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Description
The Wilderness Society is developing a dynamic interdisciplinary Forest Campaign in the Northern Rockies. The campaign will focus on restoration forestry and roadless area protection, including designing and implementing comprehensive conservation strategies for a number of ecologically important forest landscapes.
Illustrating the positive linkage between the economy and protecting wildlands is an important component of this campaign, including building the case for sustainable jobs linked to wildland restoration and protection.
Our resource economist will build a factual foundation to inform a broad public discussion of the need for protecting wildlands and for a restoration program that improves ecological integrity while building sustainable economies.
We seek an applied economist who can synthesize existing information and develop new information critical to improving understanding of the relationships between wildlands and sustainable economies in Northern Rockies and to support sound conservation and management decisions affecting those wildlands.
The resource economist is responsible for designing, developing and implementing a program of economic research and extension in support of The Wilderness Society's Forest Restoration campaigns.
The economy in the Northern Rockies has experienced a significant shift away from development of natural resources toward an information- and amenity-based economy. One of the advantages the region enjoys is proximity to wildlands and outdoor recreation.
The resource economist will synthesize existing and develop new information that illustrates how protecting those wildlands enhances the economy. Part of the restoration forestry program will include showing how restoration can lead to sustainable jobs and healthy vibrant economies. Understanding the economic ramifications for Forest Service management and funding options and influencing how the Forest Service allocates their limited resources will help move a conservation agenda.
The Resource Economist will also communicate information gained to a variety of audiences, including decision-makers in management agencies, reporters and others in the media, conservation organizations, business and economic development community, and community members. In some places, we may work in collaborative processes and the resource economist will be an important source of information and possible solutions to management questions. Development of scientific reports, science and policy briefs, comment letters, and peer-reviewed journal articles are important products.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
* Design, develop and implement research projects addressing the socio-economic relationship between wildland restoration, land conservation and regional economic health;
* Analyze regional and national public land management, tax, and economic development policies and apply results through comments on management plans, Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, and by participating in policy development processes at the regional and national level;
* Communicate research and analytical findings to conservation, business, government and other audiences;
* Actively participate in all aspects of project development and management, including drafting funding proposals, presenting proposals to foundations and individual donors, managing grants, and preparing project reports;
* Coordinate economic projects with multi-disciplinary regional campaign team, with other efforts within The Wilderness Society, and in collaboration with other organizations; and
* Manage contract research, internships and other means of augmenting regional economic capacity.
* Develop relationships with key opinion leaders regarding the changing economy in the region.
Qualifications:
* Doctoral (strongly preferred) or master's degree in economics (agricultural, natural resource, environmental, or regional economics preferred) or in natural resource management, public policy or a related discipline with a strong economic component;
* Exceptional written and oral communication skills that show the ability to translate complex economic facts into information that can be understood and used by the conservation community, agency staff, and media personnel;
* Understanding of federal land management and federal environmental laws is helpful.
* Knowledge of conservation issues on Northern Rockies public lands and how these relate to natural resource management and federal public land policy is helpful;
* Solid computer skills (spreadsheet, database, econometric package, word processing/desktop publishing, GIS);
* Experience collecting, processing and communicating quantitative information;
* Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams and with diverse groups in and outside the conservation community;
* Ability to think strategically and participate in the development of conservation programs essential;
* Demonstrated ability to work independently, think creatively, and write convincingly;
* Frequent, short-duration travel, both in and out of the region is required.
The Wilderness Society offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. Review of applicants will begin in mid-January 2006.
To apply please email, fax or mail a cover letter explaining your qualifications for this position, resume, writing sample, and names, addresses, phone numbers of three references to:
Ms. Geri Wardlow,
Recruiting Consultant
1615 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
The Wilderness Society is an equal opportunity employer.