IN THIS ISSUE:
- NWF EcoLeader Spotlight: Jessian Choy, NWF Fellow
- Jobs and Opportunities: Visit the NWF EcoLeaders Career Center
- Take Action: Tell Your Local Leaders to Take the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge
- Events: 6th Annual NWF EcoCareers Conference April 6 – 7, 2022
NWF ECOLEADER SPOTLIGHT
Jessian Choy
Green Purchasing and Toxics Reduction Analyst; San Francisco Department of the Environment
2001 NWF Fellow
Project: As an NWF Fellow, Jessian co-founded the Student Environmental Center at University of California, Santa Cruz co-founding the Student Environmental Center at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), helped to get thousands to vote for UCSC to commit to the Kyoto Protocol to reduce climate change and started an annual strategic planning summit with 55 students, faculty and administrators. She also laid the groundwork to give $200,000 a year to student-led sustainability projects.
Jessian’s Career Journey: Jessian co-creates laws and contracts, and comanages SF Approved, a site of green products she helped create at San Francisco Department of Environment. She also writes for Sierra magazine’s Ask Ms. Green column (also syndicated in Ms. magazine) and videos, and is a guest on Sierra's podcasts. And she serves on the board of Earth Island, which grows grassroots leaders grows grassroots leaders like Plastic Pollution Coalition and publishes the investigative Earth Island Journal. And she shares tips and tricks on how to live a greener lifestyle on her site FunAndDraconian.com
Jessian on her NWF experience: In 2001, I could've done what everyone else was doing and applied for funding to change one thing on campus, like buy recycled paper or start a composting program. Thanks to NWF, I was able to buck that trend. NWF took a risk and invested in my idea for a campus ballot initiative that eventually created a permanent fund to green everything on-campus: food, purchasing, transportation, zero waste, etc. As a result, we were able to: Bring over 40 students, faculty, and alumni to be a collective voice to create a campus plan to save money and protect our health & environment and lay the groundwork for a new student fee that eventually funded a full-time program manager to build momentum even after new leaders replaced graduating students.
Read Jessian’s full interview in our EcoLeader Top 50 Inspiration series, HERE.
What are YOU up to? We love to hear all of the exciting and inspiring things NWF alumni are investing their time in. Let us know (cochranc@nwf.org) and you could be featured in the “Alumni Spotlight.”
JOBS/OPPORTUNITIES
Be sure to check out the NWF EcoLeaders Career Center for even more career and professional development resources including career sector outlooks, employer interviews, webinar archives and more! www.nwfecoleaders.org/careercenter
Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator, National Wildlife Federation
New Orleans, LA
NWF is seeking a Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator based in New Orleans, LA (due to COVID-19 all NWF employees are working remotely until further notice). The Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator is responsible for leading sportsmen education and engagement on the Restore the Mississippi River Delta (MRD) campaign. Through strategic communication and outreach efforts, the Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator develops relationships and increases engagement with individual hunters, anglers, sportsmen's groups, businesses, and other conservation organizations to support restoration in the Mississippi River Delta.
HECHO Arizona Field Coordinator, National Wildlife Federation
Phoenix, AZ
Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) was created in 2013 to help fulfill our duty to conserve and protect our public lands for future generations. In 2017, HECHO joined forces with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) through a unique and mutually beneficial partnership built upon values of inclusion and equity and a commitment to elevating underrepresented perspectives as part of our collective conservation missions. Initially reporting to the HECHO Executive Director, the Field Coordinator will be responsible for deepening and cultivating authentic partnerships, and developing targeted outreach strategies, tactics, tools, and trainings that advance HECHO’s policy and strategic priorities in Arizona.
Membership and Program Coordinator, Choose Clean Water Coalition
Annapolis, MD
For 12 years, the Choose Clean Water Coalition has been responsible for ensuring the coordination of policy, advocacy, and messaging that advance the goals of the Chesapeake Bay restoration community. The Membership and Program Coordinator for the Choose Clean Water Coalition will be responsible for the day to day support of our more than 270 Coalition members across the watershed. This position will serve the important role of ensuring our membership is connected and engaged with the Coalition on a regular basis.
*View additional job opportunities with National Wildlife Federation HERE
*View additional job opportunities with National Wildlife Federation’s state affiliate organizations HERE
TAKE ACTION
Tell Your Local Leaders to Take the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge
Eastern populations of monarch butterflies have declined by 90% and western populations by 99% in recent years. Habitat loss, pesticides and climate change are driving this shocking decline.
By taking the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, your local leaders can commit to uniting your community around saving the imperiled monarch. Send a message today urging your mayor or head of local or Tribal government to take the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge.
Please urge your municipal leader to take the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge today.
EVENTS
The Great Grow Along Virtual Garden Festival
March 11 – 20, 2022
Online
Great grow along 2022 is a free 10-day virtual festival connecting gardeners worldwide with the influencers, taste-makers and cutting-edge content of today's gardening world
New Horizons in Conservation Conference – Yale School of the Environment
March 29 – 31, 2022
Virtual
The annual New Horizons in Conservation Conference is an opportunity to understand the status of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the conservation field and assess critical gaps.
The Corps Network Annual Conference
April 4 – 6, 2022
Online
In 1933, as the United States faced a crisis of environmental degradation, our nation’s leaders established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to put young men to work restoring America’s natural resources. Today, as we face a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change, we once again call on the model of the CCC to engage young Americans in efforts to bolster community resilience and stem the negative impacts of our changing climate.
The original CCC completed important work, but a CCC for the next generation must reflect the new America, one focused on equity and community input.
The Corps Network’s 2022 National Conference is a virtual event where we will build that vision for the next generation’s CCC. Join us as we work together to ensure the Civilian Climate Corps is built from a foundation of strength.
6th Annual NWF EcoCareers Conference
April 6 -7, 2002
Virtual
This annual event prepares students and young professionals for wildlife and sustainability careers by providing information on the latest EcoCareer trends from leading analysts and employers, clarifying career-enhancing credentials and academic offerings, and formulating a better understanding of the competencies employers seek in the green sector.
Check out https://www.nwfecoleaders.org/conference for up-to-date information as the agenda and list of speakers gets confirmed. You can also view all of the recordings from past EcoCareers Conferences on this page!
MORE JOBS/OPPORTUNITIES
Sustainability Program Manager – Climate Resilience, County of San Mateo
Redwood City, CA
The County of San Mateo’s Office of Sustainability (OOS) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sustainability Program Manager – Climate Resilience to lead the Climate Resilience team. This team is responsible for implementing programs in climate change adaptation; stormwater compliance and green infrastructure; water conservation; and community, volunteer, and business education and engagement. In addition, the team develops policies, conducts countywide climate change adaptation and resilience planning, and performs studies to synthesize information on climate change impacts such as sea level rise, precipitation, heat, and wildfire.
Climate Campaigns Director, Green America
Washington, DC
The Climate Campaigns Director is part of Green America’s Corporate Responsibility Programs team, which works to educate consumers about various social and environmental issues and to push large companies to improve their practices. The Climate Campaigns Director will primarily work on Green America’s climate campaigns, with a focus on corporate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate Campaigns Director will lead Green America’s various campaigns focused on reducing emissions from various sources in several sectors and addressing environmental racism and impacts on frontline communities.
Permian Gulf Coast Coalition Coordinator, Earthworks
The Permian Basin or Gulf Coast regions, within Texas, southeastern New Mexico, or Louisiana
The Permian Gulf Coast Coalition (PGCC) is a coalition of more than two dozen grassroots, Indigenous, and ally organizations building power to challenge one of the largest climate threats on earth: the rapidly expanding web of oil and gas wells, pipelines, petrochemical plants, and export terminals from the Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico to the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.
The PGCC seeks to hire a coordinator to help advance our coalition’s mission, by supporting the functioning of our coalition’s steering committee and working groups, recruiting and supporting coalition members, and shepherding the implementation of our campaign strategy.
Youth Trail Program Coordinator, Washington Trails Association
Seattle, WA
Washington Trails Association is seeking a Youth Trail Program Coordinator who loves working with youth, and shares our commitment to trail stewardship and inclusion in the outdoors. The Youth Trail Program Coordinator works with WTA staff, community groups, families and local Land Managers to develop opportunities across Washington for youth to build trails and community. The primary responsibilities of this role are to coordinate single- and multi-day trail work opportunities for youth, steward community partnerships, and to lead trail work parties as needed. This is a full-time, non-exempt position based in WTA’s Seattle office that reports to the Youth Trail Program Manager.
National Communications Director, Trout Unlimited
Remote
The National Communications Director is responsible for leading communications efforts to support high-priority national campaigns; executing multimedia storytelling projects to promote TU’s work and mission; and managing TU’s national blog and newsletter. Reporting to the Associate VP for Communications, this staffer develops and drives creative and effective communications strategies to advance TU’s conservation goals. Working on multiple issues and topics, the director drives advocacy action, boosts the TU brand, and helps engage volunteers, supporters, partners, donors, and new audiences.
Chispa TX Digital Organizer, League of Conservation Voters
Corpus Christi, TX
LCV is hiring for a Chispa Texas Digital Organizer who will integrate field organizing with online action and work with the Chispa TX Program Director to oversee the online presence for Chispa Texas. The focus of this role is on building, engaging and growing our bilingual online community via social media, email, mobile, online advocacy, and other Conservation Voter Movement tools. The Digital Organizer will use digital tools to advance our campaigns and strategy in the field and online, to mobilize and grow our statewide base of volunteers and supporters around our organizing campaigns.
Look for the next Young Professionals Listserv issue coming in April 2022!
