Western Arctic Manager

The Wilderness Society is focused on making America’s system of public lands part of the solution to the most pressing conservation challenges of our day: climate change, unprecedented species extinction and inequitable access to nature’s benefits. We work with diverse partners to find common ground around enduring conservation solutions, combining long term investments in community-led conservation, deep public lands expertise, and commitment to advocacy efforts that share voice, power, and impact.  

The Western Arctic Manager is a core member of The Wilderness Society’s Alaska team.  This position will lead our efforts in the Western Reserve/National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) campaign coalition and work closely with conservation partners and Alaska Native Peoples in and around the NPR-A, so that their rights, cultures, and traditions are fully included and protected. The Manager plays a critical role in cultivating and managing relationships with a range of Native partners in the Western Arctic, including activists, Tribal officials and staff, Native corporation staff, and others.  A focus of this position will be to work closely with others engaged in NPR-A (Western Reserve) issues and projects to provide local leadership, insight, and support towards conservation outcomes and other shared goals that have been inclusively developed.   Specifically, we envision the Western Arctic Manager contributing towards larger efforts to secure new protections for the NPRA, reduce oil and gas production there, and support a just transition towards a more diverse and sustainable North Slope economy. 

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, inclusion and justice strategic priorities for the organization and the Alaska TWS Western Arctic Manager will integrate these priorities throughout our Alaska program work.  Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Serve as TWS point person on Western Reserve/NPR-A coalition and coordinate with other TWS staff working on our Arctic landscape program. 
• Frequent and regular interfacing with members of the Western Reserve (NPR-A) coalition. Potentially serve as point person for coordinating activities being undertaken by coalition members and committees. Serve as air traffic controller to help grassroots and Alaska Native campaign coalition members have the tools and information (e.g. messaging, materials/documents, status of meetings and events, etc.) they need to meaningfully engage and advocate. 
• Work with coalition leadership and others to develop and execute engagement goals and priorities focused on local and Alaska Native voices and perspectives. 
• Engage in outreach efforts to Alaska Native environmental leaders and Indigenous groups such as Native Movement, Sovereign Inupiat for a Living Arctic (SILA), Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), and others.
• Establish and maintain key contacts and create an Indigenous conservation network of Native partners interested in conservation efforts focused around protecting sacred and special areas within the NPR-A. 
• Recruits, organizes, and supports local community members to engage and speak out regarding management, development, and economic planning issues connected to the  NPR-A/Western Reserve.
• Coordinates outreach across North Slope stakeholders and rightsholder groups in a timely manner. Build alliances with Alaska Native Tribal governments, Traditional Councils, Alaska Native Corporations, and other Indigenous-led entities in and around the NPR-A.
• Assists with North Slope event planning activities, such as generating turnout to key comment sessions, meetings, public events, etc. Organize rural village meetings, workshops, and cultural site-visits where there is common ground.
• Work closely with other Wilderness Society staff and partners on a current initiative to design and secure long-term NPR-A protections and management that is more inclusive of indigenous participation, rights, and traditional worldviews. 
• Develop educational tools that will foster communication, trust and common ground between Alaska Native Peoples on the North Slope and the conservation community. This includes materials on the value of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge and protected area designations as tools to protect and conserve subsistence resources. 
• Assist TWS staff in developing long-lasting and meaningful relationships with Alaska Native environmental and community leaders, elders, youth, and groups.  

QUALIFICATIONS
Experience, Competencies, and Education 

• Several years experience working with Alaska Native people and communities in the Arctic, including a solid understanding of North Slope and Inupiat culture, traditions, tribal governments, and issues. 
• Demonstrated track record of building and maintaining strong relationships and networks among diverse stakeholders, including government officials. 
• Prior experience within rural Alaska and advocacy connected to Alaska Native issues, especially on natural resource matters is a plus. 
• Strong communication and writing skills are essential. 
• Must be well organized and able to perform a variety of tasks with flexibility and creativity. 
• Willingness and ability to undertake travel to rural villages within the Arctic, to Anchorage, and to remote wilderness and NPR-A communities (for place-based meetings and workshops).  
• Track record working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives—across race and gender. 

 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, or handle; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear.  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 may be exposed to adverse weather conditions during remote travel.  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, 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.