Director of Campaigns, Energy & Climate Program

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to protect wilderness and inspire all people to care for our wild places. We believe public lands belong to all of us and should benefit all of us. We strive to ensure our organization and work embodies the cultures and perspectives of people and communities across our nation, and connects and inspires people to care about the outdoors.  

The Director of Campaigns is joining the organization at a critical moment in its development. They will shape and lead advocacy efforts for TWS’ Energy & Climate Program to defend wild and sacred places from development and to manage public lands as part of a national climate solution. The Director helps define program goals and oversees development and execution of campaigns to achieve them. This includes leading teams to define campaign strategy and directly overseeing campaign budgets for organizational priorities in the energy and climate space.  

The Director of Campaigns supervises two Campaign Managers, and other staff as needed. The role serves as a core member of TWS’ coordinated Parks and Public Lands Defense Campaign team, helping lead field operations when they relate specifically to energy and climate campaigns and develop a coordinated engagement and stewardship strategy for grassroots volunteers and grasstops advocates.   

In ensuring the fast-paced needs of the program are met, the Director works in an integrated fashion with other TWS staff in external affairs, regional field offices, research, policy and planning and government relations. As needed, this position will oversee development and execution of contracts and engagement with external partners.   

The Director of Campaigns plays a critical role in establishing and reinforcing an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization. This leader will integrate these priorities throughout our energy and climate change work, from expanding our partnerships to bringing an equity lens to all facets. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.   

Essential Duties & Responsibilities   

· Oversee design and execution of effective proactive advocacy campaigns to advance TWS highest energy and climate priorities. Plan and manage effective budgets, hold teams accountable to program goals and regularly report progress.   

· Collaborate with Campaign Managers to build and maintain high-performing cross-functional teams drawn from across the organization. Monitor team dynamics and intervene where needed to address problems. Ensure team structure includes inclusive processes, equitable allocation of resources and transparent decision-making.   

· Work closely with other TWS staff, particularly Campaign Managers and colleagues in regional offices and External Affairs, to identify, track and guide outreach to key stakeholders, constituencies and potential partners by developing impactful messages and strategies for engagement. This especially includes communities underrepresented in public lands management, planning and legislation.   

· Serve as a leader in TWS's Energy & Climate Program. Coach junior staff to develop skill sets, support innovative approaches and model TWS core values in all aspects of the role.  

· Perform other related duties as assigned, including assisting Senior Director with developing fundraising proposals, negotiating and managing contracts with third party vendors, and helping prepare and submit grant reports.  

Qualifications  

· Proven ability to develop and execute on long-term campaigns w/ clear goals, strategies and metrics for success  

· Demonstrated self-starter with the ability to take initiative, develop ideas, and see them through to implementation.   

· Minimum 7-10 years of experience in advocacy and electoral campaigns or a closely related field. Previous campaign management experience required.   

· Experience leading and managing teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives. This includes a track record of successful recruitment, cultivation, and retention of highly skilled staff across race and gender.  

· Proven project management experience including coordinating the work of other colleagues within and outside the organization  

· Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.   

· Able to learn to use new technology platforms to efficiently coordinate campaign activities.   

· Highly collaborative team player able to function at a high level under pressure and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment with many simultaneous moving pieces.   

· Willingness and ability to travel 10-20% of the time (percentage may vary depending on home office).  

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; and a retirement plan. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation.    

As an organization, we aspire to being inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.  

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society