ABOUT THE CENTER
The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, activism and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive.
We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Center is seeking a Policy Specialist who is a dynamic individual and creative advocate with strong analytic, oral and written communication skills to support the Center’s many campaigns to protect our oceans, and the marine wildlife that depend upon them, from unsustainable and destructive resource extraction activities. The policy specialist will also work to defend against legislative efforts to weaken or dismantle ocean and marine mammals’ protections by Congress. Additionally, the ocean policy specialist will support the Center’s Alaska program ocean and terrestrial conservation campaigns.
The policy specialist will analyze and respond to congressional legislation related to ocean protection, marine mammals, Alaska conservation and fisheries, and will work to defeat legislation designed to increase extraction and resource development. In particular, the position will focus on impacts to threatened and endangered marine species, and more generally threats to the oceans including unsustainable fisheries, offshore oil and gas development, deep-sea mining, offshore renewable energy, plastics, ocean acidification, and climate change. The policy specialist will engage in coalition work, high level campaigning, and communicating the Center’s position on the protection of the marine environment to the media and public through press releases, op-eds, fact sheets, reports and briefing documents. This position will play an important role in elevating the Center’s work to both defend and effectively implement our nation’s core environmental laws and to highlight the connections between the protection of our oceans and solutions for the global extinction crisis.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Track, analyze and respond to legislation related to public lands under all of the public lands laws including the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, NEPA and other laws, with a particular focus on emergent issues related to resource extraction and/or dismantling of protections for the marine environment United States..
- Work to defeat anti-environmental policies by administrative agencies including the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, subagencies within the Department of the Interior, the Coast Guard and the Department of Defense. Improve and strengthen polices to better protect marine wildlife and biodiversity, and limit pollution into the oceans.
- Support existing Center campaigns to advance regulatory/administrative improvements in management of marine resources, marine wildlife, and reduce impacts from unsustainable resource extraction in marine waters. Support other key Center campaigns that have a national political nexus.
- Develop high-impact rapid response press releases, reports, and other materials to educate the public on policies to improve protections for the oceans, protect healthy marine wildlife population, and move towards a more sustainable and environmentally just management of all ocean resources.
- Engage environmental justice groups, religious organizations, and other non-traditional allies to help strengthen ocean protections.
- Engage the public through action alerts and other campaign tools to ensure that political leaders hear constituent voices in support of the correct solutions to the climate crisis.
- Conduct oversight and watchdog activities of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Department of Interior, and other federal agencies, including through use of the Freedom of Information Act.
- Assist with campaign actions on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund to leverage political power and champion progressive environmental legislators.
- Assist with organizing people for congressional hearings and events in Washington DC to defend key environmental priorities.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
- Advanced degree required; law degree preferred.
- 1-4 years of demonstrated experience preferred.
- Knowledge of marine resource management laws implemented by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Department of the Interior and the other agencies. General knowledge of all other conservation and environmental laws, including Endangered Species Act preferred.
- Understanding of and commitment to environmental justice issues required, experience preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection and public interest work.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, and analytic abilities required. Ability to be a self-starter and proactively identify additional areas of engagement strongly preferred.
- Experience lobbying at the federal or state level preferred.
- A passion for and knowledge of the natural world, biodiversity, wildlife and waters preferred.
- Ability to work as part of a team, and to coordinate closely with attorneys and scientists required.
- Good sense of humor in the face of hostile, irrational politicians while juggling competing priorities preferred.
- Ability to work 40+ hours per week.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Occasional travel needed.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
This is not a complete description of all workplace conditions, and conditions are subject to change per the Organization’s discretion.
Cognitive
Ability to process and analyze information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Exchange accurate information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Communicate and express oneself with others: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Interaction with other colleagues: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Interaction with the public/co-collaborators: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Physical
Reading (ingest data): [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Working on a computer: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Typing: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Writing by hand: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Sitting: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Walking: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Standing: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Lift/Carry 0-25 lbs: [X] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Hiking: [X] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Climbing up or down stairs: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Bending: [X] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Squatting: [X] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Reaching overhead: [X] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Repetitive motions: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Ability to drive: [] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Location Conditions
In person required (versus remote work): [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently
Travel required: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Night or weekend work: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Work in outdoor conditions: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
BENEFITS (Subject to change—see Handbook for more details)
For regular staff working 30+ hours a week
- Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.
- Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.
- Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.
- Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
- Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long-Term Disability provided for all staff.
- Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.
- Discounted premiums for pet discount program.
For all regular staff
- 403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
- Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
- Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
- Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave and even pet caretaker leave.
- After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.
- Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.
JEDAI STATEMENT
The Center for Biological Diversity deeply values, and is committed to sustaining and promoting, both biological and cultural diversity. We welcome, embrace and respect diversity of people, identities and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. The Center believes staff and board diversity is critical to saving life on Earth.
We are an equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply:
Please apply online by submitting a cover letter, resume, and reference list. The position will remain open until filled. No telephone calls, please. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
