Position: Rivers and Waters Program Associate
Date: September 11, 2023
Reports to: Senior Water Policy Analyst
POSITION SUMMARY: The River and Waters Program Associate will support the strategic engagement of New Mexico Wild in legislative policy, community organizing, and other advocacy activities to promote the conservation of New Mexico’s wilderness, wildlife, and water. This position will focus on protecting New Mexico’s rivers, surface waters, and watersheds, as well as connecting water related efforts and issues with the organization’s public lands work. The Rivers and Waters Program Associate will also support the position and expansion of New Mexico Wild’s mission by grassroots organizing in our diverse partnerships with community groups and organizations with shared interests in land, water, and wildlife. Program activities will be approached with consideration towards justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion and will be coordinated with our local community-based offices to ensure cohesion and collaboration across our conservation initiatives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support State Policy and Legislative Efforts, Community Organizing, Coalition and Partnership Building
- Work closely with the Senior Water Policy Analyst, Conservation Director, Staff Attorney, Communications staff, other staff, and key partners to research, monitor, and analyze policies related to water and lands protection opportunities;
- Support the implementation of an organizational strategy for New Mexico Wild’s continued engagement in water policy and management, particularly as it relates to river health, centering equity in water planning and management, and ensuring access for all human and non-human communities that rely on these waterways;
- Prepare white papers, fact sheets, comments, letters, and other materials aimed at advancing and defending New Mexico Wild’s policy agenda;
- Participate in coalitions in priority landscapes, particularly those with a lands protection and water policy nexus;
- Remain current on and, when appropriate, participate in research efforts that are likely to inform water policy or management;
- Effectively communicate the goals and objectives of New Mexico Wild’s water policy work to decision-makers, funders, partners, and other stakeholders;
- Attend public meetings, such as state legislative meetings or public comment hearings;
- In cooperation with the Senior Water Policy Analyst and Communications staff develop content for submission to publications, social media, websites, media, and to our membership;
- Keep current on water management issues and the associated political dynamics;
- Organize and attend public outreach event with the goal of building public support for New Mexico Wild’s policy goals and broadening a base of informed community-based water advocates;
- Lead grassroots organizing efforts to support New Mexico Wild’s water policy goals and influence state, regional, and federal agency decisions and plans.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
A passion for New Mexico’s rivers and waters, general knowledge of the western water management and policy landscape, and strong communication skills are required to be successful in this position. Additional desired qualifications are listed below; however, we encourage candidates to apply who meet only some of these qualifications. The below list is not exhaustive, and you may have additional skills and relevant experience, particularly lived experience, that will make you a strong candidate. We are looking to find the right addition to our team and encourage candidates whose passion and career goals align with this posting, even if you don’t meet every qualification listed below.
- Bachelor’s degree or above in natural resources, environmental science, political science, or policy, or a related field;
- A commitment to working with, and uplifting the voices of, traditional communities across the state. Demonstrated experience working within diverse communities a bonus;
- Excitement and willingness to learn and become proficient in a variety of issue areas related to land and water protection and conservation;
- Strong sense of environmental justice and commitment to centering those communities most affected in our work;
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively to identify creative solutions to complex problems;
- Ability and willingness to travel throughout the state for meetings and other events;
- 3 years of relevant work experience in policy advocacy, organizing, and/or establishing relationships with a diverse array of community and organizational partners;
- Spanish and/or Native language skills.
The successful candidate for this job will be smart, curious, creative, and excited to both work with and learn from coalitions and communities. They will be expected to work independently and as an effective member of teams and coalitions, with a passion for protecting public lands and waters. Across our team, we aspire to be results oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.
Details:
POSITION TITLE: Rivers and Waters Program Associate
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt Status
REPORTS TO: Senior Water Policy Analyst
TYPE: Full time
LOCATION: Any location within New Mexico will be considered. Preference will be given for candidates in the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces metro areas and a hybrid in-office/remote position is preferred.
SALARY RANGE: $50,000-$60,000
BENEFITS:
Generous Holiday and Paid Time Off Policy
Health insurance
Dental and vision
Retirement 503b Matching
Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Please email a resume and cover letter to jobs@nmwild.org to apply or use the form below.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO WILD:
The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (doing business as “New Mexico Wild”) was founded in 1997. New Mexico Wild is an independent, grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to conserving New Mexico’s public lands, wild places, waters, and wildlife. With staff, directors of the board, volunteers and dues-paying members in every corner of the state, we have the local ties, expertise, credibility, political access and organizing chops to effectively defend and proactively protect our most special public lands. New Mexico Wild has demonstrated success assembling broad coalitions of diverse stakeholders and nurturing local voices to participate and lead place-based conservation efforts and issue advocacy. Our model of collaboration cultivates credible local messengers and provides them with the tools and resources to articulate the values to be protected and creates the political and strategic framework around which successful campaigns are built. We are well positioned to apply our hard-won experience to today’s profoundly challenging political environment to build upon past conservation victories.
New Mexico Wild is a statewide, non-governmental grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to conserving federal public lands in New Mexico. New Mexico Wild is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair and equal treatment of its employees regardless of differences based on culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability or sexual orientation.
