Policy Analyst, Private Lands

### POSITION SUMMARY

This professional-level position contributes to Defenders of Wildlife’s strategic goal of conserving and restoring biodiversity through securing new wildlife conservation initiatives, policies, and laws. The Policy Analyst helps develop and advocate for national policies, secure adequate funding, and expand conservation partnerships in support of wildlife conservation on private lands. The Policy Analyst collaborates with Defenders’ Field Conservation, Center for Conservation Innovation (CCI), Government Relations, Conservation Law, Communications, and Development Departments to conduct policy research and analysis and develop information, partnerships, and programs to further science-based wildlife conservation on private land nationwide.

### ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

– Research and analyze federal and selected state law, regulations, and policies, administrative initiatives, draft regulations, and federal projects related to wildlife conservation on private lands.
– Prepare summaries, factsheets, technical comments, testimony, and other materials explaining policies and proposals and Defenders’ position on them.
– In coordination with Government Relations staff, help educate congressional offices on private lands conservation policy issues. Assist in identifying legislative champions and coordinating messaging and outreach to congressional offices to advance a progressive conservation agenda.
– Cultivate, maintain, and grow positive working relationships with congressional staff, federal agency officials, state governments, landowner organizations, land trusts, and other partners to achieve shared conservation goals.
– Attend local, regional, or national meetings related to private lands and state wildlife conservation policy.
– Research, write, and/or edit Defenders’ reports, webpages, blogs, social media, and other publications.
– Represent Defenders in public meetings, hearings, press events, conferences, coalitions, and in general communication with public officials, legislators, the media, Defenders’ membership, the donor community, and the general public to further Defenders’ objectives.
– Work with Development staff to raise operating funds for Defenders’ Landscape Conservation department.
– Travel – requires some domestic travel.
– Perform all other related duties as assigned.

### QUALIFICATIONS

**Education:** Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent

**Experience:** 4 years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

**Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for All Defenders** [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities](https://defenders.org/knowledge-skills-and-abilities)

### Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Professional 3

**Administrative**

– Ability to accurately maintain electronic and physical records
– Anticipate and meet the needs of internal and/or external stakeholders delivering excellent service

**Communication**

– Ability to clearly and accurately communicate with internal and external stakeholders
– Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, accurately, and concisely
– Ability to convey effective messages to broad and diverse constituencies
– Ability and willingness to effectively represent Defenders’ interests in external environments
– Ability to exert influence and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders

**Critical Thinking**

– Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
– Strong research and data analysis skills, including ability to gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to produce high-quality work products in a consistent, efficient, accurate, and timely manner
– Creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with willingness to experiment and innovate new methods
– Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies into Defenders’ work
– Ability to independently exercise appropriate judgment in response to complex and/or fluid environments
– Strategic thinker with the ability to take high-level strategy and translate it into relatable points and action steps

**Project Management**

– Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines while balancing competing assignments
– Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities while remaining responsive to urgent requests
– Ability to take ownership of a project or process and to use problem-solving skills to resolve issues
– Ability to manage deadlines on multiple cross-functional projects in a dynamic environment
– Demonstrated ability in managing competing interests on complex issues
– Ability to independently initiate project and initiative ideas; managing projects and initiatives through to completion

**Coalition and Community Engagement**

– Strong interpersonal skills and ability to form effective working relationships with diverse constituencies including federal/state agencies; elected officials and their staff; Defenders’ members and donors; private landowners; hunters and anglers; community leaders; religious, scientific, and academic communities; and/or the general public.
– Ability to lead diverse stakeholders in collaborative activities, to anticipate policy issues impacting wildlife and make recommendations within Defenders, other organizations, and coalitions.
– Networking skills to engage with leaders in the conservation community, federal and state agencies, NGOs, and other organizations.

**Conservation Knowledge**

– Expert-level knowledge of Defenders’ legal, scientific, and/or political issues
– Expert-level knowledge of national and regional social, political, and ecological landscapes

### Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Policy Analyst, Private Lands

**Government**

– Knowledge of laws, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.

**Wildlife Biology**

– Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of wildlife, including habitat requirements, and conservation.

**SALARY:** $70,000 – $78,000

Visit https://defenders.org/about/jobs?p=job%2FoatZtfwP to apply.