Job Description

Position Title: Grassroots Engagement Associate Director

Location: Durango, Colorado or other Western Location

Positions Closes: March 4, 2024

This position reports to the VP of Conservation Field Programs 

WHO WE ARE:

The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with staff in Northern and Southern California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington, DC. 

Established in 2007, CLF was founded on the belief that our public lands are best protected when there is a national network of local advocates working to advance a common conservation vision. CLF works hand-in-hand with 80 + grassroots groups – our Friends Grassroots Network – to protect the National Conservation Lands, our nation’s newest collection of premier lands and waters under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s jurisdiction. These lands encompass 37 million acres and 2,400 miles of National Monuments and National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Scenic and Historic Trails. They are found throughout the West and Alaska. This position reports to the  VP of Conservation Field Programs.

Our mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships.

Position Description:

The Grassroots Engagement Associate Director drives the leadership growth and development of key partners within the Friends Grassroots Network (FGN) of the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) to achieve our mission through two primary engagement strategies:

1. The Grassroots Engagement Associate Director works with CLF Field staff to advance the effectiveness and long-term viability of the FGN organizations and associated partners. They will develop and deliver timely, effective training opportunities through the CLF Grassroots Advocacy Program (GAP), which strives to expand community leaders’ skill sets in public lands advocacy. 
2. The Grassroots Engagement Associate Director will manage CLF’s grant-making, training, and communications systems by providing technical management and support to the FGN members, grantees, and CLF field staff. 

Key Responsibilities

Program and Event Management

• Work in conjunction with the field team and other CLF staff (if needed) to develop, coordinate, and implement strategies, trainings, workshops, and webinars throughout the year to support CLF’s grant-making, capacity-building, and FGN groups’ overall effectiveness.
• In partnership with the Associate Finance Director and other staff,  the Grassroots Engagement Associate Director will organize the CLF Friends Summit, which includes creating the theme, researching venues, accommodations, and logistics, program scheduling, and recruiting FGN participants, partners, and vendors.
• Develop a commensurate evaluation program that captures feedback from the FGN and participants and then implements adjustments to programming accordingly.
• Work with the Chief Conservation Officer, VP of Conservation Field Programs, and the finance and operations team on programmatic planning and budgeting.

• Develop strong working relationships with individuals in the FGN; lead, schedule, and develop agendas for monthly-timely calls with the full FGN.

Technical Management

• In partnership with the Associate Finance Director, maintain the CLF grant-making database system with accuracy and integrity of data and grantee relationship history.
• Develop and implement a system for extracting data, metrics, and stories from existing platforms that can showcase the FGN’s impact to internal and external partners, funders, decision-makers, and the public.   
• Support field staff in collecting signed FGN agreements (every two years) or as needed, and assist with onboarding new FGN partners.
• Manage the grant-making system by approving user and organizational profiles, scheduling grant agreements, and working in unity with the finance and operations team for payments.
• Oversee the FGN portal system by adding the FGN members to the FGN email list, FGN portal, and communications email lists to broadcast GAP opportunities to the full FGN membership.
• Identify and implement processes and improvements to ensure the integrity of the databases, including troubleshooting/identifying inconsistencies and making corrections.
• Ensure data accuracy, security, and confidentiality. 

Administrative Support

• Play a key role in supporting the VP of Conservation Field Programs and Chief Conservation Officer by coordinating, staffing, and scheduling the virtual FGN Board Committee meetings; assisting in preparing and creating the grant materials for the committee and Board Meetings; and taking meeting minutes.
• Work with the communications team, program directors, and other internal and external partners to develop, coordinate, and implement regional communication strategies to support the FGN.
• Actively participate and support CLF’s equity, inclusion, and access work to help ensure it becomes embedded and continues to evolve as an organization-wide priority.

Qualifications of a successful candidate: 

• Knowledge of various teaching methods and approaches to education and training skills, including the training cycle (assess needs, plan, develop, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate) construction of a training and mentoring program(s); and ability to implement e-learning platforms. 

• Dedicated to the conservation of public lands and enduring protections that bring benefits to community health and vitality, ecosystems, biological diversity, and climate resilience.

• Commitment to the fundamental belief that change comes from communities, individuals, and groups closest to the places and issues we care about.
• Experience working with grassroots organizations.
• Experience planning large events and working with technical online platforms, including donor and grant-making software (Fluxx, NationBuilder desirable); willingness to continue learning and staying abreast of new technical developments appropriate to CLF.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with various internal and external partners.
• Understanding the framework of non-profits and best practices, including governance
• Experience handling confidential information appropriately.
• Comfortable working remotely or in hybrid team-oriented environments, with the capacity to inspire cooperation among others.
• Mission-driven and self-directed, possessing passion, idealism, integrity, intellectual curiosity, a positive attitude, high emotional intelligence, and a sense of humor.
• Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity programmatically across the organization and the environmental and conservation movements. 
• Willingness to travel. A valid driver’s license is required.

Salary Range and Benefits:

Salary Range: $60,000-$70,000 (at the time of this posting, CLF is operating on a 36-hour work week)

The Conservation Lands Foundation offers a competitive compensation package with an organizational culture that supports staff well-being and professional development. Benefits include generous vacation and sick time; 401(k) plan with employer contribution; health, dental, and vision insurance plan; health and dependent care; Flex Spending program or Health Savings Account; life insurance;  short and long-term disability insurance.

No phone calls, please. 

The Conservation Lands Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the process. Please advise in writing at the time of application.

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

How to Apply

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and one-page cover letter stating their interest and experience

Please send in materials in one PDF via email with your first and last name and “Grassroots Engagement Associate Director” in the subject line to: [email protected].

Job Categories: Conservation. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: advocacy, grassroots organizations, Relationship Building, and training and mentoring. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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