Conservation Advocate

Environment America; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Commuter benefit

401(k) with employer match

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Student loan assistance

Training program

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Environment Massachusetts is seeking a Conservation Advocate to protect Massachusetts’ natural environment and promote clean energy solutions. The role focuses on campaigns to ban bee-killing pesticides, protect wild places, and expand rooftop solar and offshore wind.

You will shape policy, build coalitions, organize events, recruit volunteers, and advocate to policymakers. The position requires travel and occasional evening/weekend work.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of relevant advocacy or organizing experience.
• Passionate about saving the natural world.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Connector and listener with ability to unite people around a common goal.

Responsibilities

• Shape program priorities through policy development, research, and messaging.
• Build coalitions across organizations and constituencies.
• Organize webinars, events, and public meetings; recruit participants.
• Recruit and mentor volunteers and interns.
• Earn media attention through events and opinion pieces; grow social media presence.
• Advocate to decision-makers via lobbying, testimony and written materials.
• Fundraise by writing grant proposals and engaging donors.
• Grow the team by hiring and training staff.

Skills

Advocate/organizer

Excellent writing

Public speaking

Job description

From the Berkshires to the Cape, our rolling hills, serene lakes and coastal beauty make Massachusetts’ natural environment something special. Environment Massachusetts is seeking a Conservation Advocate to preserve and protect our special places; protect bees, butterflies and other wildlife; and promote clean energy solutions.

Key Responsibilities

The Conservation Advocate will work on campaigns to protect Massachusetts’ environment. Current campaigns include work to eliminate the use of bee-killing pesticides, protect our wild places, and promote more solar on rooftops and wind off our coasts. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Help shape program priorities: Participate in policy development, research and messaging for our conservation program in Massachusetts.
• Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to a broad range of organizations and affected constituency groups across the political spectrum to build and demonstrate support for our goals, including unlikely allies who might agree with us on one issue, even if we disagree on other issues.
• Organize events: Organize webinars, community events and public meetings, including events that connect the public to opportunities to learn more about our land and wildlife and how best they can act to protect our special places. Recruit organizations and members of the public to attend and participate.
• Recruit and work with volunteers: Identify and work with volunteers who want to do more in their community.
• Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize media events and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaigns.
• Advocate: Present a compelling case to decision-makers for strong action for conservation through lobbying, testifying at hearings, and producing powerful written materials. Build relationships with key players in the state, the region and at the federal level.
• Fundraise: Write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and raise money from individual donors to bring more resources to our campaigns.
• Grow our team: Identify and recruit strong candidates to join our staff. Hire and manage interns to maximize the impact of your campaigns. Potential to train and oversee staff.

Qualifications

You are:

• An advocate or organizer with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience.
• Passionate about saving the natural world.
• An effective communicator with excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• A connector and good listener with a track record of bringing people together around a common goal; open-minded and interested in working with people who you might disagree with on some issues.
• Creative and effective at solving complex problems; a strategic thinker who can take advantage of new opportunities.
• Well-organized and goal-oriented; capable of holding yourself accountable to a plan and also nimble enough to adapt as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Able to travel regularly and be motivated to work when needed, which may sometimes be in the evenings and on weekends.

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for someone with 2-5 years of relevant experience is $41,750-$46,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. Environment Massachusetts offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Why work with Environment Massachusetts?

Check out 10 reasons: https://environmentmassachusetts.org/why-work-with-us/

About Environment Massachusetts

Environment Massachusetts is part of Environment America. Environment America has one mission: to protect the natural world.

We advocate ideas and actions to guide our country onto a greener, healthier path. Our network of 30 state environmental groups promotes clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members put grassroots support behind our research, public education, advocacy and litigation.

Nothing is more important to our future than facing this fact: Infinite economic growth on a finite planet is neither wise nor possible. We must shift from deplete to preserve, from disposable to sustainable, from “never enough” to “enough.” Together, our staff, members and other supporters are committed to winning changes that allow nature to thrive and our children to live healthier, more enriching lives.

Our Mission and Values

Environment Massachusetts and Environment America are part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change. Visit https://environmentmassachusetts.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.

Environment Massachusetts is an equal opportunity employer.