WildEarth Guardians current job openings:

Southern Rockies Wildlife Advocate 

Location: Santa Fe (preferred), Denver (possible)
Application Deadline: Friday, July 7th
Start date: as soon as possible, no later than Sept. 1 

Position Summary

WildEarth Guardians is a conservation organization committed to protecting and restoring the wildlands, wildlife and wild rivers of the American West. Guardians’ seeks a full time Southern Rockies Wildlife Advocate to work in our Wildlife Program. The Advocate will work for the conservation and long-term sustainability and resiliency of wildlife populations — primarily native carnivores — in the American West. The position will include working on issues impacting black bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, lynx, and wolves. The Advocate will expand existing, and develop new campaigns, strategies and tactics to end trapping on public lands, challenge wildlife killing contests and carnivore trophy hunting, curtail the federal Wildlife Service program’s indiscriminate poisoning, trapping, and aerial gunning practices; reform state game commissions and support the organization’s advocacy for gray and Mexican wolf preservation and restoration. The Advocate will also develop cases and assist in litigation, primarily under the Endangered Species Act, Freedom of Information Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.

Responsibilities

  • Implement Wildlife Program priority campaigns to protect and restore native carnivores
  • Build and maintain relationships with agency officials, Congressional staff, scientists, citizen activists, partner organizations, and the media to promote carnivore conservation.
  • Draft, review and edit a variety of written materials, including reports, petitions, factsheets, articles, e-communications, and website content related to wildlife protection campaigns.
  • Represent the organization on carnivore issues (press interviews, public presentations, testimony before agencies)
  • Support fundraising efforts for the Wildlife Program and the organization.

Qualifications/Requirements

Essential qualifications include:

  • Passion for protecting imperiled species, particularly native carnivores.
  • A demonstrated commitment to conservation advocacy.
  • Working knowledge and understanding of the Endangered Species Act.
  • A minimum of three years’ experience with wildlife conservation biology, and/or wildlife management policy or law.
  • Interest in developing wildlife focused litigation.
  • Knowledge of federal administrative processes and rulemaking under the National Environmental Policy Act and Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to think strategically and implement long and short-term projects.
  • Ability to multitask and manage short and long-term deadlines.
  • Strong attention to detail, problem solving, and trouble shooting skills.
  • Intermediate computer skills, including word processing, excel database/spreadsheet management, and graphic design.
  • Ability to work effectively with a diversity of people and constituencies.
  • A sense of humor and a healthy sense of outrage.

 Additional desirable qualifications include:

  • Advanced degree in biodiversity protection or environmental law.
  • Formal organizing training and/or campaign planning and execution experience.
  • Formal expertise in carnivore species biology.
  • Intermediate or advanced social media interest and skills.
  • Press release drafting, radio, print and television media experience.
  • Knowledge of state, regional and national wildlife policy and politics.
  • Intermediate to advanced Spanish language skills.

Special Job Requirements:

  • Some travel around the western United States, as well as occasional travel to Washington D.C. Expect flexible work hours, including some weekend and evening hours.

Compensation and Benefits:

Competitive salary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits also include generous vacation, sick leave, health and dental insurance, retirement and exceptional work environment.

To apply: 

Please send a cover letter, resume, a short (10 pages or fewer) writing sample, and three references to Bethany Cotton, Wildlife Program Director at apply@wildearthguardians.org. Please no phone calls. Due to the volume of applications, only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

WildEarth Guardians is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to advancing internal and external diversity, equity and inclusion. Applicants with experience in these areas are encouraged to apply and highlight that experience in their application materials. WildEarth Guardians encourages all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status to apply. 

Click here to download a PDF copy of this job announcment.

Legal Director

Work Level: Full-Time Exempt

Offices in Santa Fe, Denver, Tucson, Missoula, Portland. Denver location preferred, but potentially flexible.

Position Summary:

We’re looking for a savvy and creative attorney who is excited to lead our Legal Team and strategize with our Executive Director, Program Directors and Conservation Director.  We are an organization of smart and innovative advocates who look forward to partnering with a Legal Director who is similarly passionate about protecting the American West. The Legal Director will manage the 4-attorney Legal Team and maintain an active litigation docket. The Legal Director will also assist in developing legal strategies to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.  We’re eager to find a Legal Director with gumption who will play a vital role in making our extraordinarily effective organization even better, stronger, and more successful.

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Litigate cases primarily in federal court, but also potentially in state court and at the administrative level
  • Manage the 3 staff attorneys in the Legal Team, including reviewing documents for court filing, discussing legal strategies, etc.
  • Communicate regularly with outside counsel representing Guardians and maintain and develop relationships with outside counsel
  • Evaluate litigation proposals from programs; conduct or assign to staff attorneys factual and legal research as needed in furtherance of such evaluation
  • Develop litigation strategies and priorities with the Executive Director, Conservation Director, and Program Directors
  • Support litigation in all the four programs as needed.

Qualifications/Requirements:

  • Bar membership in at least one western state
  • Minimum of 10 years experience in environmental litigation, preferably in the west
  • Ability to handle a busy litigation docket
  • Solid skills in organization, writing, research, analysis, and oral advocacy
  • Passion for protecting the American West
  • Capacity to embrace conflict and cooperate without compromising our values
  • Emotional maturity
  • Willingness to take calculated risks
  • Integrity and sense of humor
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Ability and desire to lead, collaborate, and work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Some travel around the United States. Expect flexible work hours, including some weekend and evening hours

Compensation and Benefits:

Guardians offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including full health and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid vacation, health and family leave, a sabbatical policy, paid holidays, and a fabulous work environment.

Guardians is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse and inclusive staff.  Guardians actively works to ensure fair and equal treatment of its employees and constituents regardless of differences based on culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, or sexual orientation.

To Apply:

By 07/01/2017, please submit applications electronically to: apply@wildearthguardians.org

Applications should include, in a single pdf, the following: cover letter; CV; one legal writing sample that is predominantly your work; and contact and relationship information for three professional references. The hiring committee will begin reviewing applications no later than July 1, 2017 and the position will remain open until filled.

Click here to download a PDF copy of this job announcment.