Director, Energy and Biodiversity Program
Defenders of Wildlife (Private) | https://defenders.org/
Details
Posting:
Application Deadline:
06/27/2025
Published:
05/05/2025
Starting Date:
after 5/5/2025
Hours per Week:
40
Salary:
$120,000 to $140,000 per year
Education Required:
Bachelors
Experience Required:
at least 10 years
Locations:
1130 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA (Washington, D.C.)
600 17th St, Suite 450N, Denver CO 80202 (Colorado)
remote work allowed
600 17th St, Suite 450N, Denver CO 80202 (Colorado)
remote work allowed
Description
The Director, Energy and Biodiversity Program leads Defenders of Wildlife’s development and implementation of strategies to ensure that energy projects of all types are developed and sited in ways to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts to imperiled wildlife and habitats. The Director is responsible for advancing Defenders’ conservation mission, strategic plan and conservation priorities. This position collaborates closely with other departments including Government Relations, Biodiversity Law Center, Center for Conservation Innovation, Species Conservation & Coexistence and Communications.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work with the Vice President of Land and Habitat Conservation, Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs and other staff to develop a set of goals and objectives for advancing Defenders’ energy and biodiversity work.
- Collaborate with Defenders’ team of policy experts, attorneys, scientists, lobbyists, communications specialists and field advocates to oppose the administration and congressional efforts to eliminate or weaken federal environmental statutes and regulations associated with the push to increase fossil fuel development on federal lands and in federal coastal waters.
- Develop Defenders’ positions on legislative and administrative proposals addressing the development and siting of energy projects.
- Facilitate internal coordination of Defenders’ existing energy work and interdisciplinary approaches to accomplish goals and objectives.
- Participate as the voice for wildlife in private sector efforts to find common ground around energy siting.
- Serve as Defenders’ representative on national energy and biodiversity issues to department and agency officials and represent Defenders in public meetings, hearings, press events, conferences, coalitions, and in general communications with public officials, legislators, the media, Defenders’ membership, the donor community, and the general public.
- Research, write, and/or supervise the development of policy papers, memos, blogs, reports, websites, action alerts, publications and other products for advocacy purposes, coordinating with other departments as necessary.
- Direct program efforts to draft comments, appeals, and objections in response to proposed regulatory actions, plans and proposals on priority issues and in priority places; and when necessary direct program efforts to prepare to support litigation efforts.
- Work with Development staff to raise operating funds for the program.
- Develop short- and long-range operating objectives, organizational structure, and staffing requirements.
- Develop and recommend the program budget.
- Ensure optimum performance of group function. Recommend and implement techniques to improve productivity, increase efficiencies, cut costs and maintain state-of-the-art practices.
- Recommend, review and approve employment actions, including interviewing, hiring, promotions and raises, in conjunction with Human Resources. Partner with Human Resources in the handling of disciplinary issues.
- Ensure communication of duties and responsibilities to direct reports and monitor performance. Provide regular coaching and counseling. Identify training needs. Prepare and deliver salary and performance reviews. Review and approve performance and salary appraisals as necessary.
- Ensure relevant Vice Presidents, the Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs and the President and CEO are kept apprised of significant issues related to policy positions and priorities of the organization.
- Some Travel is required for this position.
- Perform all other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Experience: 10 years of relevant experience; 5 years supervisory experience
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
Contact
Holden Bossert
Hbossert@defenders.org (preferred contact method)