Outreach & Policy Associate

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition is dedicated to creating a greener, healthier, more equitable, and better Washington for all through community outreach, network building, and advocacy for conservation and outdoor recreation funding.

ALL communities deserve to have safe and accessible outdoor recreation and conservation opportunities. But such projects need reliable and robust funding. That is why, for over 30 years, we have been the steadfast champion for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), a state-funded grant program for local parks, hiking trails, wildlife areas, working farms and more.

The Coalition is made up of a varied, bipartisan collection of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals who all agree on the importance of the outdoors and environment (and especially the WWRP) for the future of our state. We are looking for a new Outreach & Policy Associate, who will help manage these relationships and advance our policy priorities.

The Coalition board and staff have made a commitment to improving Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in all areas of the Coalition’s work—from staffing and board composition to advancing JEDI through our work. Not only are diverse candidates encouraged to apply, but we look forward to the Outreach & Policy Associate helping identify ways our work can be changed to advance equity and inclusion in the outdoors and environmental sectors.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Coalition’s Outreach and Policy Associate is responsible for coordinating team efforts on two very interrelated elements. It is expected that the Associate will begin executing these tasks in partnership with others on the team and it is not expected that the individual will have extensive experience in any of these areas (although relevant experience is always helpful). Opportunities for increased responsibility and professional growth exist and we are hoping to add someone to our team who will grow into a role with more autonomy over time. Of course, the below is not an exhaustive list and there are always additional duties, as assigned.

NOTE: The Coalition staff has decided to prioritize an increasingly collaborative work environment, which we are still developing. The below are the traditional duties of this position, but the incumbent should expect to work closely with the whole team to achieve them.

Outreach

This position will help develop and coordinate execution of plans to engage more nonprofit organizations, businesses, and state and local government agencies (e.g. WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife and city parks departments) in our work—and to better engage our current partners, providing a more indepth membership experience.

• Identify opportunities for engaging traditionally underserved communities, including urban and rural communities of color and tribes, and identifying opportunities for supporting the priorities and goals of these communities through our work.

• Work with the Executive Director to establish and execute outreach and coalition-building priorities and strategies, including identifying, scheduling, and attending meetings with partners and potential partners around the state.

• Manage Coalition membership program, serving both local government agencies (parks departments, etc.) and nonprofit partners across the state. Recommend changes to program so it better advances Coalition JEDI goals.

Policy

This position coordinates our work in Olympia and across the state to educate legislators and decision makers about the importance of the WWRP and other programs. Our organization does engage in lobbying activities both within the Coalition’s 501c3 limitations and in partnership with our sister organization, the WWRC Action Fund (a 501c4 nonprofit).

• Work closely with the Executive Director, the State Policy Committee Chair, and the Coalition’s lobbyists to identify and coordinate execution of advocacy strategies, including through the board’s State Policy Committee.

• Engage and coordinate stakeholders regarding letters of support, action alerts, and other advocacy-related efforts.

• Organize the Coalition’s annual Legislative Day, including logistics, collateral material development, meeting scheduling and coordination, and more (NOTE: expected to be virtual for first time in 2021 due to COVID).

• Monitor the political news and landscape in Washington, generally and drawing connections to how it relates to our work.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of the below qualifications:

• A commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and a passion for integrating that into our work.

• Interest in the environment and outdoors, whether in urban or remote settings.

• At least 2 years’ experience in a related field (relevant academic experience may substitute)

• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely.

• Ability to interact professionally with a wide range of individuals of different backgrounds and political orientations.

• Flexibility and willingness to learn. Additional knowledge/experience in any of the following would be helpful, but not required:

• Working in and building connections to marginalized communities. • State-level government affairs and processes.

• Environmental or outdoor recreation policy and community.

• Event and meeting planning.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

$40,000-45,000 DOE. Generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and holiday, vacation and sick leave.

This is a regular, benefited, full-time position working Monday through Friday. Weekend and evening work will be required, as necessary, but will not be the norm. Flexible scheduling accommodations can be arranged.

This position would normally work out of our office in downtown Seattle with occasional travel throughout the state for meetings and events. However, our staff is currently all working remotely due to COVID19 and we anticipate this continuing for the foreseeable future. Accommodations can be made to help the Associate with establishing a home office, as needed. Options for continued remote work post-COVID can be arranged, however, the employee will need to be able to easily travel to the Seattle area for meetings regularly (likely at least 1-2 times a week, possibly more).

The majority of the time will be spent working on the computer and/or phone, and working collaboratively with team members. Occasional field trips to project sites, including working farms, hiking trails, and local parks may occur. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

TO APPLY

No Calls Please (seriously… no one is even in our office to answer phones right now!) Any questions should be directed to admin(at)wildliferecreation.org

Submit a resume and a brief (approx. 1-page) cover letter detailing how your experience and qualifications relate to those outlined in this description to admin@wildliferecreation.org. Applications submitted without cover letter will not be reviewed.

The position is open until filled, with priority given to applications received by November 15. However, applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis, beginning immediately, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.

IMPORTANT FOOTNOTES JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION (JEDI)

The Coalition is committed to advancing equity through our work and to becoming a more inclusive organization. People of color and others with underrepresented identities (including but not limited to: gender identity, class, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age, ability, and background) are strongly encouraged to apply. Our board is mostly white. Our staff is mostly white. We have a long way to go in regards to DEI, but our board and staff have prioritized these efforts and to making the Coalition a welcoming workplace for people of all identities. We are actively learning and welcome the opportunity to improve our efforts each and every day.

The Coalition is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, political ideology, age, veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other characteristic prohibited by law.

ORGANIZATION CULTURE & OFFICE ENVIRONMENT

Our staff is a small, tight-knit team that is driven by a shared passion for Washington’s outdoors. We strive to be adaptive, fun, and collaborative. We are always willing to pitch in on projects outside our own portfolios, to “roll up our sleeves” to get stuff done.

We have chosen to transition to a more collaborative method of work to break down silos between our work areas and engage the full team in projects. This transition is still underway, so we don’t yet know what it will look like when done, but the new team member should expect to share responsibilities, provide input on ideas and work, and to assist in decision making outside their immediate job description.

We value an environment where every voice counts and staff members are empowered to be open and to share their opinions. Health and wellness, including a healthy work-life balance are actively encouraged.

All candidates must be eligible to work for any US employer.