Director of Policy Initiatives and Communications

Participate in a management position for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), a coalition of leading hunting, fishing and conservation organizations, labor unions and individual grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing by conserving fish and wildlife and the habitats necessary to sustain them; increasing funding for conservation and management of natural resources; and expanding access to places to hunt and fish.

Position Overview: 

Oversee overall strategic development and execution of the organization's policy initiatives and issue-based advocacy to influence public policy via the following 3-pronged approach:

• Promoting Science-based Conservation and Policy: The TRCP takes a science-based approach to conservation that balances access by sportsmen and other recreationists with responsible management of public and working lands.
• Empowering Leaders from the Sportsmen-Conservationist Community and Beyond: The TRCP builds constituencies to find solutions to land-use challenges - and works with nontraditional groups such as its union partners that share this ethic.
• Implementing Public Education Campaigns and Advocacy Training: The TRCP uses public education tools to effectively advance public policy debates, including grassroots organizing, media generation, civic involvement, and scientific research.

Supervise 8-10 program staff, including initiative and communications managers, and field representatives. This person will not only oversee creation of communications support materials but will need to draft such materials themselves.

Responsibilities:

• Planning, creating, and managing the organization's policy initiative and campaign activities on issues that fall into 3 categories:
  1. Western Public Lands
     • Conserving backcountry national forest roadless areas
     • Ensuring energy development that is balanced with fish and wildlife resources needs
     • Reforming 1872 Mining Act
     • Securing new funding stream for adaptive fish and wildlife management associated with climate change focusing on western resources as case for support
  2. Agricultural Lands
     • Strengthening Farm Bill Conservation Title Programs
     • Implementing "Open Fields" access program
     • Restoring of Clean Water Act wetlands protections
  3. Marine Fisheries
     • Sustaining resource while allowing recreational access based on sound data and science-based managemen
• Integrating the association's lobbying, communications, and policy into successful legislative and public education strategies and campaigns.
• Further developing effective partnerships with TRCP's 22 partner AFL-CIO unions to inject the voice of union-sportsmen into TRCP's coalition-based advocacy efforts aimed at guaranteeing all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.
• Establishing a strategic direction for grassroots programs to influence policy priorities, including field organizing, ally recruitment and activation, and electronic ActionGram and InfoGram distribution. Coordinate and implement TRCP-sponsored lobby days, legislative activities, rallies, petition-drives and other grassroots events.
• Building grassroots relationships with TRCP partner organizations, allied groups, businesses, unions, and government to ensure involvement in the organization's activities. Keep allies and other volunteers informed of all legislation and public policies that affect sportsmen. Maintain/update activist database and produce reports as needed.
• Creating media-generating activities for the organization's policy initiatives, including press conferences, telepressers, media summits, polling, and web-based advocacy. Raise the visibility of the organization's initiatives through generation of articles, editorials, opinion pieces, letters to the editor, radio spots, and other media.
• Serving as a member of the organization's management team, overseeing budgets, personnel, and employee performance.
• Coordinating with the director of development on primary fundraising pursuits, including grant writing, proposal delivery, program officer contact, and membership development.
• Approving and creating all communications materials related to TRCP policy initiatives.
• Consulting and coordinating with Senior Vice President/Director of Government Relations concerning policy and science elements of all initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

Resumes of candidates should include specific experience managing others and overseeing advocacy efforts as well as specific experience writing and creating strong, compelling communications pieces. Strong management and interpersonal skills are a must. A minimum of 8 years experience working on natural resource conservation oriented advocacy efforts is preferred.

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience; benefits are included. The position is Washington, D.C.-based.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter and résumé. Please include appropriate writing samples. Résumés without accompanying cover letters will not be considered. Cover letters should specifically address the desired qualifications above with descriptions of how the candidate's experience meets the experience requirements for this position.

The TRCP is an equal-opportunity employer.