Principal Associate, Field Operations

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.  

Field Operations  

Field Operations (Field) advances public policy solutions for Pew campaigns by engaging international officials, policymakers, local elected officials and other relevant stakeholders in their home states and countries through education, mobilization, coalition building, media coverage and government official outreach and engagement. Field staff and contractors (organizers) develop unique state and country specific strategies and then organize and execute field activities under the direction of Washington, DC field staff. In all efforts, field works in coordination with program, government relations, communications and other Pew staff to tailor state/country-specific strategies that contribute to national and international campaign goals.   

• Education: Field uses the best-available science and data to educate the public and policy makers about policy issues for Pew’s Environment TOPs (Trust-Operated Projects). Organizers advance local understanding of issues and policy goals through fact-based presentations, roundtables and other forums. DC-based field staff collaborates with organizers and program staff to engage leading experts, synthesize research and localize information for educational outreach.   

• Organizing: Field recruits and mobilizes diverse stakeholders, such as community leaders, businesses, institutions and grassroots supporters, by building coalitions and public support for campaigns’ policy objectives. Organizers involve stakeholders in policy discussions through local activities and educational events, sign-on letters, fly-ins forums and videos. DC-based field staff works with organizers and program staff to identify optimal organizing strategies for each campaign.   

• Communications: Field informs the public and policy makers about campaigns priorities by increasing media coverage of policy goals. Field organizers identify third party spokespeople, draft author opinion editorials, work with local media in op-ed and letters to the editor placement and assist supporters and coalition partners in their media outreach and strategic messaging. DC-based field staff collaborates with organizers, communications and program staff to develop materials for diverse media outlets.   

• Government Relations: Field engages policymakers on Pew’s campaign policy objectives by coordinating public outreach to government officials at all levels – local, state, federal and international. Organizers facilitate public interaction with government officials through public events, as well as in-district and Hill meetings tailored to the local political landscape. DC staff work with organizers, government relations and program staff to coordinate all federal, state and local government outreach efforts.   

Position Overview  

The principal associate, field operations, is part of the field services unit based in Washington, D.C. The team supports campaigns that require field and on-the-ground resources to complement existing efforts and assists in developing and implementing targeted legislative, advocacy and communications field strategies such as organizing, generating media coverage, and managing government relations. The principal associate will engage in tactical strategy development and campaign design as it relates to field operations as well as coordinate with other programmatic and operations units at The Pew Charitable Trusts.  

This position reports to the Senior Officer, field operations and will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week. 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. 

• Supervise and support ten-to-fifteen full-time contract organizers to manage field needs domestically and internationally. Develop and supervise the implementation of organizers’ work plans, consistent with public policy objectives, and adapt them to specific circumstances. Coordinate organizers’ activities with other Pew staff and partners. Maintain the highest professional standards in achieving public policy objectives.  

• Lead field operations activities for one or more specific policy or campaign objectives.  Work with the policy teams, government relations, communications and other staff to develop strategies and work plans for all field organizers involved in the policy initiative, and keep staff apprised of the field operation’s activities. Troubleshoot and modify strategies and work plans as needed.    

• Develop and implement strategy to create and modify materials including fact sheets, legislative correspondence, action alerts, op-eds, press releases, presentations, and talking points. Conduct research necessary to produce materials. With field services team, develop “campaign field guide” on best practices for outreach, and agenda for tactical training programs.  

• Assist in managing and mentoring field operations contractors.    

• Work with the Senior Officer, Field Operations to develop campaign strategy, government relations targets and budgets for field contracts.   

• Work with the Senior Officer, Field Operations to expand and adjust strategic field operations as necessary.  

• Assist in identifying and recruiting additional field organizers, campaign specialists and partner groups.   

• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives. 

Requirements   

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.   

• Generally, six years of related professional experience. Experience in at least two of the following areas is required: project management, public policy advocacy, organizing, generating media coverage and engaging policy makers.  

• Experience successfully managing consultants and mentoring colleagues and staff required.  

• Experience working on political campaigns or advocacy campaigns working to pass legislation through Congress or state legislatures required.  

• Experience generating earned media a plus.  

• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including communicating complex ideas for a general audience.  

• Strong interpersonal skills, including experience managing and developing productive relationships with staff, consultants, partners, and others.  

• A detail-oriented style with a focus on results. Capacity to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization. Experience developing and moving projects forward with independence and autonomy yet working in a cooperative spirit in a multi-disciplinary team.  

• Available outside normal business hours when essential to organizational priorities.  

• Effective use of basic Microsoft Office Suite software.  

Travel  

This position may require occasional travel (consistent with COVID-19 safety protocols).