Conservation Advocate

Environment America is hiring a Conservation Advocate in Madison, WI, to lead environmental protection campaigns. The role involves policy development, advocacy, coalition building, communications, and fundraising. Candidates should have a passion for the environment, at least 2 years of advocacy experience, and strong communication skills. The position emphasizes grassroots organizing and relationship-building with decision-makers to promote clean energy and conservation efforts in Wisconsin.
Environment America is seeking a Conservation Advocate in Madison, WI, to lead campaigns focused on environmental protection in Wisconsin. Responsibilities include policy development, advocacy, coalition building, campaign strategy, communications, fundraising, and recruitment. Candidates should have a passion for the environment, at least 2 years of advocacy or organizing experience, and strong communication skills. The role emphasizes grassroots organizing and building relationships with decision-makers.
Wisconsin Environment is a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization working to tackle the most profound problem of our time: a way of living that is destroying the natural world. We are seeking a Conservation Advocate to run our campaigns to conserve and protect Wisconsin’s special places, defend the wildlife that call our state home, move beyond single use plastics and promote clean energy solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Our Conservation Advocate will lead our efforts to protect the places that make Wisconsin a special place to live. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
• Program: Participate in policy development, research and messaging to determine our priorities and policy positions for environmental protection in Wisconsin.
• Advocacy and coalition building: Bring environmental problems and solutions to the attention of decision-makers – including federal, state and local officials with influence in Wisconsin. Develop appropriate messages and materials for making the case for our policy solutions to decision-makers. Build relationships with key players in the state, the region and at the federal level. Identify, reach out to and work with partners who can help us win our campaigns, including unlikely allies who might agree with us on one issue, even if we disagree on other issues.
• Campaign strategy: Develop plans to win on our campaigns. Assess opportunities for building political support for our agenda through coalition-building, grassroots organizing, media coverage, endorsements and message development.
• Communications: Serve as the public spokesperson for our campaigns through media events, press releases, editorial board meetings and other outreach with a goal of building name recognition for the organization, educating the public about our issues, and building and demonstrating support for our positions.
• Fundraising and grassroots support: Write grant proposals, meet with and build relationships with foundation staff and our donors, all to bring more resources to our campaigns to protect our environment.
• Recruitment and training: Recruit and train new interns and volunteers to increase our impact and build more power. Participate in recruitment of new staff.

Qualifications

You are:
• Passionate about the environment and using the power of grassroots organizing to win campaigns.
• A campaign advocate or grassroots organizer with at least 2 years of advocacy or organizing experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience.
• An effective communicator with excellent writing and public speaking skills. Experience getting traditional and digital media coverage in previous work is a plus.
• Creative and effective at solving complex problems; a strategic thinker who can take advantage of new opportunities.
• A people person and good listener with a track record of successful access-building; willing and interested in working with people who think differently than you.
• Well-organized and able to work on multiple legislative and administrative proposals at once.

Additional helpful experience:
• Experience in the state legislature or other government office, or with an environmental or public health advocacy organization is a plus but not required.
• Fundraising experience, particularly in grant-seeking from charitable foundations.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting annual compensation range for someone with 2-5 years of relevant experience is $38,000-$42,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. Wisconsin Environment offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location

Madison, WI preferred. We will also consider other locations in Wisconsin.

Why work with Wisconsin Environment? Check out 10 reasons: https://wisconsinenvironment.org/why-work-with-us/

About Wisconsin Environment

Wisconsin Environment is part of Environment America. Environment America tackles the most profound problem of our time: a way of living that is destroying the natural world.

We’re advocates for energy conservation and renewable power, so we can keep oil in the ground and stop burning fossil fuels. We’re champions of plastic reduction, so nothing we use for a few minutes is allowed to pollute our oceans for centuries. And we’re defenders of wildlife and wild places, both for their own sake as well as the awe and wonder they bring to our lives.

Environment America’s national network of 30 state environmental groups work to improve our quality of life by reducing the pollution and other harms of how we produce, consume and dispose of more and more stuff. And we do it one step at a time, by winning results for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife, open spaces, and a livable climate that make a tangible difference in people's lives and our environment.

Our Mission and Values

Wisconsin Environment and Environment America are part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit https://environmentamerica.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Wisconsin Environment is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.