Forest Program Director

Position Summary

Does the opportunity to keep Washington the Evergreen State motivate and inspire you? Are you excited to stand with local communities to protect forests so we have clean water to drink, and healthy lands that support fish, wildlife, and people? If so, join our team!

The Forest Program Director leads Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters’ forest work. This position will supervise a talented team of two full-time staff members and one part-time contractor, and reports to the Chief Policy Officer. They determine the forest program’s overall strategic direction and are responsible for achieving the program’s goals. They represent the program externally with partners and funders for WEC and WCV and serve on multiple committees and coalitions that address forest management on state and private lands.

WEC and WCV’s forest program works to improve management of state and private forests through policy tools and advocacy that value the full range of benefits from our forests. In recent years, we have focused on actions like expanding access to conservation finance, recognizing the role of natural and working lands in addressing climate change within state policy and ensuring that clean water and endangered species are protected by the state’s forest practices. This position is one of three policy program directors at WEC and WCV and is a member of the Senior Management Team.

Who we are

Washington Environmental Council (WEC) is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization. For over 50 years, WEC has brought people together to solve Washington’s most critical environmental issues. WEC builds power for the environmental movement by building partnerships, mobilizing the public, connecting voters to decision makers, and taking legal action. Our mission is to protect, restore, and sustain Washington’s environment for all.

Washington Conservation Voters (WCV) ensures Washington’s decision makers keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant. Over the last 35 years, we have elected environmental champions, held our elected leaders to the highest standard, and built statewide momentum for environmental campaigns through innovative voter outreach efforts and community organizing.  WCV is committed to making sure all people in Washington have a healthy environment and a strong, sustainable economy.

By effectively combining the policy know-how of WEC with the political know-how of WCV, we have reshaped how environmental protection is achieved in Washington. With one shared CEO, our organizations work in partnership as each pursues its unique mission. Combined, we have a staff of 35 and work in a LEED-certified building in downtown Seattle with a view of Elliott Bay. Given the current pandemic we are working remotely and foresee doing that for an extended period of time. Our teams have access to a variety of online tools and systems that support working remotely. Our expectation is that we will eventually return to some schedule of safely working together in our downtown office.

We offer competitive salaries, good benefits, and the opportunity to make a difference. We are committed to a diverse, socially just, and welcoming work environment and people of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of an environmental justice lens to our work, and are led by a CEO who is a woman of color.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full time, exempt position with a salary range of $75k – $85k depending on experience. We also offer a generous benefits package including employer paid medical, vision and dental insurance, 401k plan and organizational match of up to 3% of your annual salary, a flexible spending account, paid vacation and sick leave, ten paid holidays per year, an unlimited ORCA transit pass, and if you work for seven consecutive years you are eligible for a two-month paid sabbatical.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and a resume here. No phone calls or mailed applications please.

Washington Environmental Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WEC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

The Forest Program Director is responsible for program coordination, policy development, internal and external communications, fundraising support, and cross-program coordination with WEC’s and WCV’s other program directors. Duties for the position include:

  • Research, identify, and select campaigns, projects, and legislative priorities to further WEC’s long-term forest program goals.
  • Build and sustain strategic partnerships within and beyond the environmental community on forestry issues.
  • Work with other WEC/WCV directors to align and maximize connections and programs.
  • Commit to WEC’s racial equity plan, participating on an internal staff committee and effectively incorporating the racial equity goals into other duties and responsibilities and into forest program goals.
  • Conduct ongoing evaluation of the program and revise strategy and implementation as needed.
  • Provide supervision and direction to forest team staff, including the Forest and Fish Program Manager, Forest Program Associate, and State Forest Policy Advisor.
  • Communicate policy positions in administrative, legislative, and other decision-making bodies.
  • Serve as the WEC spokesperson for forestry related issues to the media.
  • Lead planning, outreach and engagement for the annual Carbon Friendly Forestry conference.
  • Work with communications staff to develop opinion pieces, newsletter, e-news and website materials, and other communications pieces as needed.
  • Help raise funds for this program’s work through collaboration with the development team on the production of grant proposals, reports and fundraising appeals; participate in donor and foundation meetings, and other fundraising events.
  • Support WCV’s political work as needed including providing candidates with issue information and giving input into the WCV endorsement process.
  • Give input on WCV’s political priorities and help inform local environmental issues for campaigns.
  • Help foster a positive and inclusive work environment and actively participate in trainings and mentorship opportunities.

Qualifications

Required Skills

  • Ability to apply a racial equity and justice lens to your work.
  • Knowledge of environmental issues and a proven commitment to protect, restore, and sustain Washington’s environment for all.
  • Expertise in developing strategic direction and policies.
  • Ability to set priorities and manage multiple short-term and long-term projects simultaneously.
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively with other organizations or entities and form strong working partnerships.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform confidently and comfortably in high-conflict situations and dynamic environments.
  • Experience managing programs or projects, and familiarity with budgeting processes.
  • Ability to use online web based software to work remotely as needed.
  • Understanding of, and experience working with, diverse populations, specifically communities of color.

 

Desired Skills

  • Excellent organizational skills, keen attention to detail, and good judgment.
  • Policy experience with forest issues, which may include habitat protection, water quality, natural climate solutions, and forest management regulations.
  • Familiarity with legal and policy framework for environmental issues.
  • Ability to understand larger historical, social, economic, and political context of forestry issues in Washington.
  • Experience working in coalition with other organizations, especially organizations that center equity and justice.