Energy Specialist, The Wilderness Society – Colorado

Organization: The Wilderness Society

Position Title: Energy Specialist

Location: Grand Junction, Colorado

Dates and compensation: This is a one year grant-funded position which may be extended contingent on funding. This position is based in Grand Junction, CO. No relocation assistance provided.

Application Deadline: Position open until filled

Description: The Wilderness Society (TWS), a national non-profit organization whose mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places, is seeking a full-time Energy Specialist to join its team in Grand Junction, CO.

In coordination with TWS staff and partner organizations, the Energy Specialist’s responsibilities include working with local BLM offices, conservation organizations, individuals, and communities to support oil and gas reforms, including developing and implementing Master Leasing Plans that achieve a more conservation-oriented balance to public lands management and promoting policies to reduce methane and other greenhouse gases associated with oil and gas operations on public lands. The Energy Specialist will cultivate and organize community, agency, business, industry and individual support for these processes, policies, and outcomes in western Colorado, eastern Utah, and nationally.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate successful completion and implementation of specific Master Leasing Plans (MLPs) and related Resource Management Plan (RMP) components, focusing initially on plans in western Colorado and eastern Utah.
• Build community support for MLPs to ensure that they are successfully developed and implemented, and that the policy endures.
• Ensure MLPs and RMPs address conflicts between oil and gas development and national parks, wilderness-quality lands, cultural and archeological treasures, sage-grouse and big game habitat, recreation, and other conservation values and achieve an appropriate balance for these resources.
• Develop and build support for detailed recommendations for MLP proposals, including identifying and cultivating local community members to speak out in community settings and the media for strong conservation designations as part of the energy planning process. Engage with BLM and local partners to advocate for MLPs and balanced management.
• Work with TWS staff to advocate for strong policies and practices that reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with oil and gas development on public lands, and build agency, industry, and community support for their effective implementation.
• Work effectively with a wide range of individuals and organizations, from lawyers, scientists, and policy specialists to grassroots activists to ranchers, hunters/anglers, and other public land stakeholders.
• Travel as needed to gain first-hand knowledge of wild lands and develop relationships with partners and key players throughout the region.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Experience, Competencies, and Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; additional education and/or work experience in public lands or natural resources issues preferred.
• A record of success organizing advocacy campaign work.
• Experience in environmental advocacy, public policy, grassroots organizing and/or public lands issues.
• Solid understanding of public land management planning and/or issues and land management agency culture and policy.
• Ability to review and comment on agency proposals and actions, and identify key policy, legal, and political opportunities and pressure points.
• Ability to translate policy and planning expertise into effective strategies and tactics to protect wild lands.
• Ability to work with technical experts and translate complex technical information into user-friendly language and forms.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating with diverse constituencies, agency representatives and other governmental decision-makers.
• Desire and ability to work in teams.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a sense of humor.
• Excellent strategic instincts and long-term vision.
• Strong intellect, creativity, drive, and initiative.

Desired Characteristics

• Highly motivated self-starter with a proven ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines and work independently.
• Integrity, trustworthiness, tact, and discretion.
• Willingness and ability to travel.
• Passion for wilderness and land conservation.

How to Apply: For consideration, please submit cover letter and resume (as one attachment) to:https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=12987611