Policy Associate for Protecting Forests

Position description

Environment America is hiring an associate to lead our Preserve Our Forests campaign to protect our most valuable forests in the United State and across the globe, from the North American boreal forest to the Amazon.

Mature and old-growth forests are critical for habitat. The longer a forest is stable, the more additional species can grow and thrive there. And larger trees absorb more carbon, making them an important part of solving global warming. Logging, road building and industrial activity disrupts and destroys the habitats of countless species, including endangered species like California condors and Florida panthers. It also pollutes drinking water sources and encroaches on prime recreational areas for climbers, hikers, and backcountry skiers.

The Preserve Our Forests Associate will work on our campaigns to protect mature forests on federal land in the United States, to convince American companies to stop sourcing from primary forests in the North American boreal forest and to reduce the United States’ contributions to tropical deforestation. 

Key Responsibilities

• Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to like-minded organizations and affected constituency groups to demonstrate support for our campaign goals.
• Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize news conferences and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaign.
• Lobby elected officials: Meet with decision makers to make the case for our campaign goals. When a critical vote is happening on your campaign, work to demonstrate the support you’ve been building on the ground to help line up the votes needed to win.
• Research and write reports: Catalog and analyze data relevant to the issue and our policy proposals to help influence public debate and earn media attention for our cause.
• Recruit new people to your team: Help build your team by recruiting volunteers, interns and full-time staff.
• Run a grassroots campaign office each summer: Run a campaign office for the summer to raise money to support our campaigns, build our organization and membership, and help build critical and timely grassroots support to win key campaigns while honing your organizing and management skills.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply; we provide training on advocacy and organizing skills, as well as oversight and on-the-ground training by an experienced advocate while you lead your own campaign. Ideal candidates will have a commitment to protecting the environment and a love of America’s public lands as well as leadership experience, top-notch writing and public speaking skills, an eagerness to learn, and be ready for a challenge. 

About Environment America

Environment America tackles the most profound problem of our time: a way of living that is destroying the natural world. 

We’re advocates for energy conservation and renewable power, so we can keep oil in the ground and stop burning fossil fuels. We’re champions of plastic reduction, so nothing we use for a few minutes is allowed to pollute our oceans for centuries. And we’re defenders of wildlife and wild places, both for their own sake as well as the awe and wonder they bring to our lives. 

Environment America’s national network of 30 state environmental groups work to improve our quality of life by reducing the pollution and other harms of how we produce, consume and dispose of more and more stuff. And we do it one step at a time, by winning results for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife, open spaces, and a livable climate that make a tangible difference in people’s lives and our environment.

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for this position is $33,400-$38,180 in the first year, and depends on location, relevant experience, and education. Environment America offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, our commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement. 

Application instructions

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