Defenders of Wildlife is Hiring a Climate Adaptation Policy Analyst

Defenders of Wildlife is hiring a Climate Adaptation Policy Analyst! This professional-level position will contribute to Defenders of Wildlife’s strategic goal of ensuring effective climate change policies and practices to conserve wildlife, with a focus on animals and plants listed under the Endangered Species Act, key species and focal landscapes. The incumbent will engage with federal departments and agencies to advance wildlife adaptation science and strategies in national forests plans, national wildlife refuge comprehensive conservation plans, resource management plans, and other public planning processes for projects with major habitat impacts. The Policy Analyst for Climate Change Adaptation will also collaborate with Defenders’ Field Conservation offices to develop and implement state, tribal, and regional strategies for habitat conservation and connectivity that are critical to climate adaptation, and integrate efforts with Defenders’ other policy program priorities led by our Government Relations, Conservation Law, Communications and other departments.

Essential duties include:

• Engage in public land and natural resources management and similar conservation planning processes.
• Advocate to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to ensure that the threat of climate change is weighed appropriately in listing, management and recovery planning for endangered and threatened species.
• Identify and promote the best available scientific information on climate change and wildlife adaptation to federal, state, tribal and local governments to incorporate that information in climate adaptation planning, policies and strategies.
• Analyze and draft technical comments in response to proposed regulatory changes, administrative policy proposals and project-level actions affecting wildlife and habitat climate change adaptation.
• Analyze proposed legislation, and work with Defenders’ Government Relations staff and partners to educate Congressional offices on climate change adaptation for wildlife and habitats. Assist in identifying legislative champions and coordinating messaging and outreach to federal legislators and their staff to advance a progressive climate and conservation agenda for wildlife.
• Closely coordinate engagement on climate adaptation and wildlife conservation issues with relevant Field Conservation offices and other key staff.
• Research, write, and/or edit materials on climate change and wildlife, educate and mobilize Defenders’ members and activists, and communicate to diverse audiences Defenders’ position on proposed policy and legislative initiatives, including but not limited to reports, website content, blogs, factsheets, testimony and other publications.
• Represent Defenders in public meetings, hearings, news media, conferences, coalitions, and in general communications with public officials, legislators, the media, Defenders’ membership, donors, and the public to further Defenders’ departmental and organizational objectives.
• Work with Development staff to raise operating funds for Defenders’ Landscape Conservation department.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

For more information about those position including qualifications, expectations, and salary visit the Defenders of Wildlife website.