Science and Policy Director

Southeast Alaska Conservation Council is hiring!
Who We Are:
The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) is a small grassroots nonprofit based out of Juneau, Alaska, in the Tongass National Forest. For 50 years SEACC has been a regional conservation watchdog defending the remaining intact old-growth stands of the Tongass National Forest and the waters of the Inside Passage. We partner with local communities, Tribes, fishermen, businesses, and visitors to advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of our region's natural resources, and preserve a uniquely Southeast Alaskan way of life. We mix policy and technical expertise with grassroots organizing and communication skills to engage the public, advance new policy, and maintain existing protections, that we ensure the interconnected whole of Southeast Alaska exists for future generations.
SEACC is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and is currently developing an organizational statement jointly developed by board and staff that expresses our internal commitments, priorities, and pathways for advancing this work. This work is being undertaken by the organization as a whole and the effort around it is interwoven in all our programs and departments. Any future team member should share these values and priorities and be willing and interested in contributing to this ongoing internal work.
Science and Policy Director:
SEACC is seeking a Science and Policy Director to lead and manage our programmatic and campaign work. The Science and Policy Director reports directly to the Executive Director and oversees and manages the Tongass Forest Program, the Inside Passage Waters Program, and the campaign staff at SEACC (up to 4 direct reports).
The successful candidate will support and lead a high-performing team of program staff and enhance collaboration, coordination, and cooperation across the organization. In addition, the Science and Policy Director is responsible for leading the organization's work on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as we seek to become a fully anti-racist organization. The Science and Policy Director will support the work of the Executive and Deputy Director as part of a three-person executive team.
How You'll Spend Your Time:
The role breaks down as follows:
• 35% Staff Management: this role has a substantial staff management responsibility, which includes day-to-day direct management of our staff teams and their budgets, and overseeing the allocation of staff and organizational resources for the projects and issues on which we work, all informed by the strategy and policy development component, below. The Science and Policy Director will also participate in SEACC's internal management team.
• 30% Strategy and Policy Development: including leading program and campaign staff to develop new policy positions and the strategy, goals, and timelines to support and achieve them. This year we anticipate this position playing a significant role in advancing our work on the following: working with the federal administration to nest Southeast Alaska's priority areas in the Biden Administration's year one priorities; working to advance and advocate for a just resolution for ANCSA Landless communities; developing and focusing our water and mining program work; and advancing our campaign strategy regarding developing solutions for protection of carbon-rich areas on the Tongass.
• 20% Advancing Diversity and Equity at SEACC: this role will be the point person for our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, with substantial support and engagement from our Indigenous Engagement Lead, program staff, campaign staff, and our operations team (the entire staff, effectively).
• 15% Fundraising: Working with SEACC's Executive Director and Deputy Director to cultivate and court new foundation relationships, from relationship building to proposal submission and resultant grant reporting. Engagement with major donors, support hosting and attending fundraising events, board support and engagement are all part of this role.

Required Experience:
• Successful candidates for this role must have at least 3 years of experience managing two or more full-time staff (direct reports) concurrently, as the management part of this role is substantial. "Managing staff" at SEACC involves regular check-ins, working with staff on problem-solving and conflict resolution, conducting annual review processes and evaluations, approving budget expenditures and travel, etc.

More specifically, you will have most or all of the following:
• Expertise (at least five years of full-time work or five years of work + educational experience) in conservation or natural resource management - this could take the form of years of experience working in natural resource management on the ground, advanced study of conservation or natural resource management, ecology, forestry, fisheries, water and mining work, environmental, mining or Tribal law, or a related field. This position is specifically not limited to existing conservation professionals, but to be competitive the candidate will need to have fairly extensive knowledge of this region and of the political and advocacy strategies that will advance new opportunities here.
• At least three years of experience participating in advocacy, lobbying, or policy work. This could take the form of working for local municipalities, on behalf of a Tribe or Native corporation, in state government, federal government, for nonprofit organizations, as a consultant, etc. Deep knowledge of how the policy arena works (how bills are drafted, advocated for, advanced, funded, and implemented at both the state and federal level) will be critical.
• Knowledge of and experience in the nonprofit sector. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the nonprofit organizational structure and experience working directly with a Board of Directors. They will understand of nonprofit income streams, grant makers, grant writing, fundraising, nonprofit budgeting, and the rules and regulations that govern how 501c3 nonprofits operate.
• Deep knowledge of or experience in Southeast Alaska. Deep knowledge of our place and the people we work to support is a critical component of success in this work. We will implement local-preference for this position, and seek to hire a Southeast Alaskan who either is from or already resides in Southeast Alaska, who has resided in Southeast Alaska previously and seeks to return, or who has in-depth experience in and knowledge of Southeast Alaska and wants to bring that deep knowledge and experience to bear to continue to protect our region into the future. We encourage all interested candidate to apply, but as an organization we are seeking to build expertise and people-power that will remain in Southeast Alaska for years to come.

We know there is not one ideal candidate who has all of these traits, so if you have a mix of interests, skills, and experience related to the above - and a passion for this work - please don't let a gap in your strengths for this role stop you from applying or reaching out. We encourage any candidates who meet 60% or more of the above criteria to apply.
What Else You Should Know:
SEACC recognizes, supports, and values all forms of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Compensation: This role is a full-time exempt position, and the salary range for this role is between $63,000 - $72,000, with exact salary dependent upon experience. We also offer excellent benefits, including:
• 3 weeks of paid leave your first year and 4 weeks of paid leave after one year, plus
• 11 federal and state holidays, plus
• fully paid healthcare, plus
• 12 days of medical leave annually, plus
• 2 days of community service or participation leave, plus
• a 401K plan with a 5% match after just one year of employment, and
• In addition, the Executive Director closes the office between Christmas Day and New Year's Day each year as a thank you to the staff!
Where you will work: SEACC's office is located in Juneau, Alaska. During the pandemic this role may work remotely if/as needed.
• Southeast Alaskan candidates who are not located in Juneau but are interested in the position
you are strongly encouraged to apply. The selected candidate must be located in Southeast but where in Southeast may be negotiable.
• Alaskan candidates who live outside of Southeast will not be required to relocate to Southeast during the midst of the pandemic but must plan to relocate to Juneau on a negotiable timeline.
• Candidates located outside Alaska may begin work remotely, given the pandemic, but must plan to relocate to Juneau on a negotiable timeline.
More about Juneau, Alaska: Juneau, known by the Tlingit people as Dzantik'i Heeni, is the ancestral home of the Auk Kwaan and Taku Kwaan. It is also the state's capital city. The greater Juneau borough is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and is therefore rich with access to the outdoors, including fishing, hunting, foraging, kayaking, hiking, and skiing, among other activities. We have two public swimming pools, multiple fitness clubs, many city parks and libraries, and a variety of educational options for families of all ages. The community also has a vibrant arts community with numerous visual artists, dance troupes, theatre companies, two opera companies, chamber and symphony orchestras, a jazz and classics festival, and an annual folk music festival, as well as the State Museum and Sealaska Heritage Institute. The biennial Alaska Native cultural event ‘Celebration' is held every two years in Juneau, Alaska and is a major social and cultural event, with the next slated to occur in summer 2022.
Our city is famous for its rainy and sometimes gray coastal climate, and is only accessible by air travel or the state ferry system, which are considerations for those contemplating a relocation from the Lower 48.
Desired Start Date: As soon as possible but ideally no later than August 2.
Application Process: Applications are due Monday, May 31. Will continue to accept applications until role is filled.
To Apply: Please submit your resume and a cover letter to Admin@SEACC.org . Please put ‘Job Application -Science and Policy Director' and your last name in the email subject line. Applicants chosen for a second interview will be asked to provide three professional references.

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