Policy Director

Job Overview

The Policy Director is an energetic and organized policy wonk who loves human-powered winter recreation and cares deeply about public land conservation and sustainable winter access. They track and synthesize relevant policy and politics to develop and lead effective campaigns to protect America’s wild snowscapes. They aren’t afraid of difficult conversations and know how to find compromise while holding fast to core values. The Policy Director develops and executes strategy and campaigns for agency planning processes and projects as well as administrative rulemaking and other opportunities/challenges related to WWA’s mission and objectives.

They work with a wide range of coalitions, partner organizations, elected officials, members and supporters across the country. The Policy Director directly supervises WWA’s policy and stewardship staff, providing leadership, mentorship, and support in their work. They are the primary point of contact between WWA and the WWA Grassroots Network and advise and support Grassroots Partners on shared objectives. The Policy Director also works closely with Outdoor Alliance partners on legislative and administrative campaigns. They assist the Executive Director and other staff in grant writing, fundraising and reporting, and provide communications content relevant to WWA’s policy work. They work with other WWA staff to plan and produce the biennial Grassroots Advocacy Conference and are a team player who pitches in to help across all aspects of WWA’s work as needed.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify policy priorities, objectives, opportunities, and strategies toward achieving WWA’s mission.
• Manage and oversee WWA policy and stewardship staff and contractors.
• Maintain strategic relationships with key agency staff, partner organizations, coalition members, elected officials and other community leaders necessary for achieving WWA’s policy goals and objectives.
• Work effectively and collaboratively with a diverse range of organizations and individuals.
• Lead WWA’s policy work by meeting with decision makers, drafting substantive comments, engaging collaboratively with partners, stakeholders and agency staff in priority landscapes, and developing engagement strategies to build support for the organization’s goals.
• Track, evaluate, and respond to federal agency projects and policies, as appropriate.
• Monitor and engage in Forest Service winter travel planning and implementation.
• Design and manage the development, implementation, and evaluation of campaign and program strategy, including managing staff, contractors, and volunteers.
• Serve as a spokesperson for Winter Wildlands Alliance when appropriate.
• Assist the Executive Director in identifying and communicating WWA’s policy work to board members, donors and foundations.
• Work with the Executive Director to develop policy program budget and funding opportunities, and manage and track expenses, as appropriate.
• Maintain regular communication with all Winter Wildlands Alliance staff, including regularly scheduled meetings and travel to attend staff retreats and board meetings, the Backcountry Film Festival annual premiere, and other events.

Qualifications/Abilities

• Proven ability to perform the duties and responsibilities described above, with at least 6 years of experience in environmental advocacy, public policy, conservation, and/or public lands issues.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous initiatives and deadlines.
• Ability to research and maintain a working knowledge of national public land and conservation issues.
• Ability to effectively work with a diverse range of people and groups.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision, and to work effectively with co-workers and partners across many different locations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Expertise in the Microsoft Office/Google for Business suite. Familiarity with GIS, website management, and/or CRM software is a plus.
• A commitment to Winter Wildlands Alliance’s mission and to advancing justice, diversity, equity and inclusion, equity, and to integrating these principles into your work.

Requirements: 

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, as well as the willingness to occasionally work long days and weekends, sometimes at backcountry huts.
• Valid United States driver’s license.

About Winter Wildlands Alliance

Winter Wildlands Alliance is a national nonprofit organization working to inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes. We are an Alliance of environmental and outdoor recreation organizations, SnowSchool sites and backcountry partners. Our SnowSchool program engages over 35,000 kids in science-based field trips and education across 70+ sites nationwide. Our Backcountry Film Festival, premiering every winter in Boise, Idaho, tours more than 100 locations worldwide and raises $200,000+ each tour season for local mountain communities.

Our staff and board are made up of people from all different backgrounds. Our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) is woven throughout our programs, internal training, year-round community events, digital and print communications, and staff and board meetings. At Winter Wildlands Alliance, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Snow is fun and working at Winter Wildlands is too. Explore more about Winter Wildlands Alliance here: www.winterwildlands.org.

Winter Wildlands Alliance employment is open to everyone. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or ability in any of our policies or programs.