Regional Field Director, Central (Great Lakes & South Central)

~ Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. ~

The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To rise to this challenge, we are seeking a Central Regional Field Director to join our national Campaigns Team. The Campaigns Team serves NWF’s national and regional staff, state affiliates, and coalition partners by mobilizing action at the local level (“in the field”) to advance national policy priorities; by growing civic and political power in targeted states to achieve conservation victories; and by building long-term organizational infrastructure and leadership for change that will improve the resilience of wildlife and communities.

Position Overview

The Central Regional Field Director will lead efforts to build and expand conservation power in NWF’s Great Lakes and South Central regions. The position will be responsible for managing and supporting state-based field organizers (contractors and affiliate partners), deepening and cultivating authentic partnerships, and developing targeted campaign strategies, tactics, tools, and trainings that connect and leverage NWF’s national, regional, and affiliate priorities in targeted states along the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico.

This is a remote position for candidates based in a Great Lakes state – Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, e.g. The position reports to the Senior Director of Organizing and Campaigns based in Washington, DC and works in close coordination with Great Lake Regional Center and South Central Regional Center leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Mobilize local support for federal campaigns, including combating climate change, protecting public lands and water resources, restoring wildlife and habitat, and advancing environmental justice goals.
• Recruit and manage relationships with state-based field organizers (consultants, affiliate partners, and/or staff) working with NWF on particular national policy campaigns and priorities; provide strategic guidance, facilitate goal-setting and tracking, and foster multi-way communication and intel-sharing.
• Develop field campaign plans and organizing tactics (virtual townhalls, phonebanks, days of action, e.g.) that are aligned with national, regional, affiliate, and coalition partner priorities.
• Create targeted outreach materials (press releases, LTES, factsheets, petitions, digital content, swag, e.g.), to help generate local media, mobilize grasstops leaders and grassroots activists, and engage with and influence elected and appointed officials on our national priorities.
• Collaborate with NWF communications, digital, policy, lobby, and data teams to provide ongoing campaign support, advocacy trainings, and resources to organizers, affiliates, partners, supporters, and staff to help grow support for wildlife – and win conservation campaigns.
• Identify, create, and foster networks with groups and individuals that will increase NWF’s conservation impact, level of support, and visibility throughout the Great Lakes and South Central regions; cultivate diverse partnerships that strengthen shared advocacy capabilities.
• Identify emerging issues and seek opportunities for additional funding and capacity-building, for national campaigns and Great Lakes and South Central regional offices. 
• Position yourself as a regional conservation leader with key political players, opinion leaders, allied organizations and coalitions to build NWF’s base of support in the Great Lakes and South Central regions.

Qualifications

Qualities we’re looking for include:

• Demonstrated commitment to organizing and movement-building for social change.
• Relevant/related professional experience, including community organizing, issue or policy advocacy, strategic campaign planning and management, virtual organizing, digital advocacy, media relations, political strategy, managing organizers or volunteers, and leading and motivating teams.
• Success implementing core tactics of organizing, including: grassroots and grasstops mobilization, policy-maker engagement, earned/opinion media generation, phone banking, and coalition-building.
• Excels working in diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic professional environments. Relevant experience incorporating the perspectives of frontline communities or communities of color in the impact and outcomes of decision-making around organizing and advocacy is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an effective communication style. Proven ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners.
• Flexible, innovative, and self-motivated to identify priorities and complete work independently and as an integral member of the team.
• Familiarity working with coalitions and/or chapter or affiliate organizational structures a plus.

Note: Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.

Compensation

• $70-$80,000. Salary negotiable.

Benefits:

• NWF values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, 10 days of well-being leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year.
• In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks.
• Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

To Apply

• If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications of this description and are passionate about change-making and movement-building, we support your application. If selected, a background check will be conducted.
• Please click on "Apply on Company Website" below to submit a cover letter and resume.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.