California Conservation Manager

ABOUT THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a leading conservation organization working to protect America’s wild places and public lands for the benefit of local communities, wildlife, and the climate. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure the sound management of America’s public lands. TWS is scaling up its work to address the existential threat of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and deep inequities with access to the benefits of nature.TWS is working to achieve four major collective impact results: protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030, transitioning off fossil fuel development on public lands to well-sited renewable energy, securing equitable access to public lands and their benefits, and building a critical mass of support for conservation of public lands.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The California Conservation Manager will play a key role in advancing TWS’ mission of uniting people to protect wild places and our vision to create a future where people and wild nature flourish together, meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing planet. The Manager plays a key role in developing and implementing TWS’ projects and initiatives within the state, striving to make TWS a trusted collaborator with partners and decision makers. In addition, the Manager will ensure TWS’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of our work in the state, including having equity embedded in our state goals. This includes early and effective engagement with partners and, when possible, elevating communities that have been historically marginalized. This position will also cultivate existing relationships and further build a network to educate and influence decision-makers, media outlets, and opinion leaders on TWS’ work and priorities in the state.

The Manager is expected to be an experienced leader and strong project manager who works collaboratively and will help ensure that TWS’s work in California is well integrated across all parts of the organization. This person will bring strategic focus to help achieve the organization’s priorities in California, and ensure we approach our work in a manner that is equitable in terms of who benefits from conservation outcomes and inclusive in terms of the partners we engage.

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 California Conservation Manager will integrate these priorities throughout our work in the state. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the development and execution of strategic program priorities for the state to advance TWS’ overarching goals and vision, including engaging in place-based legislative and administrative conservation designation campaigns and participating in national policy efforts.
• Assist in the development and implementation of large landscape conservation strategies for the state.
• Implement projects and initiatives in the state to position TWS as a trusted collaborator among partners and decision makers.
• Lead coalitions where needed and provide strategic guidance to local partners to help deliver on TWS’ organizational goals.
• Assess the potential for TWS’ engagement in efforts to increase access to public lands for underserved communities.
• Represent TWS in internal working groups as requested by the California State Director.
• Support TWS’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion including having equity embedded into the development and implementation of our state goals. This includes early and effective engagement with partners and, when possible, elevating communities that have been historically marginalized.
• Foster existing relationships and further build a network to educate and influence decision-makers, media outlets, and opinion leaders on TWS’ work and priorities in the state.
• Work effectively with Tribal Leaders and communities and a wide range of diverse interests, including but not limited to elected officials and their staff, non-profit partners, agency staff, lawyers, scientists, members of industry (e.g., timber, mining, etc.), user groups (e.g., recreationalists, ranchers etc.) and grassroots activists.
• In coordination with the California State Director, effectively engage with government relations, research, policy, communications, and fundraising experts at TWS to ensure our work in California is well integrated with organizational priorities and fully utilizes TWS’ expertise and resources.
• Prepare written and visual materials such as fact sheets, blogs, action alerts, and other materials that demonstrate the importance of community-based conservation to the health, economic vitality, and quality of life for the people living in and around California.
• Serve as a credible and trusted spokesperson for relevant media outlets, in coordination with California State Director and TWS External Affairs staff when appropriate.
• Travel as needed in support of mission-critical activities (expected to be irregular, but up to 3-5 days per month on average, and may depend on location) to gain first-hand knowledge of public lands, plan and host events and site visits, and develop relationships with partners and key stakeholders throughout the region.
• Assist with grant proposal and report writing and other fundraising efforts as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 5 years of experience working on or leading issue/advocacy or political campaigns and/or working to advance public policy changes at the local, state or federal level.
• Successful track record of building relationships and collaborating with a diverse network of stakeholders in an inclusive, transparent, and effective manner.
• Experience with public land issues and/or environmental policy required.
• Commitment to working with others in accomplishing our goals in an equitable and inclusive manner.
• Solid interpersonal skills that have been successfully used in partnerships and coalitions to address complex issues.
• Strong strategic thinking skills and a demonstrated ability to set goals and priorities, craft effective strategies, and deliver results.
• Good time management skills, with the ability to aptly balance short- and long-term demands.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively in public with donors, partners, elected officials, and the media.
• Motivated to achieve results and comfortable working independently with minimal supervision.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively (primarily in state and often in rural areas)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those typically required to perform the essential functions of this role. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals of all abilities to succeed in this position.

While performing the duties of this job, an individual may occasionally be expected to: sit, stand, walk, use hands for tasks requiring fine motor skills, reach with arms, ascend or descend stairs, and communicate verbally. Visual tasks may require the ability to focus on objects at close range.

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 preferred location for this position is Western Los Angeles Metro area (Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley/San Fernando Valley/Pasadena); Other locations in Southern California may be considered. The anticipated salary range for this role is $85,000-$92,000. To apply please submit your resume and cover letter by August 31st, 2025.

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, sick and vacation leave, paid parental 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.

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society