Senior Associate, Conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco Wildlands

The Environment Portfolio at The Pew Charitable Trusts

For more than 30 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world's remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pew's global environmental program focuses on science-based, nonpartisan, and sustainable solutions to help protect the planet and people. We work in partnership with governments, Indigenous rights holders, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, scientists, and other researchers to advance public policy so that nature and communities can thrive.

Since 1990, Pew has worked in North America, South America and Australia to protect large and critically important terrestrial ecosystems, including rivers and other freshwater resources, coastal temperate rainforests, interior mountain ranges, the northern boreal forests, Australia's Outback, and Chilean Patagonia. We work to ensure these natural systems remain bountiful, functioning, and resilient, providing essential ecological services such as clean air and clean water, sustenance and food security for local communities and more broadly for the welfare of current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, sociology, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity.

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew's ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating large scale marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems. We also work to address systemic threats to the ocean, including from plastics, over-and-illegal fishing, seabed mining, and climate change.

Conserving the Pantanal and Gran Chaco Wildlands

South America's Pantanal and Gran Chaco region s are among the most ecologically significant tropical wetlands and dry forests on Earth. This area spans parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina and contains thousands of plant and animal species and provides vital aquatic habitat, nutrient renewal, migration routes, and flood control for millions of animals and people living downstream.

The project will work with the existing laws and practices in each country to solidify and expand protection of the extraordinary biodiversity of the Pantanal-Gran Chaco region. Pew will partner with local and international conservation organizations, government agencies, Indigenous governments and organizations, to improve management of and expand protected areas, support Indigenous organizations and communities in the management of their territories, promote sustainable management for ranching lands to protect forests, wetlands, floodplains and riparian areas, and to advance long-term conservation financing mechanisms for durable protections.

Position Overview
This senior associate supports the project director in overseeing aspects of the implementation of the conserving Pantanal and Gran Chaco wildlands project and advances project goals by ensuring the effective management of resources.

This position will be based in Washington, D.C., is eligible for up to 60% telework, and reports to the project director, conserving Pantanal and Gran Chaco wildlands.

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, diverse, and in line with Pew and the project's related goals.
• Support development and implementation of effective strategies and plans to deliver the project's objectives, focusing on conservation of the Pantanal-Gran Chaco.
• Support the Senior Director, Lands and Freshwater Conservation as needed.
• Assist in developing content for proposals to funders, effectively communicating project developments and achievements.
• Assist in the preparation of issue briefs, web features, newsletters, and other campaign materials. Facilitate internal review and approval of campaign research projects.
• Develop and assist managing and monitoring contracts and grants.
• Manage and maintain budgets and track project expenditures and projections for specific initiatives.
• Partner with Pew colleagues, including other environment staff, finance, institutional partnerships, communications, conservation science, and government relations.
• Represent Pew by participating in external meetings and events with constituents, contractors, grantees, and partners.
• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• A minimum of four years of applicable experience, of which, at least two years of experience with Latin America.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish; Portuguese is a plus.
• Strong financial and budget acumen.
• Time- and project-management skills, including an ability to meet multiple deadlines.
• Demonstrated research and analytical skills, including an ability to synthesize and summarize large amounts of information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue.
• Political awareness and non-partisan perspective and approach.
• Strong systems skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products, in particular Excel and PowerPoint.

Key attributes and preferred experience

• A keen understanding of the importance of rigorous, timely, and policy-relevant research.
• Ability to develop and move projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Ability to develop and manage productive and collaborative relationships.
• Diplomatic skills with the ability to work productively with a wide array of different people and institutions that may disagree with and are in competition with one another.
• Experience commissioning and managing research, and disseminating it to policymakers, the media, and the public.
• Experience with budget monitoring and maintenance.

Travel
Occasional travel to the Pantanal-Gran Chaco region and locations in the United States.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Apply Here

PI187788299