Specialist, Sportsmen Outreach and Policy

The National Wildlife Federation is seeking a Sportsmen Outreach and Policy Specialist in New Orleans, LA, to lead outreach and education efforts for restoring Louisiana's coast. The role involves engaging hunters, anglers, and stakeholders to support ecosystem restoration initiatives and represents NWF in various communications and public events. The position emphasizes collaboration, relationship building, and advancing conservation goals within the Vanishing Paradise program.
About the position

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization, with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. To support our mission, we are seeking a Sportsmen Outreach and Policy Specialist to join our team in South Louisiana to lead our sportsmen education and engagement work around restoring Louisiana's coast. In Louisiana, NWF is part of a coalition of national and regional partners working on a campaign called Restore the Mississippi Delta (MRD) that aims to protect and restore coastal wetlands and ecosystems for people, wildlife, and the economy. Hunters and anglers have long been advocates and a strong voice for the protection and restoration of our natural resources. This is especially true in Louisiana, making them a critical stakeholder group to our efforts. Through strategic relationship development, communication, and outreach efforts, the Sportsmen Outreach and Policy Specialist will engage and organize individual hunters, anglers, sportsmen's groups, businesses, other conservation organizations, and stakeholders to support restoration of the Mississippi River Delta. This full-time position will work within Vanishing Paradise, part of the National Wildlife Federation's Gulf program, leading and representing the Vanishing Paradise team. The Specialist will promote NWF's wildlife and restoration priorities and will represent NWF in meetings and communications with decision-makers, the media, donors, and coalition partners, as well as in public meetings, hearings, and conferences. The person in this position will advance the National Wildlife Federation's values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and mission-focused work.

Responsibilities
• Cultivate new partnerships with grasstop hunters and anglers, successfully engaging them and moving them to action in restoration efforts to meet program goals.
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• Develop existing relationships with grasstop sportsmen and groups already engaged with Vanishing Paradise.
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• Foster relationships with relevant legislators, agency staff, conservation NGOs, and other stakeholders as appropriate who would benefit from ecosystem restoration projects and activities.
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• In collaboration with the Gulf team, Vanishing Paradise program staff, coalition partners, and NWF state affiliates as appropriate, develop and implement strategies to advance Mississippi River Delta restoration.
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• Coordinate and lead on relevant field trips, community presentations, public meetings, sportsmen shows, and other educational events on behalf of the Vanishing Paradise and Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition.
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• Engage community members in earned media opportunities including op-eds, letters to the editor, blog posts, and social media.
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• Work with program staff to disseminate program messaging to decision-makers, opinion leaders, the news media, NWF constituents, and the general public.
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• Work with Gulf communications staff to advance messaging on Mississippi River Delta restoration needs, with a particular emphasis on outdoor media.
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• Ensure consistency of national hunter/angler message with Gulf Program goals.
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• Contribute to social media and online advocacy efforts.
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• Draft materials for publication including LTEs and op-eds.
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• Work with Communications staff to develop and maintain an outdoor media contact database.
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• Advance coastal restoration project and policy priorities, with emphasis on healthy habitat for wildlife and priorities for hunters and anglers; develop and implement strategies to benefit Gulf wildlife; and develop materials to promote those priorities.
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• Provide policy expertise and guidance on coastal issues as they impact wildlife and habitat to the Vanishing Paradise team, the NWF Gulf team, and the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition.
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• Stay informed on relevant emerging policies, regulations, and programs, providing guidance on their potential impacts.
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• Assist in communicating the Gulf Program's objectives and accomplishments to prospective and current donors, including grant reports.
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• Assist in development of funding proposals and cultivation of potential program supporters.

Requirements
• College degree in natural resources, political science, biological sciences, environmental studies or related field, or at least four years of equivalent successful job experience in biological science, policy, natural resource management, conservation or non-profit fields.
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• An additional five years of demonstrated successful experience in fields mentioned above.
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• Demonstrated success engaging with diverse stakeholders in advocacy.
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• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with a broad range of constituencies.
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• Strong background in hunting and/or fishing is essential to success in this role.
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• Familiarity with conservation issues related to coastal Louisiana and Gulf Coast wildlife and ecosystems is preferred, particularly as they relate to the interests of hunters and anglers.
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• Coalition and partnerships experience is preferred.
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• Self-starter with demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a team player.
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• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop trusting relationships with diverse constituencies and communities.
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• Strong prioritization skills and ability to work strategically in a fast-paced environment with many partners.
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• Strong written and oral communication skills.
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• Facility with all aspects of Microsoft Office, Outlook, Zoom, and Google Docs.
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• Excellent judgment to make decisions and respond rapidly to changing conditions and to questions posed by decision-makers, opinion leaders, and key constituents.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience in fundraising and donor engagement.
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• Knowledge of environmental justice issues and their impact on wildlife and communities.

Benefits
• Dental insurance
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• Tuition reimbursement
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• Paid time off
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• Vision insurance
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• Retirement plan
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• Pet insurance