JOIN OUR TEAM: JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS

The Center for Biological Diversity is a 501(c)3 nonprofit conservation organization with more than 180,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. We have more than 60 staff in offices in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, D.C. It is the policy of the Center for Biological Diversity to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, political affiliation, family responsibility, matriculation, personal appearance, or economic background, or any other legally protected status. Candidates with diverse backgrounds encouraged to apply.

We are accepting applications for the following positions:.

Bookkeeper
Climate Program Associate
Major Gifts Officer
Membership Assistant
Public Lands Advocate
Staff Attorney — Alaska and Arctic Protection
Staff Attorney — Southeast Biodiversity Protection
Staff Scientist — Alaska and Arctic Protection
Staff Scientist — Climate Change and Public Lands
Internships

ABOUT THE CENTER

Bookkeeper
Full time in Tucson, Arizona

General position overview: The Center seeks a Bookkeeper to support the financial department and assist in the day-to-day bookkeeping of the organization.  The position will be supervised by the Director of Finance.

Primary duties:
• Processing accounts payable and coordinating the issuance of checks
• Administering in-house reimbursements and company credit cards
• Preparing weekly deposits
• Entering all accounts payable information and cash receipts into Peachtree Accounting
• Reconciling checking and savings accounts with monthly statements
• Maintaining accurate and timely accounting records
• Maintaining electronic and paper documentation systems for all financial administration
• Processing outsourced payroll, maintaining employee records, and managing benefits
• Assisting the Director of Finance with various tasks

Qualfications:
• One year of bookkeeping, secretarial, and/or office management work experience
• Basic accounting or money-handling experience
• Common sense and ability to make decisions independently
• Commitment to accuracy and detail
• An innate propensity to be organized
• Ability to balance multiple tasks in a busy environment
• Positive attitude and commitment to constructive communication and cooperation in a casual professional setting
• Solid computer skills and high comfort level with Microsoft Office
• Enthusiasm for supporting the protection of plants, animals, and wild lands
• Desire to use strong communication and business skills in a nonprofit setting for a good cause
•  Candidates with experience in Excel, Word, and Peachtree preferred

Salary: The salary for the Bookkeeper position is commensurate with other nonprofit organizations and includes an excellent vacation and benefits package. 

Application Process: Please send a cover letter, a résumé, and references via email to: bookkeeper@biologicaldiversity.org. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The position will remain open until filled.  Desired start date is as soon as possible.

Climate Program Associate
Full time in San Francisco, California

General position overview: The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a full-time Climate Program Associate to work as part of our Climate Program. Our Climate Program works to protect endangered species and ecosystems by reducing greenhouse gas pollution and improving management for species most threatened by the climate crisis.  The program has initiated a number of cases to enforce existing state and federal laws that already address global warming, as well as implementing administrative projects to protect species most at risk, including petitions to list species such as the polar bear, penguins, and reef-building corals under the Endangered Species Act due to global warming.

Duties: The Climate Program Associate will be responsible for providing administrative and program support to the Climate Program Director, as well as drafting a wide range of climate-related communications and interacting with the media; local, state, and federal agencies; other environmental organizations; and the public.  Some travel required.

Qualifications:
• A university degree
• Three years related experience
• Excellent writing and speaking skills
• A demonstrated commitment to environmental protection
• Scientific literacy
• An ability to multi-task efficiently and to work well with others as a part of an effective team
• A strong work ethic 
• Familiarity with the scientific literature on climate change and familiarity with environmental law strongly preferred

Salary: The salary for the Climate Program Associate position is commensurate with other nonprofit organizations and includes an excellent vacation and benefits package.  Position to be located in our San Francisco office. 

Application process: Please send a cover letter, a résumé, references, and a writing sample via email (no paper) to climateassociate@biologicaldiversity.org with the heading “Attn: Climate Associate.”  The position will be open until filled.  No telephone calls please. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Major Gifts Officer
Full time in Tucson, Arizona or San Francisco, California

General Position Overview: The Center seeks a full-time Major Gifts Officer to cultivate current major donors, identify and cultivate prospective donors, and solicit major gifts for the organization.  As part of our Development Team, the Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for meeting annual revenue goals and will be instrumental in implementing a plan for the development and growth of the Major Gifts Program. 

Duties:
• Assist in development, strategy, and execution of the Center’s major gift program, and provide guidance to the board of directors, executive director, development director, and other development staff in major gift solicitation.
• Develop proposals, appeals and package giving opportunities to prospects, and create correspondence to donors to acknowledge and cultivate gifts.
• Steward and build relationships with current and prospective high-level donors through email, phone, and when possible, in-person communications.
• Develop and implement strategies for identification and cultivation of new major gifts prospects.
• Develop creative approaches to upgrading donors.
• Build relationships with program staff and others to acquire the information needed to solicit gifts and build donor relationships effectively.
• Collaborate with other development staff to strengthen and coordinate major gifts strategies.
• Assist in execution of major donor events and individual meetings.
• Maintain detailed records of donor communications and research.
• Manage donor reports and queries.

Qualifications: This position requires an independent, highly-motivated and proactive fundraiser with a proven track record in securing major gifts. The best candidate for this job will possess:

• Three to five years in nonprofit development, at least two of which have been in direct solicitation.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles and practices including annual giving, direct mail and planned giving. 
• Strong initiative and self-motivation, commitment to goal attainment, and ability to function both as a leader and a partner within a team.
• Ability to motivate and engage donors and volunteers.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills; excellent research skills; superior written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management, attention to detail, organizational, and analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and database programs. 
• Bachelor's degree.
• Interest in and working knowledge of environmental and conservation issues highly desirable.

Salary is commensurate with experience. The Center offers a generous benefits package including employer paid medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, and 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match.

Application Process: To apply please email cover letter, resume, and 2-4 page writing sample to: majorgifts@biologicaldiversity.org. Position open until filled. Target hire date mid-August 2008.

Membership Assistant
Part time in Tucson, Arizona

General position overview: The Membership Assistant is supervised immediately by the Membership Associate and may also work with the Membership Director and assist other fundraising staff. The assistant’s role is as a team member but he or she will complete some tasks independently.

Minimum duties:
• Opening and sorting membership mail (including donations)
• Entering member information and donations in membership
database
• Reconciling gift entry for bank deposits
• Processing checks, assisting in preparing deposits
• Preparing and mailing thank-you notes and merchandise  to members
• Assembling and mailing membership and information packets
• Assisting with follow-up on information requests from public
• Filing
• Helping with errands
• Maintaining organization of office workspace

Other potential responsibilities/projects, depending on experience and skill level:
• Assisting with phone calls to members
• Tabling/public outreach at community events

Qualifications:
• Ability to complete detail-oriented work with a very high level of accuracy
• Reliability, consistency, self-motivation
• Mid-level computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel (database training will be provided)
• Sense of humor, respect for co-workers and donor confidentiality
• Interest in endangered species protection and conservation work desired

Salary: Wages start at $8/hour, with an expectation of 24 hours to be worked per week.

Application process: Please submit a cover letter and résumé to Nicole Silvester at nsilvester@biologicaldiversity.org. The position will remain open until filled.
 

Public Lands Advocate
Full time in Flagstaff, Arizona

General position overview: The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a full-time Public Lands Advocate to work as part of our Public Lands Program. The Center’s Public Lands Program works to ensure that America’s public lands are protected, restored, and managed for the benefit of species and ecosystems in the context of a warming climate. The Public Lands Advocate works to protect and restore federal public lands in Arizona and New Mexico by monitoring and engaging federal actions affecting species and ecosystems therein. The position demands excellent communication skills and a working knowledge of the laws, ecosystems, species, and politics attending federal public lands in the Southwest. It involves frequent media outreach, drafting reports, public education, some travel, and providing administrative support to the Public Lands Director as needed.

Duties: The Public Lands Advocate is responsible for monitoring and engaging federal actions affecting priority ecosystems and species on federal public lands in Arizona and New Mexico. This includes monitoring and tracking agency actions, writing comments and administrative appeals, and assisting Center attorneys in litigation. Agency actions include but are not limited to timber sales, livestock grazing, road construction, mining, and energy development. The Public Lands Advocate is also responsible for frequent media outreach, drafting reports, and effectively interacting with media, agencies, the public, other environmental organizations, and scientists. S/he will also provide a limited amount of administrative support for the Public Lands Director.

Qualifications: 
• B.S. or B.A. in environmental science or policy and five years of relevant experience; M.S. or J.D. highly desirable
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Familiarity with laws, species, ecosystems, land uses and politics laws attending federal public lands in the American Southwest
• Ability to monitor, track, and engage priority federal actions including timber sales, livestock grazing, road construction, mining, and energy development
• Specific familiarity with the NEPA, ESA, NFMA, FLPMA, APA and other laws directly pertinent to federal public lands
• Specific familiarity with forest, fire, livestock, mining, and energy development issues in addition to federal land-use planning
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection

Salary: The salary will be commensurate with experience and competitive with other nonprofit organizations. The position includes an excellent vacation and benefits package.

Application process: Please send a cover letter, résumé, references, and a writing sample via email to publiclandsadvocate@biologicaldiversity.org. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The position will remain open until filled.

Staff Attorney — Alaska and Arctic Protection
Full time in Anchorage, Alaska

General position overview: The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to work on biodiversity protection issues in and affecting Alaska and the Arctic. Particular emphasis of the position will be advocating for the protection of vulnerable Arctic species such as polar bears and other marine mammals in the face of global warming, offshore oil and gas development, industrial fishing, shipping, and other emerging threats. The Staff Attorney will work closely with the Center’s climate and oceans programs in developing and implementing actions and strategies focused on both reducing the Arctic melt and adapting wildlife management to the changing conditions of a warming Arctic. 

Duties: The attorney will be responsible for developing, managing, and litigating cases; as well as engaging in policy advocacy; interacting with local, state, and federal agencies, scientists, other environmental organizations, and the public; and doing media outreach.  Frequent travel required.

Qualifications:
• Three years civil litigation experience
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• A demonstrated commitment to environmental protection
• Scientific literacy
• An ability to manage a litigation docket and work with other lawyers and staff members as part of an effective team
• A strong work ethic
• Familiarity with the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and other relevant statutes (not required but strongly desired)

Salary: The salary will be commensurate with those offered by other nonprofit organizations and the position will include an excellent vacation and benefits package. 

Application process: Please send a cover letter, a résumé, references, and a writing sample via email (no paper) to alaska@biologicaldiversity.org, with the heading “Attn: Attorney Job.”  The position will  be open until filled.  No telephone calls please.  Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Staff Scientist – Alaska and Arctic Protection
Full time in Anchorage, Alaska

General position overview: The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a full-time Staff Scientist to work on biodiversity protection issues in and affecting Alaska and the Arctic. Particular emphasis of the Staff Scientist position will be advocating for the protection of vulnerable Arctic and sub-Arctic species such as seabirds, polar bears, and other ice-dependent marine mammals in the face of global warming, offshore oil and gas development, industrial fishing, shipping and other emerging threats. The Staff Scientist will work closely with the Center’s climate and oceans programs in developing and implementing actions and strategies focused on both reducing the Arctic melt and on adapting wildlife management to the changing conditions of a warming Arctic. 

Duties: The Staff Scientist will be responsible for engaging in policy advocacy; interacting with local, state and federal agencies, scientists, other environmental organizations, and the public; drafting reports, comments, petitions, and Web text; and doing media outreach.  Frequent travel required.

Qualifications:
• An advanced degree in a relevant scientific field
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• A demonstrated commitment to environmental protection
• An ability to work with lawyers and other staff members as part of an effective team, and a strong work ethic
• Familiarity with natural resource management and wildlife law desired

Salary: The salary for the Staff Scientist position is commensurate with other nonprofit organizations and includes an excellent vacation and benefits package. 

Application process: Please send a cover letter, a résumé, references, and a writing sample via email (no paper) to alaska@biologicaldiversity.org, with the heading “Attn: Staff Scientist.”  The position will be open until filled.  No telephone calls please.  Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Staff Scientist – Climate Change and Public Lands
Full time in Sacramento or San Francisco, California

General position overview: The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a full-time Staff Scientist to work as part of our Public Lands Program. Our Public Lands Program works to ensure that America’s public lands are protected, restored, and managed for the maximum benefit to our nation’s wildlife and ecosystems. The Staff Scientist will play a leading role in developing the Center’s approach to managing public lands in a changing climate.  The position is focused on ensuring that public lands are managed to optimize carbon storage and biodiversity protection and will involve scientific analyses, public policy advocacy, and education and outreach.  

Duties:
• Conduct rigorous scientific analyses on public land management and climate change, including: 1) identifying opportunities to increase carbon storage and reduce emissions by improving public land management; 2) analyzing options to help species survive a changing climate through better land management; and 3) documenting the connection between biodiversity protection and carbon storage.
• Develop policy recommendations for managing public lands to optimize carbon storage and biodiversity protection;
• Produce scientific and policy reports that highlight the Center’s positions regarding public land management;
• Undertake outreach to selected constituent groups to build support for improved management of public lands;
• Conduct policy advocacy within Congress, the California State Legislature, and state and federal land management and regulatory agencies
• Conduct public education and media outreach

Qualifications:
• Ability to develop and implement rigorous analyses on the implications for carbon and biodiversity of federal land management
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Familiarity with federal land-use laws and climate change science and politics
• Experience in designing and implementing efforts to reform federal land management
• Ph.D. or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection

Salary: The salary will be commensurate with experience and competitive with other nonprofit organizations.  The position includes an excellent vacation and benefits package.