Federal Public Lands Program Manager

Bonsai Leadership Group is excited to support the Western Conservation Foundation's search to find their next Federal Public Lands Program Manager.

 

ABOUT WESTERN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
Founded in 2005, Western Conservation Foundation (WCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Denver, Colorado. Alongside our 501(c)(4) advocacy organization Western Conservation Action, Western Conservation Foundation provide grants to nonprofits to support their public education and lobbying activities that build stronger leaders to protect the West’s land, air, and water.

WCF is distinguished by their ability to be crafty, nimble, entrepreneurial, tenacious, and synergistic. They are game-changers who put a premium on turning new ideas into action and effectively educating the decision-makers whoinfluence conservation policies in the West. If ideas #1, 2, and 3 don’t pan out, they keep at it until they find a way to make an impact. WCF is committed to changing the public lands policy and advocacy landscape by supporting the power, voices, and visibility of historically underrepresented groups.

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Deputy Director of the Federal Public Lands Program, the politically savvy Washington DC-based Federal Lands Program Manager will be responsible for building stronger leaders in support of federal public lands conservation policies, primarily by developing and managing a strategic philanthropic portfolio of conservation-related grants and contracts. The Federal Lands Program Manager will strategically amplify the voice of grantees (especially those in frontline communities) and other key stakeholders to move decision-makers to protect the West’s air, land, and water. Additionally, this position will work closely with the Director of Government Relations on Congressional and Presidential Administration-related activities to positively change the national debate on public lands and advocacy to achieve better policy outcomes from Washington.  

 

The Federal Public Lands Program Manager will be responsible for the following:

 

Program Management

• Identify and recruit racially diverse grantees and consultants to support the overarching programmatic strategy that encourages elected and appointed leaders to take increasingly strong public positions and concrete actions in support of protecting public lands.
• Engage grantees, public relations consultants, and partners from racially diverse and influential constituencies to amplify their voices and support their work to educate decision-makers, the press, and the public.
• Collaborate with grantees to develop metrics of success and deliverables for grant proposals. Work with national grantees to troubleshoot solutions to any roadblocks that they encounter.
• Oversee and ensure effective execution of campaign strategy, including rapid response tactics, long-term strategies, and a deep understanding of the motivations of key decision makers and who are the most effective messengers.
• Fund and provide technical support to grantees for creative and impactful paid and earned media initiatives that raise the saliency of conservation issues and build public support.
• Collaborate across the Federal Public Lands team and WCF’s other three program areas on developing innovative and creative campaigns.
• Develop and closely track annual budgets, ensuring that WCF funds are deployed efficiently, accurately tracked and spent in legally appropriate ways.

 

Government Relations

• Assist the Director of Government Relations in developing legislative and administrative strategies to advance public lands issues, responding to requests from decision-makers, developing research to support policy proposals, and aggressively track legislative and administrative processes that impact WCF’s policy goals.
• Build strong relationships with government decision-makers (principals and staff) in the public lands space to achieve conservation objectives.
• Manage grantee participation in legislative and administration fly-in and lobby meetings.
• Attend Congressional meetings and other local meetings or policy events as needed.

 

EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

A successful candidate should have at least 5 years of demonstrated experience in the following areas:

• Strategic Planning: Researching challenges, proposing creative strategies, and effectively structuring philanthropic investments to produce results that would not have been delivered without your
  
  
• Project management: Overseeing and structuring projects, delivering quality end-products on or ahead of schedule and within budget. Pivoting when necessary to achieve conservation wins.
  
  
• External relations: Acting as an effective ambassador, building connections, and strengthening relationships with outside consultants, grantees, and Working with coalitions effectively.
  
  
• Communication: Producing strong written documents, editing effectively, and engaging in effective verbal communication within a low drama/high impact Proactively sharing key info with the right people at the right time, soliciting ideas and info from colleagues, and working as a team to advance goals.
  
  
• Attention to detail: Prioritizing administrative responsibilities and effectively navigating nonprofit legal and logistical Noticing and fixing errors that others might overlook while acknowledging mistakes and turning them into learning opportunities. Leaving things better than you found them.
  
  
• Commitment to social justice and racial equity: Ensuring your work strengthens historically underrepresented voices and visibility in public lands decision-making and advocacy. Continuously learning about the role of race, gender, and other identities in shaping policy and raising your understanding of the historical context for racial inequity and its present-day implications.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strategic thinker who brings political acumen, a campaign mentality and an understanding of DC policymaking.
  
  
• Familiarity with the political and conservation landscape and legislative and policy analysis experience on public lands and related issues. 
  
  
• Knowledge of conservation policy issues, prior experience in a legislative environment, and prior experience in a nonprofit organization.
  
  
• Experience designing impactful public relations campaigns including earned and paid media.

 

TRAVEL

Occasional travel required – Approximately 10-15%