Senior Associate, Conservation Canada

The Environment Portfolio at The Pew Charitable Trusts

For more than 30 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pew’s global environmental program focuses on science-based, nonpartisan, and sustainable solutions to help protect the planet and people. We work in partnership with governments, Indigenous rights holders, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, scientists, and other researchers to advance public policy so that nature and communities can thrive.

Since 1990, Pew has worked in North America, South America and Australia to protect large and critically important terrestrial ecosystems, including rivers and other freshwater resources, coastal temperate rainforests, interior mountain ranges, the northern boreal forests, Australia’s Outback, and Chilean Patagonia. We work to ensure these natural systems remain bountiful, functioning, and resilient, providing essential ecological services such as clean air and clean water, sustenance and food security for local communities and more broadly for the welfare of current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, sociology, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity. 

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew’s ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating large scale marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems. We also work to address systemic threats to the ocean, including from plastics, over-and-illegal fishing, seabed mining, and climate change.

Conservation Canada

Through collaborations with Indigenous peoples and other partners, Pew’s Conservation Canada project aims to protect between 5% and 7% of Canada's lands and seas—roughly 160 million acres of land and 120,000 square miles of ocean—to bring the total level of protection of its terrestrial and marine resources up to at least 20% by 2028. In addition, the project promotes science-based fisheries and ecosystem conservation measures for depleted and threatened marine life.

Seaweed Farming 

The Seaweed Farming project aims to establish the foundation for the sustainable and inclusive development of seaweed farming in Alaska and British Columbia by creating community-led visions for growth in major farming regions, building baseline ecological data and monitoring schemes, expanding precautionary safeguards, and supporting Indigenous and other small-scale producers’ engagement in farming and government consultation processes. 

Position Overview

The senior associate collaborates with project leadership to support Pew’s work in British Columbia, Canada as it relates to the objectives of two, distinct but overlapping efforts – the Seaweed Farming and Conservation Canada projects. Reporting to the senior officer, Conservation Canada in Portland, Oregon, the senior associate will work in support of other Pew staff and in-country partners, especially Indigenous People and Governments, to support conservation and sustainable development initiatives through efforts to: 1) advance sustainable and inclusive growth of the local seaweed farming industry, 2) establish Marine Protected Areas and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and 3) secure fisheries management reforms that implement an Ecosystem-Based Approach and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Working closely with colleagues in each project and across Pew, this position will help to produce campaign materials, coordinate advocacy outreach and policy research, and develop and maintain partnerships with First Nations, non-governmental organizations, elected officials, and the Canadian and Provincial Public Service.  

Located in Victoria or Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada or surrounding areas, this position offers flexibility to work from home 100% of the time excluding travel, meetings, and site visits. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities  

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project’s related goals. 
• Support the Senior Officer, Conservation Canada and broader Seaweed Farming and Conservation Canada projects, in the development and implementation of effective strategies and plans to deliver the project’s objectives.
• Assist the senior officer and other project staff in preparing and facilitating the internal review and approval of issue briefs, web features, newsletters, campaign updates and other materials.
• Plan, organize, and represent Pew at stakeholder meetings, conferences, and other events; comfortably discuss complex subject matter with rights-holders and stakeholders, including government officials. 

• Conduct policy research and provide recommendations for policy and regulatory solutions. 
• Collaborate with Pew colleagues, including other environment staff, finance, institutional partnerships, communications, conservation science, and government relations. 
•  Assist the senior officer in developing and managing contracts. Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives. 

Requirements  

• Effective written and oral communication skills in English; French is a plus.
• Skilled at eliciting viewpoints and visions on natural resource management from rights-holders, stakeholders, and decision-makers and at informing and influencing internal and external audiences through written and oral communications.
• Time- and project-management skills. 
• Aptitude to apply a non-partisan, evidence-based approach to projects and campaigns that require support across the political spectrum.  
• Excellent applied research and analytical skills, including synthesizing large sets of information and identifying key themes.
• Systems skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products, particularly Excel and PowerPoint. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.  
• Generally, four years of applicable experience. 

Key attributes and preferred experience  

• Naturally develops and manages productive and collaborative relationships.
• Skilled at moving projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Diplomatic skills, including experience working productively with a wide array of different people and institutions that may disagree with and are in competition with one another.
• Experience with policy advocacy and campaigns, especially in natural resources management and Indigenous-led conservation. Geographic familiarity (e.g. Canada and/or BC) also preferable.

Travel  

This position requires frequent domestic and international travel to meetings and conferences. 

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

This position offers a competitive salary and benefit program.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.