scientific research and to communicate such research to both professional and lay audiences.
• Familiarity with some of the major climate research organizations, such as the Alaska Center for Climate Action and Policy (ACCAP), Scenarios Network for Alaska (SNAP), Alaska Climate Services Partnership, National Climate Change and Wildlife Center, U.S. Global Change Research Program and/or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• Experience coordinating and managing complex projects over time.
• Strong research, writing, organizational, and verbal communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a team whether it is leading the team or being an effective and responsive member of the team.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter with salary history to [email protected].