Conservation Policy and Advocacy Fellow

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
Mass Audubon’s Policy and Advocacy Department is seeking a Conservation Policy and Advocacy Fellow. This is a two-year Fellowship position funded by the Wyss Foundation. This Fellow will be a fully integrated contributor to one or more of Mass Audubon’s Policy and Advocacy campaigns. We research and design innovative policy solutions, lobby legislators and state and local policymakers, and organize our communities to build a grassroots movement that elevates nature as a key solution to the climate and biodiversity crises.

A top priority for the Fellow in Year 1 will be supporting our Nature for Massachusetts campaign to secure a statewide funding mechanism for nature conservation and restoration, to support the state’s goal to protect thirty percent of the state by 2030 and forty percent by 2050.

They will also provide support for our other ongoing advocacy campaigns, which are currently focused on: responsible siting of clean energy and grid resources; reducing the use of deadly rodent poisons harmful to wildlife; and accelerating wetlands restoration to bolster climate resilience across Massachusetts. These campaigns are designed to deliver high-impact, systemic policy solutions and programs that set Massachusetts apart as a leader on the most critical issues of our time: climate change, biodiversity, and inequitable access to nature.

Application Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application.

Responsibilities
The range of activities that the Fellow will engage in to shape and contribute to winning campaigns will include policy research and analysis, legislative outreach, strategic policy communications, and grassroots organizing. Mentoring opportunities will include regular check-ins with advocacy staff and leadership; participation in team, organizational, and external meetings with key state and local policymakers; engaging in a variety of policy forums (e.g., webinars, stakeholder gatherings), and the chance to develop and co-lead one or more key initiatives within the ongoing campaign framework. Examples of activities and tasks the Fellow would engage in on behalf of Policy and Advocacy campaigns and priorities include:

Nature for Massachusetts Campaign

Develop and deploy campaign communications, key messaging, social media, and other tactics
Support Mass Audubon’s policy and advocacy staff and volunteers in coordinating the Nature for Massachusetts coalition and collaborating with campaign committees and consultants
Support, design, and implement strategies around engaging with legislators and their offices to build support for the campaign goals
Contribute to campaign coalition development through partner outreach and cultivation
Develop and implement models for statewide organizing of grassroots advocates, in collaboration with Mass Audubon’s field organizing staff
Policy Research and Analysis

Support the evaluation of local, state, regional and federal policies, regulations, and programs to advance environmental protection, climate resilience and mitigation, and deployment of clean energy and nature-based solutions
Research specific bills, and/or legislative and regulatory programs and proposals
Conduct primary research on emerging issues impacting our objectives (e.g., impacts of clean energy infrastructure on wildlife and habitat)
Write legislative summaries, draft letters of support/opposition and other relevant summaries
Synthesize findings and insights from datasets, peer-review literature, white papers, etc.
Research legislative supporters and opponents, conduct power mapping analyses to identify campaign targets
Strategic Communications and Advocacy Campaigns

Create content for fact sheets, presentations, draft case studies, training materials, talking points, action alerts, and content for social media and website
Contribute to written reports, letters, proposals and plans
Develop charts, infographics and other visualizations of quantitative information
Support Policy and Advocacy team members to implement tactics on behalf of Mass Audubon’s grassroots advocacy (e.g., recruiting volunteers for campaign work, creating databases and conducting data analysis)
Team and Campaign Support and Administration

Support campaigns by taking meeting notes and defining priority take-away tasks, provide task and project management activities (e.g., sending meeting requests, developing task assignments and timelines), and other team and project management activities
Participate in regular teamwide and organizational activities (weekly meetings, staff outings)
Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Must Haves

Bachelor’s degree (degrees or fields of study especially suitable for this work include Environmental Studies/Policy, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, social sciences, urban planning, data science, or related fields)
Enthusiasm for policy and advocacy, especially related to climate change, biodiversity, and providing access to nature to all
Excellent research skills, including strong attention to details
Strong writing and speaking skills
Ability to manage time and resources to meet deadlines under fast-paced campaign and schedules
Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook)
Ability to be in Lincoln and Boston offices each week
Nice to Haves

1-3 years of relevant work experience
Ability to communicate technical concepts to general audiences highly desirable
Data and quantitative analysis skills
Strong task and project management skills
Valid driver’s license, and willingness to travel throughout the state
Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $50,000-$55,000 per year (approximately $24.04-$26.45 per hour based on 40 hours of work per week); actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements.

Benefits eligible staff at Mass Audubon may elect to enroll in medical, dental, and vision plans. Mass Audubon also offers disability and life insurance plans, a retirement plan, and Flexible Spending Account options. Mass Audubon employment also includes access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through and the Reciprocity Agreement through the Consortium of Non-Profit Arts/Cultural/Environmental Organizations of New England. Mass Audubon employees enjoy 13 paid holidays (holidays may shift annually due to where days fall within calendar).

Work Schedule
This is a term-limited, 24-month position. Full time schedule of 40 hours, Monday through Friday.

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.