Environment North Carolina Conservation Advocate

Environment North Carolina Conservation Advocate

Department: State

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Raleigh, NC

Compensation: $41,750 - $46,000 / year

From the forested mountains, ridges, and valleys of the Appalachian mountains to the Outer Banks on the coast, North Carolina is full of special places and vibrant nature. Environment North Carolina advocates to protect the natural world. We’re calling for more wildlife crossings to connect habitat for species like the endangered red wolf. We’re defending some of North Carolina’s last wild forests from road building for logging and mining.

And we’re working to protect our coasts from pollution, to protect the sea life that roams underneath. We are seeking a Conservation Advocate to work on these campaigns and more.

Our Conservation Advocate will lead our efforts to protect the places that make North Carolina a special place to live. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Help shape program priorities: Participate in policy development, research and messaging for our conservation program in North Carolina.
• Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to a broad range of organizations and affected constituency groups across the political spectrum to build and demonstrate support for our goals, including unlikely allies who might agree with us on one issue, even if we disagree on other issues.
• Organize events: Organize webinars, community events and public meetings, including events that connect the public to opportunities to learn more about our land and wildlife and how best they can act to protect our special places. Recruit organizations and members of the public to attend and participate.
• Recruit and work with volunteers: Identify and work with volunteers who want to do more in their community.
• Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize media events and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaigns.
• Advocate: Present a compelling case to decision-makers for strong policy action for conservation through lobbying, testifying at hearings, and producing powerful written materials. Build relationships with key players in the state, the region and at the federal level.
• Fundraise: Write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and raise money from individual donors to bring more resources to our campaigns.
• Grow our team: Identify and recruit strong candidates to join our staff. Hire and manage interns to maximize the impact of your campaigns. Potential to train and oversee staff.

You are:

• An advocate or organizer with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience.
• Passionate about saving the natural world. It’s not about you, it’s about the cause.
• An effective communicator with excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• A connector and good listener with a track record of bringing people together around a common goal. Open-minded and interested in working with people who you might disagree with on some issues.
• Creative and effective at solving complex problems; a strategic thinker who can take advantage of new opportunities.
• Well-organized and goal-oriented; capable of holding yourself accountable to a plan and also nimble enough to adapt as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Able to travel regularly and be motivated to work when needed, which may sometimes be in the evenings and on weekends.

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for someone with 2-5 years of relevant experience is $41,750-$46,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience…