Climate and Energy Storytelling Fellow

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world, and the Federation is committed to inspiring all people around our shared love of nature and wildlife by creating a welcoming and inclusive community.

Our Climate and Energy team advances domestic policies at the federal, state, and regional levels that curb greenhouse gas emissions, speed an equitable transition to clean energy and industry, and expand natural and technological carbon removal. NWF seeks to grow bipartisan support for short- and long-term congressional action on climate, working with a range of partners to build diverse coalitions.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Climate and Energy Storytelling Fellow to work out of our National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C., or remotely. The Fellow will provide content creation, storytelling, research, and advocacy support for projects throughout our program portfolio, focused on federal policy. This position is part of NWF’s fellowship program. NWF Fellows must be available to work a 40-hour weekly schedule. This 11-month position offers $20.00 per hour plus core benefits. 

The Climate and Energy Storytelling Fellow will report directly to the climate and energy team’s Manager of Creative Communications and Storytelling and work alongside the rest of the program team to perform and synthesize subject-matter research, create engaging written and visual communications products, expand and update online tools, and produce materials to support our program. These materials educate a wide variety of NWF audiences including the general public, NWF members, affiliates, partners, industry, and policymakers.

In this role you will:

• Support the Manager in researching, writing, and creating communications products on a variety of climate topics including clean energy and energy transmission, offshore wind, climate and energy equity, energy transition, industrial decarbonization, carbon dioxide removal, and nature-based solutions.
• Assist the Manager in the development and creation of state-specific offshore wind content and storytelling campaigns.
• Contribute to content development of various formats including blogs, video, ArcGIS, and more.
• Translate and edit complex issues and reports into compelling and accessible content.
• Write and edit text for the climate website reorganization and rebuild, and support content development for the offshore wind microsite.
• Draft social media and online content to inform and engage the Federation’s six million advocates and members about climate topics.
• Provide general support for climate team advocacy activities to help ensure tactics are completed, which will include drafting content and assisting with events regarding policy, scientific, or other climate issue area developments.
• Help the climate team produce or update data-driven charts, StoryMaps, and graphics for different target audiences.
• Perform administrative duties and help with program coordination and shared office tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

• Passion for addressing climate change in creative and pragmatic ways that allow wildlife and people of all backgrounds to survive and thrive
• Excellent research and analytical abilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including the ability to clearly synthesize scientific or technical information for a variety of audiences
• Understanding of story fundamentals and a keen sense of newsworthiness
• Self-starter able to work effectively in both a team-based and independent environment
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task and handle competing priorities
• A demonstrated and documented interest and experience in climate research, policy and/or advocacy. This can include a BA/BS degree in communications, marketing, public affairs, or a related field, or at least 1-2 years of relevant professional or volunteer experience.
• Computer proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Experience with ArcGIS and basic graphic design software like Adobe Creative Suite.

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF’s mission.

Location and Work Mode:

This position is based out of our National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work remotely, in the office, or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers. 

Physical Requirements: 

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).  Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis. 

Please Note: 

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however.  Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

COVID Consideration:

The National Wildlife Federation closely follows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease and has implemented processes that promote the safety of our employees, candidates, and communities.  

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.  Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at [email protected]  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.