Director, Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council, HECHO

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

From southwestern deserts to northern forestland, Hispanics throughout America have strong connections to our nation's public lands and waters. Founded in 2013, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) has worked diligently to safeguard these lands and watersheds so that future generations can enjoy fishing, hiking, hunting, camping and other outdoor activities for generations to come.

As a fiscally-sponsored partner and program with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) since 2017, HECHO plays a key role in both uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife and people thrive in our rapidly changing world and uniting and mobilizing Hispanic leaders to engage their communities in the conservation of our public lands and waters. Through our engagement of Hispanic local and elected leaders from Southwestern states and elevating their perspectives at the national level, we are an effective conduit for connecting local voices to federal conservation policy decision-making opportunities. While our focus is on the protection of public lands and waters in the American Southwest, our work has a national scope and impact. 

The HECHO team is seeking a Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC) Director who will be primarily responsible for cultivating and growing a larger, more effective HCLC – HECHO’s network of Hispanic elected, appointed, and community leaders who elevate the importance of conserving public lands and water for future generations. With support and guidance from the Executive Director, the HCLC Director will lead the strategic expansion of the HCLC and increase levels of engagement and mobilization of HCLC members in advocacy campaigns, policy initiatives, and program activities. This full-time position will drive efforts to expand HCLC membership and improve membership satisfaction by enhancing the suite of tools and resources provided to members. The Director also will supervise staff and/or oversee the work of contractors. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic expansion of the Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council, cultivating new members, retaining existing members, and deepening engagement and reach of the HCLC to influence conservation and public lands policy.
• Develop and implement new HCLC membership retention and expansion strategies. 
• Build authentic relationships with current and new HCLC members and manage staff and/or consultants engaging and mobilizing HCLC members in key states.
• Oversee the strategic development of the suite of tools and resources to engage, support, mobilize and recruit HCLC members (roundtables, networking, educational forums, skill-building workshops, etc.)
• Serve as a primary ambassador of HECHO’s HCLC program, representing the organization and program not only with HCLC members but also with key partners, policy makers, funders, media, or other audiences, as appropriate.
• As a key member of HECHO’s leadership team, contribute to overall organizational strategy, policy, and communications priorities and fundraising efforts.

Qualifications: 

• Program Innovation: With 10+ years of program development experience, proven track record of conceptualizing, designing, and implementing pioneering programs or initiatives, with clear examples of driving measurable improvements and innovative evolution.
• Strategic Relationship Cultivation: Exceptional skill and expertise in identifying and seeking out connections, building trust, and fostering relationships with high-level leaders (i.e. C-Suite executives, local/state elected officials), and proven ability to translate these relationships into meaningful support, advocacy, and active association with organizational goals and initiatives.
• Cross-Perspective Engagement: Demonstrated ability to engage constructively, build bridges, and find common ground among leaders across political perspectives.  
• Preferred Attributes:
• Experience managing multifaceted projects, leading high-performance teams, and independently solving challenges with strategic vision.
• Interpersonal acumen and institutional savvy.
• Familiarity with Hispanic cultural heritage and traditions of the Southwest.
• Location in either Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah.

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). 

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however.  Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Travel Requirements: 

This position requires in-person travel across the West and to D.C. and can anticipate 4-6 trips per year, 12-18 nights per year.

Location and Work Mode: 

We are a flexible, remote team offering the ability to work from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. However, this role requires significant in-person engagement, including frequent travel to communities across the West and periodic presence in D.C. Building relationships and working directly within these communities is a core part of the position. While flexibility is a hallmark of our work culture, being present where it matters most is essential. In rare cases, exceptional candidates whose qualifications exceed our requirements may be considered for locations outside these states.

The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work in the office, in a hybrid manner, or fully remote, to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits, and by Forbes as one of America’s best small employers!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 10 holidays.
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a marquee program within HECHO’s growing and impactful team. If this opportunity excites you and aligns with your experience and passion, please submit your up-to-date resume along with a cover letter responding to the following questions, in PDF format:

1. How have you successfully built trust and relationships with high-level leaders, such as C-Suite executives or elected officials? Provide specific examples of how you navigated their priorities and motivations.
2. Describe a program or initiative you have developed or transformed. What was your approach, and what measurable outcomes did you achieve?
3. Share your experience in managing teams and simultaneous work streams. How did you prioritize tasks, solve problems, and ensure deliverables were met effectively?

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but we expect to begin phone interviews by the beginning of February 2025.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of knowledge and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid work, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Whether you’re new to the field, returning to work after a gap in your employment, or are taking the next step in your career path, if you believe you could excel in this role we encourage you to apply! Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. To be eligible for this role you must be a U.S. citizen or have valid work authorization to work in the U.S

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.