Specialist, Sportsmen Outreach and Policy

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Sportsmen Outreach and Policy Specialist to join our team in South Louisiana to lead our sportsmen education and engagement work around restoring Louisiana’s coast. In Louisiana, NWF is part of a coalition of national and regional partners working on a campaign called Restore the Mississippi Delta (MRD) that aims to protect and restore coastal wetlands and ecosystems for people, wildlife and the economy. Hunters and anglers have long been advocates and a strong voice for the protection and restoration of our natural resources. This is especially true in Louisiana, making them a critical stakeholder group to our efforts. 

Through strategic relationship development, communication and outreach efforts, the Sportsmen Outreach and Policy Specialist will engage and organize individual hunters, anglers, sportsmen’s groups, businesses, other conservation organizations and stakeholders to support restoration of the Mississippi River Delta. This full-time position will work within Vanishing Paradise, part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf program, leading and representing the Vanishing Paradise team. The Specialist will promote NWF’s wildlife and restoration priorities and will represent NWF in meetings and communications with decision-makers, the media, donors, and coalition partners, as well as in public meetings, hearings, and conferences. 

The person in this position will advance the National Wildlife Federation’s values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and mission-focused work. This hybrid position will be located in south Louisiana and based out of the New Orleans office.

Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):

65% – Advocacy, Stakeholder Outreach and Communications. 

• Cultivate new partnerships with grasstop hunters and anglers, successfully engaging them and moving them to action in restoration efforts to meet program goals.
• Develop existing relationships with grasstop sportsmen and groups already engaged with Vanishing Paradise.
• Foster relationships with relevant legislators, agency staff, conservation NGOs and other stakeholders as appropriate (commercial and recreational fishing, hunters, tourism, local governments, etc.) who would benefit from ecosystem restoration projects and activities.
• In collaboration with the Gulf team, Vanishing Paradise program staff, coalition partners, and NWF state affiliates as appropriate, develop and implement strategies to advance Mississippi River Delta restoration.
• Coordinate and lead on relevant field trips, community presentations, public meetings, sportsmen shows and other educational events on behalf of the Vanishing Paradise and Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition.
• Engage community members in earned media opportunities including op-eds, letters to the editor, blog posts, social media.
• Work with program staff to disseminate program messaging to decision-makers, opinion leaders, the news media, NWF constituents, and the general public.
• Work with Gulf communications staff to advance messaging on Mississippi River Delta restoration needs, with a particular emphasis on outdoor media.
• Ensure consistency of national hunter/angler message with Gulf Program goals.
• Contribute to social media and online advocacy efforts.
• Draft materials for publication including LTEs and op-eds.
• Work with Communications staff to develop and maintain an outdoor media contact database.

30% — Wildlife Policy. 

• In collaboration with the Vanishing Paradise team, and NWF state affiliates as appropriate, advance coastal restoration project and policy priorities, with emphasis on healthy habitat for wildlife and priorities for hunters and anglers; develop and implement strategies to benefit Gulf wildlife; and develop materials to promote those priorities.
• Provide policy expertise and guidance on coastal issues as they impact wildlife and habitat to the Vanishing Paradise team, the NWF Gulf team and the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition.
• Stay informed on relevant emerging policies, regulations, and programs, providing guidance on their potential impacts.

5% — Fundraising. 

• Assist in communicating the Gulf Program’s objectives and accomplishments to prospective and current donors, including grant reports.
• Assist in development of funding proposals and cultivation of potential program supporters.

Minimum Experience

• College degree in natural resources, political science, biological sciences, environmental studies or related field, or at least four years of equivalent successful job experience in biological science, policy, natural resource management, conservation or non-profit fields.
• An additional five years of demonstrated successful experience in fields mentioned above.
• Demonstrated success engaging with diverse stakeholders in advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with a broad range of constituencies.
• Strong background in hunting and/or fishing is essential to success in this role.
• Familiarity with conservation issues related to coastal Louisiana and Gulf Coast wildlife and ecosystems is preferred, particularly as they relate to the interests of hunters and anglers.
• Coalition and partnerships experience is preferred.

Minimum Skills:

• Self-starter with demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a team player
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop trusting relationships with diverse constituencies and communities
• Strong prioritization skills and ability to work strategically in a fast-paced environment with many partners
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Facility with all aspects of Microsoft Office, Outlook, Zoom, and Google Docs
• Excellent judgment to make decisions and respond rapidly to changing conditions and to questions posed by decisionmakers, opinion leaders, and key constituents.
• Good people skills and ability to develop trusting relationships with varied constituencies

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

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); 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 may extend beyond traditional desk work, involving but not limited to event/meeting set up, tabling, and physical activities associated with on-site event management and field tours. The position requires mobility, including walking to field sites, getting in and out of boats, walking with wagons loaded with promotional materials and giveaways to festival sites, moving boxes of materials in and out of cars, and arranging tables and chairs for events. This may involve lifting and transporting items weighing up to several pounds.

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.

Travel Requirements: 

There will be regular local, statewide, and national travel in this role; up to 20 trips per year that require at least one overnight stay. Candidate must have a valid driver’s license and reliable form of transportation for such travel.

Location and Work Mode: 

This position will be based in our South Central Regional Center office in New Orleans, LA. 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 in the office or hybrid, 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 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $68,000-$73,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 10 holidays.
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

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 hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

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