Urban to Wild Specialist, Los Angeles

The position’s main objective is to lead The Wilderness Society’s Los Angeles Urban to Wild program (U2W), a national initiative that identifies challenges and advances solutions to ensure access to the outdoors for all with a focus on under-resourced communities in urban areas.  The Wilderness Society’s U2W program currently works directly with communities in Seattle, Tucson, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles. In each city, U2W expands access to local parks and public lands by forming partnerships, advocating for policies, and supporting programs. 

• Partnerships: Develop transformational partnerships with trusted organizations to identify challenges, solutions, and support each other’s goals related to increasing access to the outdoors. 
• Policies: Identify policy priorities that leverage our strength in policy development and that result in systems change.  
• Programs: Support a variety of public programming opportunities (from urban fishing programs to transit to trails shuttles) that directly increase access to outdoor recreation opportunities and experiences. 

The Urban to Wild Los Angeles Specialist will promote and grow access to parks and open space across LA County, including the San Gabriel Mountains, state, county, and city parks.  The Specialist will focus on building new and maintaining long-term relationships with key partners, specifically in Black, Brown, and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and with people who experience barriers accessing the outdoors.  The position will work with local, state, and federal lawmakers and land management agencies to support new funding and policy efforts to ensure and grow outdoor access for all.

The Urban to Wild Los Angeles Specialist will work closely with the National Director of Access and Education and local California staff to grow the program and identify new opportunities.  The Specialist will also collaborate with U2W team members and TWS staff across the U.S. to coordinate program activities, develop partnerships, review policy priorities, provide administrative support, curate and write content for external communications, conduct research on policy issues, and support program outreach and engagement.

This position plays an important role in supporting 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 and the Urban to Wild Specialist will integrate these priorities throughout our work.  Across our team, we aspire to be campaign-oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of strategic partnerships with relevant agencies, organizations, and industries to advance U2W objectives in Los Angeles.
• Collaborate with partners to advocate for investments and policy to support outdoor access
• Facilitate and convene partnerships and coalitions, coordinate and attend meetings, prepare agendas, and presentations
• Provide research and coordination support to carry out policy agendas in Los Angeles related to parks, open space, land use planning, open space access and investment and other relevant topics
• Lead outreach and engagement efforts for U2W Los Angeles, including but not limited to attending public meetings and meeting with local stakeholders to organizing special events
• Assist in writing program updates and issue briefs or memos
• With support from Communications staff, curate and write content for various communication channels and support planning, content development and production of materials 
• Assist Government Relations, External Affairs and Philanthropy teams with other duties as related to the U2W program

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience, Competencies, and Education

• Undergraduate or graduate experience in urban planning, public policy, or related field, with an interest in the environment, conservation, social justice, land use planning, advocacy, civic engagement, and/or community organizing
• Knowledgeable on issues of park access and park equity; familiarity with the greater LA region preferred
• Ability and interest in researching and drafting policy and issue briefs/memos
• Exemplary skills in oral, written, and online communication
• Familiarity with public budget processes, grantmaking and fiscal oversight
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diversity of stakeholders from local communities to federal agencies
• Demonstrated strong research and analysis skills
• Comfort executing program, event coordination and logistical support
• Comfort with ambiguity, flexibility and adapting to shifting priorities and plans
• Comfort working independently, taking initiative, and creative problem-solving with minimal supervision 
• Strong sense of personal accountability
• Track record working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives (i.e., gender identity, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic background) 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite   
• Ability to travel within the U.S.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear.   The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision.  

 WORK ENVIRONMENT  

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not exposed to adverse weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

 This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of this position and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of experience, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. 

 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 identity, 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.