Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The NWF’s mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
The Environmental Justice, Health and Community Resilience and Revitalization Program is committed to unraveling systems of oppression to achieve healthy, sustainable, and just communities by addressing environmental injustices that have overburdened low-income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous people by using our resources, cultivating strong partnerships, and prioritizing on-the-ground solutions that communities find value in.
To support our ability to connect frontline and fence-line communities with decision-makers on a national and international scale, we seek to hire an Associate Vice President for the Environmental Justice, Health and Community Resilience and Revitalization team. The AVP will serve as an internal leader, and a thought leader to the Vice President, and as a proxy when necessary.
The AVP will play a critical role in shaping the direction and impact of our environmental justice work. This position will work closely with the Vice President and other senior leaders at NWF to develop and implement strategic plans, build partnerships, and oversee programmatic and operational activities. This position will supervise and support all staff in the program. The AVP will also serve as a key representative of our organization in external settings in the absence of the Vice President.
Principle Duties (major areas of responsibility):
Strategic Planning & Visioning
Develop and implement strategic plans to advance our program’s mission and goals.
Collaborate with the Vice President and other senior leaders at NWF to identify and pursue new opportunities for partnership, programming, and funding.
Stay up to date on trends and best practices in environmental justice and related fields and apply them to our work.
Leadership
Provide leadership and guidance to programmatic and operational teams, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategies.
Represent our organization in external settings, such as conferences, media interviews, and policy forums in the absence of the Vice President
In conjunction with the Vice President, engage with partner organizations, funders, government officials, media contacts, and other diverse stakeholders to build relationships and leverage resources.
Foster a culture of excellence, equity, inclusion, collaboration, and innovation across the program.
Lead and consult with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council on a regular basis to ensure the insights and perspectives of council members are integrated into the EJ program and across the Federation.
Program Implementation, Evaluation and Management
With the Vice President, manage the all staff – current and future, as identified
Support all staff members, including providing mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
Guide strategy and work planning processes, with assistance from the Program Managers, and lead performance and impact management to ensure that the program meets its measures of success.
Monitor and evaluate programmatic and operational activities to ensure that they are achieving intended outcomes and contributing to organizational goals.
In conjunction with the Vice President, ensure that the program funding streams and grant agreements align with its values, theory of change and strategic plan.
Serve as an integral member of program grants and funding committees and groups, including grant oversight where warranted.
Other duties, as appropriate.
Qualifications:
Master’s degree in environmental studies, public policy, or related field required along with a minimum of 6 years demonstrated leadership and managerial experience leading a team.
Deep commitment to and experience with environmental and climate justice
Outstanding administrative and organizational skills, with a successful track record in managing multiple projects simultaneously, setting priorities, and keen analytic, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, partnership development, and fundraising for guiding rapid and significant programmatic growth, change and transformation, and investment in people and systems aligned with mission and values.
Experience managing collaborative, cross-functional teams, with an ability to provide mentorship, feedback, evaluation, and professional development opportunities to inspire team members to innovate and achieve high impact.
Expertise in developing collaborative, productive, respectful relationships with leaders and organizations representing grassroots, community-based organizations that integrate a culture of feedback and accountability.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to identify and address complex issues, focusing on public policy.
Ability to ensure the team has a deep level of discernment in identifying high impact and strategic action, from the program planning level to the daily decision-making level.
A servant leader and communicator with a deep commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion as organizational practice and culture.
Excellent conflict-resolution skills with an ability to prioritize, and collaborate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and manage difficult situations.
Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills.
Experience with results-based accountability frameworks, like DARCcI, Airtable and/or other tracking and measurement tools
A clear and present sense of emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills, including strong interpersonal skills, a sense of humor, empathy, grace, compassion, and cultural humility.
Motivated by and dedicated to advancing the principles of racial justice and equity in addressing climate change and environmental justice effectively.
Maintains a core ethos of excellence and growth in developing personally and professionally
This position pays $120,000 to $135,000, commensurate upon experience.