DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Senior Manager, Field Conservation Programs

GRADE:  25

SALARY: up to $71,000

FLSA:  Exempt

DIVISION/SITE:  Headquarters, Washington, DC

DEPARTMENT:   Field Conservation

REPORTS TO:      Vice President, Field Conservation Programs

LAST REVISED:   February 20, 2018

BASIC SUMMARY:

This professional-level position is responsible for working with the Vice President of Field Conservation Programs (FCP) to ensure the efficient and effective oversight and support of Defenders’ FCP.  The Senior Manager serves as a liaison/advocate for field office staff, in addition to coordinating and promoting Defenders’ wildlife coexistence program work to protect imperiled species through activities intended to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. The Senior Manager works closely with the Vice President of Field Conservation in developing and coordinating conservation strategies, campaigns, workplans, publications, communications and budgets. Based in Washington, D.C., they work closely with field conservation staff in the regional offices and with science, legal, communications, integrated marketing, development, finance and government relations staff in Defenders’ headquarters office.  A qualified candidate is an expert at managing, analyzing, and communicating program goals with an ability to advocate those goals to government policy makers. The right candidate must be an energetic self-starter driven by opportunities to help build social acceptance of imperiled wildlife species.

This position plays a lead role in expanding the public profile of Defenders’ wildlife coexistence work, integrating Defenders’ multiple, distinct on-site coexistence activities into a more unified, consistent program. The Senior Manager also oversees Defenders’ wildlife coexistence efforts at the federal level in Washington, D.C.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic plans and annual work plans for Defenders’ national wildlife coexistence program, contributing to the achievement of key goals and benchmarks under those plans.
• Provide a national perspective on the development and implementation of in-region wildlife conservation program activities to ensure consistency in internal policy and organizational advocacy.
• Assist and advise the Vice President of Field Conservation Programs in problem-solving regarding Field Conservation Programs.
• In coordination with finance, development and the field directors, track and manage FCP annual budgets, including restricted grants and contributions.
• Influence and enhance federal wildlife coexistence policies regarding imperiled species by agencies such as USDA Wildlife Services, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service.
• Facilitate internal wildlife coexistence communications and, in collaboration with other FCP and communications staff, develop wildlife coexistence-related advocacy materials and collateral
• Assist field staff and others with development of public comments, letters, litigation, lobbying, and alerts related to imperiled species coexistence activities.
• Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice strategies into Defenders’ FCP work.
• Support field staff with assessing sustainable wildlife coexistence models, protocols, evaluation tools, data collection, criteria, funding, and more as appropriate.
• Engage and partner with a network of nonlethal wildlife coexistence practitioners.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:  Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) or equivalent in conservation biology, ecology, political science, environmental planning, land or natural resource management policy, law, or other related discipline; advanced degree preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the listed education qualifications.
Experience: 7+ years of experience in wildlife conservation issues. Demonstrated knowledge of natural resource issues and policy, including familiarity with addressing human-wildlife conflict. Experience working with federal, state and tribal resource agencies and private landowners.
Other: Demonstrated ability to engage with senior leaders in the conservation community, federal and state agencies, agricultural interests and rural communities.

1. Experience overseeing, contributing to, and/or implementing programs to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
2. Demonstrated ability to negotiate with representatives across interest groups to forge agreements on complex human-wildlife conflict issues; demonstrated ability to work productively in a lead role in building collaborations with non-traditional partners.
3. Demonstrated ability to lead diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities; to anticipate policy issues impacting wildlife and make recommendations to senior managers.
4. Knowledge of non-profit budgeting and grant tracking.
5. Demonstrated ability to elevate public awareness of issues and build a constituency for solutions.
6. Excellent verbal communications skills with the ability to conduct presentations for diverse audiences.
7. Demonstrated ability to work independently to initiate project ideas as well as to manage them through to completion; track record and professional judgment to work independently and with minimal supervision.
8. Ability to work constructively as a member of a team; excellent interpersonal skills and judgment with the ability to work productively with both colleagues and those with differing viewpoints.
9. Strong research and writing skills with attention to detail; excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
10. Demonstrated awareness of and experience with the concerns and needs of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
11. Ability to respond constructively to unexpected change and to exercise appropriate judgment in complex situations.
12. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends; some travel required.
13. Personal interest in and strong commitment to conservation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer and communicate with others while doing so.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

General office and field working conditions, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

VALUES AND DIVERSITY:

Defenders of Wildlife is a national, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. Our employees work in an environment that is inclusive and honors each of our unique perspectives and backgrounds. We believe that the conservation of biological diversity is best advanced by the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs and cultures.  We strive toward a collective goal of including all people in the conservation of our Nation’s wildlife and wild places.

Visit Our Values and Diversity page to learn more about who we are and how we operate.