Climate Associate

For nearly 70 years The Wilderness Society has been at the forefront of the movement to protect America's wild lands and wildlife. In the Northern Rockies, The Wilderness Society has focused on protecting the wild places critical to the health and well being of people and wildlife alike.

The Wilderness Society, one of the oldest and most respected non-profit conservation organizations in the nation, seeks a Climate Associate to conduct analyses, prepare written materials, and coordinate an education and outreach program to facilitate societal awareness of the potential impacts of climate change and promote conservation strategies that improve ecosystem resilience to the forces of climate change.

Background

Montana boasts some of the most remarkable wild landscapes in the lower 48 states - including large expanses of awe-inspiring but unprotected Roadless areas such as the Rocky Mountain Front, the rugged Gallatin Range and the Great Burn. In spite of the extent of natural and protected landscapes in this region, these lands are not immune from the impacts of climate change and are currently expressing strain from this combined with other human induced stressors.

There is an urgent need to take action on the causes and impacts of climate change, however, to date, much of the nation including citizens of Montana have faced climate change with indifference or even disdain. It is our intent to create a compelling, effective, integrated and interactive science-based advocacy program that: (1) illustrates the influence of climate change on the landscapes and quality of life within this region; (2) demonstrates the critical role of public protected wildlands and roadless areas in addressing ecological changes caused by climate change; (3) evaluates the role that adaptive restoration management plays in improving the resilience of landscapes to the influences of climate change, and; (4) establishes The Wilderness Society as a respected, reliable, and progressive agent for information, dialogue and action in this regard.

The Climate Associate will work with our staff and University researchers to deliver a clear and compelling message regarding the potential impacts of climate change on daily life in the Northern Rockies. To that end, the Associate will collect evidence for and impacts of climate change in the region through an exhaustive literature search; build a message based on ongoing University research using downscaled models to evaluate long-term shifts in climate in the region and ultimately link the predicted shifts in climate and vegetation to shifts in wildlife habitat.

It will be the role of the Wilderness Society staff to demonstrate the link between resilience and land preservation in this cherished landscape and demonstrate how this resilience serves as to protect the every day lives of citizens. We would also highlight the need for continued proper management of wildlands and the landscapes that support them to protect water resources, sustain wildland character and biodiversity, and the productive potential of the land through the next century in the face of climate change.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the development of an interactive website that features facts regarding climate change in the Northern Rockies and in particular the Crown of the Continent.
• Act as a liaison with the University of Montana researchers to channel their research efforts into an effective outreach program.
• Conduct an inventory of climate change work by other conservation groups, agencies and universities in the region and help coordinate conservation climate efforts.
• Research existing data sources and collect anecdotal stories of how climate change affects the region’s landscapes, fish and wildlife, and communities.
• Work in collaboration with conservation partners, agency personnel, and other interest groups to minimize overlap and leverage expertise.
• Prepare written and visual materials, fact sheets, news releases and action alerts that demonstrate the importance of land preservation and conservation in the resilience of ecosystems and quality of life for the people living in nearby communities.
• Work closely with University collaborators to create a clear and meaningful message on climate change to the general public.
• Coordinate with The Wilderness Society's National Climate Team and develop public policy recommendations regarding mitigating and response actions.
• Assist with proposal writing and other fundraising efforts as needed.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate has:

• Masters degree in natural resource science or science communication or a Bachelor's degree with graduate work and/or comparable work experience.
• Minimum of three years experience working on environmental issues.
• Demonstrated verbal and oral communication skills and proven ability to communicate complex ideas to the general public in an educational or outreach capacity.
• Must be enthusiastic, highly motivated, a self starter, and able to effectively manage multiple demands and deadlines.
• Must be able to lead, learn, cooperate, and facilitate in a team environment.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, ability to write and speak concisely and persuasively, and competent in typing and personal computer skills.
• Demonstrated ability to apply other analytic (e.g. GIS) tools or prior modeling experience is also desirable.

The Wilderness Society is an equal opportunity employer and diversity is a core value. The Wilderness Society offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Submit résumé, cover letter, writing samples and references to:

Anne Rockhold
The Wilderness Society
503 W Mendenhall St.
Bozeman, MT 59715

Email: anne_rockhold@tws.org

No phone calls, please.