IN THIS ISSUE:
- NWF EcoLeader Spotlight: Kindra Ramos, Former NWF Intern
- Jobs and Opportunities
- Take Action: Take Action for Wildlife in Crisis
- Happenings: Get Outdoors and Come Clean for Earth!
NWF ECOLEADER SPOTLIGHT
Kindra Ramos, Former NWF Intern
Director of Communications and Outreach
Washington Trails Association
Kindra is the Director of Communications and Outreach at Washington Trails Association, where she built an outreach program to Washingtonians in order to empower people to get outside and protect natural areas for future generations. As an NWF Policy and Lobbying Intern, Kindra supported a variety of legislative initiatives.
What she’s up to now: Kindra is the Director of Communications and Outreach at Washington Trails Association. WTA is a statewide nonprofit hiking advocacy group which works to protect and promote trails across Washington State with the belief that everyone should have access to the outdoors, and that hiking can bring power to a person’s life, both personally and spiritually. WTA helps to ensure access and inspiration and empowers people to get outside and also to ensure that those experiences are around for the next generation.
Kindra started with WTA a decade ago, and she explains that, “what excited me about it was that it was an opportunity to build an outreach program. It was a small office back in Washington State, which is where my wife lived, so we kind of moved to Washington DC for the NWF internship and then moved back across the country for this job. For me, it was a chance to take what I learned about being an advocate and help hikers speak for themselves. I got to trade in my wool suit and heels for jeans and hiking boots and keep that power of democracy and put it to use for a mission I care about.”
Kindra on her NWF Experience: I think that [the importance of obtaining project-based leadership] can’t be overemphasized. You can certainly learn a lot by just being in a place and learning and observing, but actually doing something hands-on provides such a deeper understanding. It provides confidence and accomplishment that allows you to enter the work force truly ready to take on what’s next.
Read Kindra’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
Sign up to become an EcoLeader community member to access the Career Center, it’s free to join!
Climate Equity Fellow
Washington, DC
We are currently seeking a Climate Equity Fellow to join our team. The Climate Equity Fellow reports to the Community Wildlife Manager and works to meet the goals of the Climate Equity Collaborative team by supporting the day-to-day operations of CEC partnership. This will include assisting in content creation, managing online systems and websites, providing administrative support to the program team, and implementing additional tasks to fulfill the goals of the partnership. You will have significant opportunities for professional development and growth.
Wildlife Policy Specialist, National Wildlife Federation
Tampa Bay Region
NWF is seeking a Wildlife Policy Specialist to support its Gulf Program, a longstanding effort to restore the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, build back coastal land in Louisiana, and promote coastal resilience across the Gulf states for the benefit of the Gulf’s people and wildlife. The Wildlife Policy Specialist will be responsible for analyzing and communicating the impacts of various projects, programs, and policies on wildlife in the Gulf region, using best available science. The Wildlife Policy Specialist will identify opportunities to maximize benefits to Gulf wildlife through federal, state, and local programs and decision-making venues, while maintaining consistency with other NWF priorities. The Wildlife Policy Specialist will report to the Gulf Program’s Senior Manager for Science Policy, and will work with the program’s Director and team members (including staff engaged in the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition), NWF’s Texas Coast and Water Program, NWF’s Gulf state affiliate organizations, NGO coalitions, and other stakeholders to advocate for sound ecological restoration projects and programs.
Coordinator, Individual Philanthropy, National Wildlife Federation
Reston, VA (NWF Headquarters)
A primary area of focus for the Coordinator, Individual Philanthropy is centered around gift processing for the Federation’s individual giving programs. This role will be central to providing both timely and accurate processing of VIP gifts as well as the critical coordination of meaningful acknowledgements. In addition to gift processing, this position will play a crucial role in coordinating prospect development conversation amongst team leads. They will be tasked with the tracking and reporting of critical mailings, emails and outreach efforts of donor segments with whom the Federation is working to build relationships. This hybrid position is based at the Federation’s Reston, Virginia headquarters, though the ability to design a partially remote schedule is available.
*View additional job opportunities with National Wildlife Federation HERE
*View additional job opportunities with National Wildlife Federation’s state affiliate organizations HERE
TAKE ACTION
Take Action for Wildlife in Crisis
Fueled by climate change, habitat loss, and other challenges, one-third of all wildlife species in the United States are at increased risk of extinction. And birds are facing an unprecedented crisis: three billion fewer birds grace the skies than in 1970. Species like the magnificent American kestrel urgently need proactive, local conservation action before they require the costlier and more drastic emergency-room recovery efforts of an endangered species.
And here’s the good news: Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, when passed, will catalyze collaborative, on-the-ground habitat restoration projects, help with species reintroductions, tackle disease, and boost other much needed conservation efforts to match the magnitude of the wildlife crisis.
Urge your senators to fully support and help pass the Recovering America's Wildlife Act.
HAPPENINGS
Get Outdoors and Come Clean for Earth!
The National Wildlife Federation and Johnson Outdoors have teamed up to inspire people to get outdoors and take simple conservation action to help clean up our planet.
We’re calling on outdoor lovers everywhere to come together to take the Clean Earth Challenge! Join with friends, family, neighbors, classmates and co-workers in a community effort to help make our planet a healthier, happier place.
Our goal is to collect one million pieces of trash and debris that litter our beautiful land, oceans and waterways. This pollution has a devastating effect on the health of our ecosystems, wildlife and the planet. By taking the Clean Earth Challenge, you can help improve the health of our environment.
MORE JOBS/OPPORTUNITIES
North America Agroforestry Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy
US Remote; Minneapolis preferred (MN)
The North America (NA) Agroforestry Program Manager position will develop and implement strategies on behalf of the NA Agriculture Program and the NA Science Team to accelerate the widespread, market-driven adoption of agroforestry in the U.S. This position will manage a newly-awarded $60M USDA Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities grant (“Expanding Agroforestry Production & Markets for Producer Profitability and Climate Stabilization”) designed to promote regenerative agroforestry practices by incentivizing farmers, developing markets, conducting Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV), and otherwise creating the enabling conditions for the rapid growth of agroforestry practices.
Outdoor School Coordinator, Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center
Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity, OR: April-June/Sept-Oct; otherwise remote (OR)
As a year-round coordinator, your role is integral to both the launch of outdoor school and its implementation. Prior to each season, you’ll confirm bookings with schools/districts, coordinate pre-trip logistics with visiting teachers, co-hire and train educators, purchase and prepare materials, and enhance our inquiry-based and student-centered curriculum with guidance from Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, The Avarna Group equity consultants, and The BEETLES Project.
We are accepting applications until December 1, 2022.
Indiana Partner Biologist, Pollinator Partnership
Indianapolis, IN
Pollinator Partnership (P2) is looking for an experienced and passionate professional who possesses the skills to expand and enhance USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and P2 pollinator programs working as P2’s Partner Biologist in Indiana. This individual will be a full-time employee of P2, working closely with NRCS Offices and their partners. This position will provide outreach, education, and technical assistance to a diversity of private landowners and partner organizations to accelerate adoption of pollinator and other wildlife conservation practices in Indiana. The P2 Partner Biologist will work in joint capacity with NRCS and other partner agencies to promote, coordinate, and implement conservation provisions of the Federal Farm Bill as it relates to pollinator habitat on private lands. Coverage area will primarily be focused within central Indiana, but will vary based on workload and program interest.
Senior Communications Manager, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Washington, DC
WE ACT is seeking a Senior Communications Manager with a demonstrated passion for justice and equity issues for our Federal Policy Office. This individual reports to the Director of the Federal Policy Office, with a dotted line relationship to the Communications Director in WE ACT’s New York headquarters, and is a key player in the development, implementation and evaluation of traditional and digital communications programs and campaigns.
Education Intern, The Watershed Institute
Pennington, NJ
The Watershed Institute is seeking candidates to fill two Education Intern positions. The internship provides training and experience in a wide range of environmental education activities. The Education Interns work collaboratively with the education team, and reports to the Education Director. The Watershed Center, located in Pennington NJ, is LEED Platinum Certified and includes exhibit halls, classrooms and a lab, and is surrounded by an outdoor classroom of 980-acres of fields, forests, a pond and streams The Watershed Institute is committed to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color.
Sustainable Communities Program Coordinator, Washington State University
Snohomish, WA
The Sustainable Communities Program Coordinator is responsible for program management, education, community engagement, and promotion on a variety of environmental topics, with a focus on waste reduction and recycling issues. The Coordinator will create new environment and sustainability programs, as well as outreach opportunities and strategies as appropriate. This position will be the lead for the Sustainable Community Stewards program, including recruiting volunteers, facilitating their training, supervising their outreach, and collecting outcome data. The coordinator will be the primary team lead in all event and program promotion using traditional means and social media, focused in Snohomish County. The position is part of a small environment and community outreach team, involving both independent and collaborative work.
Look for the next Young Professionals Listserv issue coming in December 2022!
