From the Northwoods, to the shores of Lake Michigan, to the mighty Mississippi, Wisconsin’s natural environment is something special. Wisconsin Environment is seeking a Conservation Advocate to conserve and protect our special places, defend the wildlife that call our state home, reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and other products that needlessly pollute and waste resources, and promote clean energy solutions.
Our Conservation Advocate will lead our efforts to protect the places that make Wisconsin a special place to live. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to a broad range of organizations and affected constituency groups across the political spectrum to demonstrate support for our goals, including unlikely allies who might agree with us on one issue, even if we disagree on other issues.
- Organize events and recruit volunteers: Organize webinars, community events and public meetings. Recruit organizations and members of the public to attend and participate.
- Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize media events and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaign.
- Help shape program priorities: Participate in policy development, research and messaging to determine our priorities and policy positions for environmental protection in Wisconsin.
- Advocate: Present a compelling case to decision-makers for strong action on the environment through lobbying, testifying at hearings, and producing powerful written materials. Build relationships with key players in the state, the region and at the federal level.
- Fundraise: Write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and raise money from individual donors to bring more resources to our campaigns.
- Grow our team: Identify and recruit strong candidates to join our staff. Hire and manage interns to maximize the impact of your campaigns. Potential to oversee staff.
You are:
- Passionate about the environment and using the power of grassroots organizing to win campaigns.
- A campaign advocate or grassroots organizer with at least 2 years of advocacy or organizing experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience.
- An effective communicator with excellent writing and public speaking skills. Experience getting traditional and digital media coverage in previous work is a plus.
- Creative and effective at solving complex problems; a strategic thinker who can take advantage of new opportunities.
- A connector and good listener with a track record of bringing people together around a common goal; willing and interested in working with people who think differently than you.
- Well-organized and able to work on multiple legislative and administrative proposals at once.
- Able to travel regularly and be motivated to work when needed, which may sometimes be in the evenings and on weekends.
Additional helpful experience:
- Experience in a state legislature or other government office, or with an environmental or public health advocacy organization is a plus but not required.
- Fundraising experience, particularly in grant-seeking from charitable foundations.
Compensation and Benefits
The target annual compensation for someone with 2-5 years of relevant experience is $41,750-$46,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. Wisconsin Environment offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.
Our Mission and Values
Wisconsin Environment and Environment America are part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change. Visit
https://wisconsinenvironment.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.
Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.
Wisconsin Environment is an equal opportunity employer.
