POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE:  Alaska Senior Representative

CLASSIFICATION: Professional 4

SALARY: $68k-$73k

FLSA:  Exempt

DEPARTMENT:  Field Conservation

LOCATION: Anchorage, AK

REPORTS TO:  Alaska Program Director

NUMBER OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT REPORT(S):

LAST REVISED:  January 2021

 

POSITION SUMMARY

This professional-level position works collaboratively with the Alaska program staff and is responsible for developing, overseeing, and implementing assigned Defenders’ Alaska strategic work plan conservation policy objectives that help implement Defenders’ National Strategic Plan.  Working closely with the Alaska Program Director and Alaska Policy Advisor, the position focus is to conserve threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), ensure the protection of important wildlife habitat and conservation of Alaska federal public lands and waters, and, where possible, advance climate solutions.  Conservation priorities include working to: 1) Protect, conserve and restore imperiled species, and work to improve management and expand their habitats, in particular within priority public lands and waters, such as Bureau of Land Management lands, national wildlife refuges, national forests, the Arctic Ocean and Cook Inlet, and for at-risk species; 2) Ensure that Alaska’s federal lands and waters remain intact and well-managed by federal land management agencies; and 3) integrate best available science, including climate science and wildlife adaptation considerations, into landscape-scale planning and project-level decision-making in Defenders’ priority areas.  This position fulfills Defenders’ mission to protect all native animals and plants in their natural communities and helps to implement the goals of Defenders Strategic Plan, including reaching and engaging diverse partners. This is a full-time position with potential supervisory opportunities to oversee contracts, interns and volunteers.

 

Program strategies and objectives are achieved by effectively collaborating with a variety of external partners, including federal and state agencies and officials, tribal governments and Alaska Native organizations, conservation and community organizations and private landowners, when appropriate. This position requires knowledge and experience in policy and advocacy in a broad array of Alaska natural resource conservation issues such as wildlife and endangered species policy, Alaska federal and state land and water management policy, landscape level planning, and/or conservation biology.  It requires familiarity with key stakeholders and organizations engaged in conserving Alaska’s natural resources, and with the relevant science and best practices pertaining to the issues.

 

The Alaska Senior Representative serves the Alaska region and collaborates closely with the Alaska Director and Alaska Policy Advisor to develop strategy and set priorities, and along with other Alaska staff, implement and communicate outcomes. The Senior Representative will also collaborate with other Defenders departments (e.g. Center for Conservation Innovation, Landscape Conservation, Conservation Law, Communications, Government Relations) and lead inter-department and external working groups and campaigns when needed.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the development and implementation of Defenders’ Alaska work plan to achieve work plan goals and benchmarks in collaboration with other organization staff.
• Serve as Defenders’ lead staff on conservation campaigns and initiatives such as those to protect landscapes such as the Arctic, Kenai and Izembek National Wildlife Refuges; Tongass National Forest; and National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska; or listed species such as polar bears, ringed and bearded seals, Cook Inlet belugas, northern sea otters and others (areas of specific focus DOE).
• Design and implement advocacy campaigns to further program goals.
• Recommend and facilitate species restoration and recovery efforts and on-the-ground conservation projects as appropriate, incorporating best available science.
• Identify and respond to emerging conservation threats and opportunities.
• In coordination with the Alaska Policy Advisor:
• Provide policy analysis and development to support campaign goals,
• Provide written comments and oral testimony on proposed projects and actions.
• Engage in Defenders inter-departmental teams where appropriate to achieve national conservation priorities.
• Coordinate with other Defenders staff regarding litigation when appropriate and providing technical support.
• Participate in direct and grassroots lobbying of the U.S. Congress or state legislature, and advocate with federal and state agencies as necessary and appropriate.
• Build working relationships with decisionmakers when possible.
• Actively engage with Defenders’ Communications and Marketing staff to develop outreach products such as media statements, social media posts, email alerts, blogs, videos, fact sheets, opinion pieces, Defenders magazine articles and other communications as needed to advance campaign goals.
• Serve as spokesperson for Defenders, representing the organization’s interests to the public, the media, and key decision-makers, and in working groups, committees, and processes.
• Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice strategies into Defenders’ programmatic and outreach work in Alaska.
• Assist and advise the Alaska Program Director regarding program plan development and conservation problem-solving.
• Work with Alaska outreach staff to ensure that public lands and wildlife campaigns reach diverse audiences and help to engage and grow our state and regional membership.
• Establish, maintain and expand the number of effective relationships and partnerships with relevant conservation and Alaska Native partners and other stakeholders to achieve Alaska conservation plan and goals.
• Work with Defenders’ national headquarters staff to provide information to donors to help identify and develop potential sources of funding to support Defenders’ priorities.
• Supervise volunteers, interns and/or contractors as appropriate / needed.
• Submit timely and complete accounting of activities and expenses.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education: Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent; advanced degree preferred

Experience: 6 years of relevant experience

At least 2 years’ experience in Alaska wildlife, policy and laws, preferred

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for All Defenders

KSAs for all Defenders will be linked back to the website

 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Professional 4

 

Administrative

1. Ability to accurately maintain electronic and physical records
2. Anticipate and meet the needs of internal and/or external stakeholders delivering excellent service

Communication

1. Ability to clearly and accurately communicate with internal and external stakeholders in written and verbal forms
2. Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately and concisely
3. Ability to convey effective messages to broad and diverse constituencies
4. Ability and willingness to effectively represent Defenders’ interests in external environments
5. Ability to exert influence and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders

Critical Thinking

1. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
2. Strong research and data analysis skills, including ability to gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to produce high quality work products in a consistent, efficient, accurate, and timely manner
3. Creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with willingness to experiment and innovate new methods.
4. Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion strategies into Defenders’ work
5. Ability to independently exercise appropriate judgment in response to complex and/or fluid environments
6. Strategic thinker with the ability to take high-level strategy and translate into relatable points and action steps

Project Management

1. Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines while balancing competing assignments
2. Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities while remaining responsive to urgent requests
3. Ability to take ownership of a project or process and to use problem solving skills to resolve issues
4. Ability to manage deadlines on multiple cross-functional projects in a dynamic environment
5. Demonstrated ability in managing competing interests on complex issues
6. Ability to independently initiate project and initiative ideas; managing projects and initiatives through to completion

Coalition and Community Engagement (if applicable)

1. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to form effective working relationships with diverse constituencies including federal/state agencies; elected officials and their staff; Defenders’ members and donors; private landowners; hunters and anglers; community leaders; religious, scientific, and academic communities; and /or the general public.
2. Ability to lead diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities, to anticipate policy issues impacting wildlife and make recommendations within Defenders, other organizations, and coalitions.
3. Networking skills to engage with leaders in the conservation community, federal and state agencies, NGOs, and other organizations.

Conservation Knowledge (if applicable)

1. Expert-level knowledge of Defenders’ legal, scientific, and/or political issues
2. Expert-level knowledge of national and regional social, political, and ecological landscapes

Leadership and Management (if applicable)

1. Ability to foster a team culture which models the tenets of the Commitment Statement
2. Ability to connect employees and their work to Defenders’ mission
3. Ability to set and maintain clear expectations, ensuring clarity of roles, accountabilities, and responsibilities
4. Ability to ensure that staff have the skills and support required to perform at the highest level
5. Working knowledge of Defenders’ business and people systems and processes

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Senior Representative, Alaska

1. Working knowledge and expertise regarding Alaska wildlife, Alaska Native and Alaska conservation laws and policy, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
2. Familiarity and expertise with Alaska conservation issues, including public lands and waters, wildlife and ESA listed species
3. Experience and demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with staff, diverse external partners and across cultures, particularly with Tribal Governments
4. Experience and demonstrated ability to review, analyze and organize information, share knowledge and make recommendations on practices and policy issues
5. Experience and superior ability to clearly and persuasively write detailed policy-related formal comments and other documents that incorporate scientific and other technical information
6. Experience with coalitions — both in building coalitions as well as participating in existing ones, convening diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities and productively working with groups with opposing perspectives on environmental, land management and species- specific issues
7. Experience with broader public communication, community engagement and outreach to elevate public awareness of issues and build a constituency for solutions.
8. Ability to exercise appropriate judgment and develop pragmatic solutions in response to rapid change and complex situations
9. Personal interest in and demonstrated commitment to wildlife conservation as well as the holistic success of the Alaska Program Team
10. Strong leadership skills that foster equitable, inclusive and empowering environments for team members and coalition partners to come together to improve wildlife conservation and policies

Visit www.defenders.org to apply.

 

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.