Western Lands Fellow

Salary: $65,000.00 Annually

Position Summary

Western Resources Advocates (WRA) is hiring a Fellow to join the Western Lands Team. The Wyss Western Lands Fellow will be responsible for working with key partners, community leaders, and decision-makers to collaboratively develop and advocate for policies that conserve priority landscapes and promote sustainable public access to nature. In this position, the Wyss Fellow will focus on developing and implementing policies in New Mexico, with some opportunities to work on policies in other western states. The Wyss Fellow will have strong support, guidance and mentorship from their supervisor, the Western Lands Program Manager as well as the Western Lands Director and other members of the Western Lands team. This is a Regular, Full-Time Position, Term Limited to 2 Years.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. We respect the different needs of diverse people and partner with them to develop a shared vision for progress—one that advances communities while protecting biodiversity.

Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on the ground work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

This position is located in New Mexico and is a hybrid role working remotely and in person. Access to a major airport is required, as this position involves some travel.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Western Lands Team, with guidance from senior team members, to prepare comments, expert reports, and other materials to inform decision-makers and partners about policy decisions that protect priority habitat from new development; create new and improved sources of conservation funding; and improve community connections to, and community engagement and care for, public lands.
• Develop and maintain key relationships across New Mexico and the region with partners, elected officials, agency staff, and other stakeholders to collaboratively inform policy development for land conservation and conservation funding.
• Help create, support, and engage in diverse coalitions including community groups, local elected officials, and agency staff to develop and enact conservation policy and funding mechanisms.
• Collaborate with WRA staff to craft outreach strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively convey WRA’s positions to stakeholders and decision-makers.

Qualifications & Competencies

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position, will be considered. For example, the requisite experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities would include:

• A degree or equivalent experience in biology, wildlife management, outdoor recreation, community organizing, political science or conservation-related law.
• A strong interest in working with a diverse set of partners and stakeholders, and diving deep on policy research and development.
• Strong written communication, oral communication, and active listening skills.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to effectively manage multiple complex workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Personal experience with the outdoors in the west.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• An existing understanding of the common fault lines and common ground around the way in which people use public and private lands in the west.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.

• The work environment is a typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues.
• Prolonged periods of time at a desk and working on a computer.
• This position requires substantial travel by automobile, airplane, etc.

Travel Requirements:

Travel (including travel outside of New Mexico) to meetings, conferences, and other work-related events including Wyss Fellows Program meetings, will be required. This is in addition to travel required for retreats and other internal organizational meetings within WRA’s region (approximately 10% to 20% depending on the location of work).

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this position is $65,000. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k)-retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation leave to start, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: October 24, 2025

Expected Start Date: January 2026

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our business strategy, mission, and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. Western Resource Advocates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Apply to be A Wyss Fellow at WRA!

Thank you for your interest in the Wyss Fellowship at Western Resource Advocates. You will need to upload the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter describing your relevant qualifications and the reason for your interest in WRA and this position.
• Resume
• Writing Sample (up to 5 pages).

Please direct any questions about this position or application process to hiring@westernresources.org.

westernresourceadvocates.org

The salary for this position is $65,000. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k)-retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation leave to start, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Position is full-time exempt.