Are you an experienced or aspiring environmental campaigner and/or forest or public lands advocate? Do you want to build people power in Southeast Alaska to advocate for legislative change at the Federal level? Want to help us hold agencies and decision makers accountable to enhance and preserve the largest intact, carbon-dense, temperate rainforests left on earth? Do you envision a future that encourages and celebrates community resilience, national forest restoration, and recreation and tourism opportunities in lieu of industrial development? If so, we want to talk to you!
The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) is seeking a Federal Campaign Manager to coordinate and lead our forest conservation and federal campaign work at SEACC. The Federal Campaign Manager reports to the Executive Director and manages SEACC’s work on National Forest lands as well as all federal rulemaking and legislation that affects Southeast Alaska. The Federal Campaign Manager will work collaboratively with other campaign and communications staff at SEACC to accomplish our goals.
What You’ll Do:
The Federal Campaign Manager will spend a majority of their time working on federal lands issues related to the Tongass National Forest, particularly the upcoming Tongass Land Management Plan revision, and also work on other federal land management issues, such as watchdogging permitting from mining. The Federal Campaign Manager role includes the potential for lobbying and periodic travel to Washington, D.C. as well as regular travel around Southeast Alaska. The role breaks down to about 50% program strategy and implementation, and 50% coalition and external partner relationship management. Travel and afterwork and on weekends is expected to be about 10-15%.
Program Development and Implementation:
Work with the Executive Director and Communications Director to complete, manage and periodically refine SEACC’s Tongass National Forest strategy;
Track Federal public comment periods (primarily on but not limited to the Tongass National Forest), identifying the most strategic opportunities for technical comments and public action alerts;
Lead efforts to organize and engage the public to influence policy, decision-makers, and federal agencies. This will be done by working with volunteers to implement grassroots and grasstops tactics both in-person and digitally, using social media, our WordPress-hosted website and other digital engagement tools like Nationbuilder and New/Mode;
Participate in public processes such as the Tongass Land Management Plan revision on behalf of SEACC and our followers;
Work with the SEACC team and SEACC’s legal partners to address federal timber sales and other proposed actions, advocating for beneficial management practices and against detrimental public-land-related legislation;
Advocate for land protections at the federal level by giving presentations, lobbying, and meeting with government officials;
Provide material to the communications team for Tongass National Forest related content.
Coordination with partners:
Coordinate and/or participate in and help lead regional, statewide, and national coalition and partnership efforts to protect the Tongass National Forest and help develop a new vision for the future of our region;
Work with the our staff to continue to improve and grow SEACC’s efforts around Indigenous engagement and outreach;
Coordinate with local communities, Tribal governments and grassroots groups to address federal management concerns where it aligns with SEACC values and campaign goals.
Who You Are
We are looking for a people-person ready to organize with energy and enthusiasm and excited to approach interesting, sticky problems with a positive attitude. A self-starter comfortable stepping up to lead coalitions who is able to develop and implement land conservation campaigns to protect Southeast Alaska’s temperate rainforest, working alongside and in support of our Alaska Native partners, local community members, and conservation partners.
Fundamentally, we want someone who loves making good things happen, directly and through coordinating and working with others. Southeast Alaska has a unique social landscape and the conservation movement has a complicated (and at times problematic) regional history. Cultural competency to navigate this complex space is important, as are good listening skills!
More specifically, you will be or have most of the following qualifications:
A background in environmental policy, and/or grassroots or grasstops campaigns;
Professional experience or study in forest conservation, forest science, forest-related advocacy, forestry, or biology.
A forest-related degree is not required for this position, but relevant experience is This could include experience working for Alaska Native organizations engaging in forestry or forest conservation, or work for the Forest Service, in the forestry industry, in restoration, climate policy, natural resource economics, or educational or professional background in conservation, the biological sciences, law or policy;
An effective communicator (written and oral), able to quickly understand, translate, and communicate problems and policy solutions that the general public can understand and engage in.
This includes a background, comfort, or interest in learning to communicate with the media, including as an occasional spokesperson;
A proactive and strong problem solver with demonstrated people skills, experience untangling tough social issues and working to bring people together and empower SEACC, our partners, and more importantly the public in effective advocacy for our shared conservation objectives;
Commitment to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, with demonstrated successes in previous work and self-awareness of where you need to grow. You work effectively with a diverse team and partners, and act proactively to spot issues of equity and inclusion and develop practical solutions.
An excellent time manager comfortable planning, prioritizing, troubleshooting, and moving tasks forward while coordinating in all directions, especially across lines of difference (by building trust and rapport through warmth, humility, optimism, humor, etc.);
Interest in and desire to work with a wide variety of people throughout Southeast Alaska. SEACC’s work takes us to communities throughout our region, so a genuine interest in the people and places of Southeast Alaska, and an ability to sustain a high level of energy and engagement over community visits lasting several days is required;
Comfort outdoors and in communities – SEACC staff travel in small planes, skiffs, larger boats, and by foot, in addition to traveling by commercial planes. The Program Manager will visit small mill sites, old-growth stands, and remote communities while in communities, largely staying in SEACC supporters’ homes when we travel. Flexibility, adaptability, and good houseguest etiquette are key requirements for this role;
Knowledge and interest in Southeast Alaska Indigenous language, culture, and communities. The Program Manager connects and builds relationships with Native groups, Tribal representatives, and Indigenous community members and leaders to further conservation and equity objectives. Your understanding of, and willingness to learn, cultural protocols, language, and knowledge systems supports the outcomes that best fit our region. Knowledge of, and/or willingness to learn LingÃt, Xaad Kil, or Smʼalgyax improves connection to local Indigenous ways of being.
We know there is not one ideal candidate who has all of these traits, so if you have a mix of interests, skills, and experience related to the above – and a passion for this work – please don’t let a specific gap in your strengths for this role stop you from applying or reaching out. We encourage candidates who have at least 75% of the above qualifications to apply.
