Flexible in Wyoming
Position Title: Legal and Government Relations Director
Organization: Wyoming Outdoor Council
Location: Flexible in Wyoming
Position Overview: You will lead our policy and legal efforts in support of the overall conservation work at the Outdoor Council. You will serve on the management team with the executive director, associate director, development director, program director, organizing director and tribal conservation director. This team assists the executive director with organizational decision making and supports the work culture at the Outdoor Council.
This role requires an understanding of treaty rights and tribal sovereignty issues. You will analyze tribal political issues to organize and present recommendations in a clear, fair and logical manner.
Duties:
- Partner with the executive director and program director to advance policy that secures the Outdoor Council’s vision for Wyoming: protecting people, landscapes and wildlife from polluters and harmful regulatory practices.
- Work with a broad coalition of interests – government, tribes, community, business and other organizations to advance a policy and regulatory environment in harmony with Wyoming Outdoor Council’s mission and vision for a vibrant Wyoming.
- Work with governmental agencies, elected officials and tribes to innovate conservation policy and programs.
- Represent the Outdoor Council in legal proceedings.
- Identify and research relevant legal issues; identify opportunities for amicus briefs; draft
- demand letters, legal memoranda, and advocacy letters; and follow current and pending
- litigation.
- Recruit, supervise, and oversee the professional development of current and future
- government relations, policy and legal staff, including lawyers and fellows, paralegals,
- and law student interns.
- Cultivate relationships with partner organizations, public interest law firms, legal service
- agencies, and other members of the legal community.
- Collaborate with the communications team to integrate policy and legal advocacy into
- publications such as public education materials, policy reports, white papers, talking
- points, op-eds, and press releases.
- Prepare written materials, such as briefing memos, talking points, and issue papers.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive government relations strategy to advance the
- Outdoor Council’s legislative and regulatory priorities at the state and federal levels.
- Oversee the compilation of our annual Conservation Vote Report and lead on voter
- education materials like candidate questionnaires.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Wyoming elected officials, government staff, tribes, and agency personnel.
- Research, analyze, and track proposed legislation and regulations that impact Wyoming’s outdoor resources.
- Develop and deliver compelling comments for agency actions, legislative efforts, administrative proceedings, and public hearings.
- Stay informed on current events and trends related to public lands, wildlife management, ancestral lands, and outdoor recreation policy.
- Represent the Wyoming Outdoor Council at meetings, conferences, and events with government officials, stakeholders, and the public.
- Be part of a highly-functioning management team/coordinating council, working together, under the leadership of the executive director, to support the overall mission, vision, and values of the Wyoming Outdoor Council.
- Support the work of equity and belonging at the Outdoor Council.
- Attend and participate in annual staff retreat and all staff days.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- You love working on a collaborative team – you are organized and are comfortable in a leadership role. You have a robust understanding of policy and the legal framework of public lands, environmental and Wyoming State law and their intersection with the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s programmatic pillars of wildlife, water, air, climate, land and tribal conservation. You have a proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with tribes and public, private, non-profit officials. The thought of using your legal and governmental expertise to advance a policy framework that will protect Wyoming’s environment and quality of life now and for future generations, excites you intellectually and resonates with you personally. You are familiar with conservation issues in Wyoming and comfortable working with a variety of stakeholders, including conservation organizations, tribes, and other cross-sector community partners. You like meeting new people and interacting with policy makers, partner organizations, governments, and engaging strategically with these entities. You are a great communicator in both formal and informal settings. You are eager to build lasting relationships with WOC supporters and people across the State of Wyoming.
- You are committed to contributing to the Outdoor Council’s equity and belonging work to ensure the organization is a welcoming place for all staff, board, volunteers, community members, and organizational partners. You have experience or a passion for building relationships and working with underserved and disadvantaged communities who have historically been underrepresented in conservation efforts. You can create conservation tools that align with and respect tribal sovereignty. You have particular experience working with Indigenous communities and Tribal governments, support elevating traditional knowledge, or have the willingness to learn.
- In your leadership you bring a clear vision and recognize the value of divergent perspectives. You approach leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others in decision-making. You are able to make and communicate difficult decisions in the Outdoor Council’s best interest.
- You love Wyoming and enjoy traveling the state to attend meetings and hold events with members and supporters. You like working flexible hours. You have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. You are experienced working on Apple devices and the standard suite of office tools and technologies. You are comfortable using Zoom, but also aware of its limitations.
- And, most of all, you are committed to the mission of the Wyoming Outdoor Council.
Start/End Date: Mid-October
Salary/Pay: $75,000 – $85,000 annually
Application Deadline: Sept. 15, applications accepted until position is filled
How to Apply:
Email a letter of interest explaining how your experience and skills make you the right person to join our team. Include a resume and three references (with contact and relationship information) to Misti Haase at misti@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org (please put “Legal and Government Relations Director” in the subject).