Senior Associate, Pacific Forage Fish Campaign – Portland, OR

 The mission of the Pew Environment Group (PEG) is to promote policies and practices that protect the global environment, preserve healthy forests and marine ecosystems. For the past two decades, PEG has been a major force in driving conservation policy in the United States, and increasingly internationally. The group’s work is focused on reducing the scope and severity of three major global environmental problems:

• Transition to a clean energy economy from one based primarily on the burning of fossil fuels.
• The erosion of large wilderness ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity.
• The destruction of the world’s marine environment, with a particular emphasis on global fisheries.

The Pacific Forage Fish Conservation Initiative (Campaign) works to protect the small fish that serve a critical role in the California Current’s food web. Small “forage fish” feed the larger fish we like to eat, such as salmon, albacore tuna and ling cod, as well as other ocean wildlife like marine mammals and sea birds. The Campaign aims to suspend the development of new fisheries unless and until the science demonstrates they can be managed in a way that accounts for the entire role these fish play in the ecosystem. The Campaign also works to ensure that existing fisheries for these important forage fish use the best science available, and are managed with an ecosystem-wide view. The Pacific Campaign is part of a national program with campaigns in the Northeast and Southeast.

Description: 

The senior associate reports to the Manager, Forage Fish Conservation Initiative and is located in Portland, Oregon. The senior associate will be primarily responsible for crafting and leading outreach efforts to achieve Campaign goals, as well as providing critical program support. It is expected that this position is for a term period through September 30, 2013, with the possibility of an extension pending the success of the program, funding sources and board decisions on continued support.

Responsibilities: 

Outreach:

• Work with the Manager and Field Operations staff to develop and implement a comprehensive outreach strategy for both state and federal campaign objectives.
• Develop strong, productive relationships with regional partners, coalition members and contractors to coordinate campaign strategies.
• Work with the campaign team to solidify and expand the stakeholder coalition.
• Plan and participate in regional outreach events to develop support for the campaign and specific policy objectives.
• Research and write outreach materials for the Campaign such as fact sheets, talking points, action alerts, web features, blogposts, video scripts and newsletters.

Research:

• Maintain an in-depth awareness of Pacific Fishery Management Council issues related to forage fish.
• Conduct special research projects as needed and write reports.
• Liaise with policy and science staff.

Project Support:

• Work with the Manager, Operations and Finance departments, regional campaign staff and external partners to develop, write, execute and manage contracts and project funding agreements for the campaign.
• Assist the Manager in developing proposals and reports for external funders.
• Other program support duties as requested by the Manager.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of four years of professional experience in natural resource conservation or related public policy work, including experience in policy advocacy and writing for advocacy campaigns. A strong background in developing outreach plans and conducting research for marine conservation issues preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and manage productive relationships with internal staff and external partners
• Excellent written and oral communications skills. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate policy and scientific concepts of environmental issues to a range of audiences.
• Strong project management skills; able to work independently; flexible and able to juggle multiple competing priorities, organize time, and work in teams to meet program goals.
• A detailed and results-oriented style with a focus on process and achievement. Recognized ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
• Willingness to travel up to 35-40% of work time in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, and Washington, D.C.

How to Apply: Apply online at https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/3283/job.

Contact Information: 

Pew Charitable Trusts, http://www.pewtrusts.org

JobURL: https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/3283/job