Denver, CO and Missoula, MT

Position Title: Sr. Manager Wildlife Conflict Resolution

Organization: National Wildlife Federation

Location: Denver, CO and Missoula, MT

Position Overview:  NWF is seeking a Sr. Manager, Wildlife Conflict Resolution to provide leadership for scaling-up NWF’s Wildlife Conflict Resolution program and to develop, implement, and advance conservation initiatives that reduce conflicts between domestic livestock and wildlife in the American West, with a focus on grazing allotment retirements on public lands. This position will support the implementation of the National Wildlife Federation’s organizational strategic plan and Equity and Justice Strategic Plan, with an emphasis on the recovery of wildlife species, improving habitat connectivity, supporting fence-line and frontline communities, and scaling the adoption of landscape-scale wildlife conservation strategies. This work will require collaboration with internal and external partners across the West, including extensive work with private landowners and ranchers; federal, Tribal, and other governmental agencies; and the broader conservation community to advance policies and practices that accelerate the resolution of wildlife-livestock conflict. 

Duties: 

• Oversee the implementation of individual grazing allotment retirement projects that accelerate the resolution of wildlife-livestock conflict.  These projects include the following duties:
  • Build and maintain relationships with funders, agency officials, conservation partners, and livestock operators.
  • Strategize priority target areas in which to pursue grazing allotments. Develop and maintain master lists of livestock operators with grazing allotments in priority target areas, and regularly contact these individuals to assess interest in negotiating retirements.
  • Lead successful negotiations with allotment permit holders as well as with agency personnel.
  • Work with NWF administrative staff to finalize retirement agreements.
  • Support internal and external efforts to develop policy and legislation that reduce wildlife conflicts with grazing on public lands.
  • Manage or support the implementation of grant-funded projects through to completion and reporting.
  • Lead fundraising efforts to fund each allotment retirement.
• Provide leadership for NWF’s Wildlife Conflict Resolution program. This includes the following duties:
  • Work with partners within and outside NWF to evaluate and update priorities to achieve long-term conservation success.
  • Explore new strategies to address wildlife conflicts with grazing on public lands.

• • Achieve financial goals needed to advance NWF’s Wildlife Conflilct Resolution efforts, including fundraising, managing contracts, and collaborating with the Philanthropy team to increase revenue from grants and other sources.
  • Cultivate and maintain authentic partnerships and serve as an ambassador for NWF’s Wildlife Conflict Resolution work.
  • Work with Director of Western Wildlife Conservation and other NWF teams and colleagues to advocate for policy and legislative reforms in support of WCR Program goals.
  • Lead the development of communications materials such as blog posts, press releases and social media posts that promote NWF’s Wildlife Conflict Resolution program. Work with Communications staff and collaborate with internal experts to strategically disseminate content.
• Identify, promote and implement strategies that will address environmental injustices and inequities related to Western wildlife conservation, while incorporating Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) into program activities. Take a proactive and intentional approach to environmental justice and equity. Support transformative leadership and on-the-ground support for communities that have historically been marginalized, including with Tribes and fence line/rural communities.
• Advance NWF’s values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and mission-focused work as defined through the Strategic Plan

Qualifications: 

Strong candidates for this position will have the following proficiencies:

• Understanding of terrestrial wildlife and land management policies and practices that affect Western wildlife-livestock conflict.
• Experience working with federal agency staff. 
• Significant experience directly navigating natural resource conservation strategies with private landowners and/or ranchers.
• Experience in an organizational, agency, or program leadership role, with diverse responsibilities including fundraising, project implementation, and reporting.
• A personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity and justice, especially with understanding and competencies in working with Tribes and Indigenous communities.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and cultivate long-term relationships with diverse communities and organizational partners, and proven success in collaborating to achieve lasting results.
• Strong analytic and communication skills, both oral and written.

These proficiencies are typically consistent with seven or more years of professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• B.A. or B.S. in Natural Resources, Environmental Science or Policy, or related field; post-graduate degree and/or relevant work experience desirable, and at least 10 years of relevant experience
• Ability to thrive in a multiple-task work environment, work independently with minimal supervision, set priorities and follow through to completion, with excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Proven collaboration and relationship-building skills and ability to work effectively with diverse people, funders, and partners.
• Organizational leadership, including demonstrated proficiency in personnel management, teambuilding, and delegation.
• Demonstrated competencies that support fundraising capabilities, including relationship-building, highly-developed communication skills, and network-building.
• Demonstrates proficiency and success in cultivating donor relationships, soliciting gifts and stewarding ongoing support from new and existing major donors, in cooperation with philanthropy staff.
• Demonstrated competencies in environmental justice ethic and equitable organizational leadership
• Strategic thinking and vision – quickly grasps the subtleties of complex issues, and identifies ways to tackle problems with insight and equity, and a solutions orientation;
• Experience serving as a champion and ambassador, demonstrating the ability to communicate about, sell, or market a concept in a manner that leads to growth.
• Highly-developed oral and written communication skills, including public speaking experience, and the ability to effectively communicate ideas across disciplines verbally.
• Strategic thinking with demonstrated passion for developing and implementing system-change strategies.

Salary/Pay: $77,000 – $85,000, commensurate with experience.

Application Deadline: Rolling

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.