Earth Island Institute

Big Wildlife, a project of the Earth Island Institute, is seeking a Project Director.

Big Wildlife was formed in 2006 to provide a voice for keystone carnivores such as cougars, wolves, bears, coyotes and bobcats in the Western United States. Dynamic, gutsy and visionary, Big Wildlife combines innovative media and legal strategies with nuts and bolts grassroots organizing.

The Project Director is a part-time position that supports the Big Wildlife’s mission to conserve native carnivore wildlife and their habitat.

Main duties include:

• Oversee all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, administration and management of other employees and/or contractors.
• Track and analyze carnivore “management” in western states (particularly California, Oregon and Washington).
• Coordinate policy reforms on wildlife conservation issues.
• Coordinate grassroots organizing with partners on wildlife reform efforts.
• Facilitate media coverage on wildlife issues, update Web site and distribute e-newsletters as needed.

Essential qualities, qualifications and skills desired:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
• Four years related work (or academic) and/or volunteer experience on ecological, wildlife, legal and science issues as they relate to wildlife and predator/prey relationship, and prevention of conflicts between humans and wildlife.
• Background in grassroots organizing and fundraising required.
• Past experience with environmental, nonprofit or advocacy groups preferred.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Common sense, creativity and ability to make decisions independently, self-starter.
• Positive attitude, commitment to constructive communication and cooperation, demonstrated team/group work skills.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for supporting the protection of wildlife and their habitat.

Salary is commensurate with experience. Earth Island Institute offers a benefits package, including employer-paid medical and paid vacation.

Application process: To apply, please send a résumé and thoughtful cover letter addressing your interest in becoming Big Wildlife’s Project Director to bigwildlife@gmail.com. Position open until filled.

Volunteer

Be a part of the leadership team for a small and energetic office that supports more than 60 citizen activists’ projects around the world. Lend your talents and learn new skills while helping with: foundation research, PowerPoint or slide presentations, special events planning, photography at events, tabling at environmental fairs, Brower Youth Awards event, donor research, writing, and most importantly and most needed – participating in critical behind-the-scenes nonprofit office support work. Basic computer skills (mail merge, database, layout/design, photo) helpful, but not required. Ongoing, short-term and occasional positions available. Send resume, cover letter and availability to Claudia West, at volunteer at earthisland.org with “EII Volunteer Opportunity” in the subject line.

Intern with our New Leaders Initiative

New Leaders Initiative is seeking 2012 interns! As an intern with New Leaders Initiative, you’ll be involved in the exciting process of elevating bold, emerging, young leaders in the environmental movement through the Brower Youth Award as well as our various year-round programs. You will be exposed to some of the leading grassroots and national youth-led efforts and have the opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs of working in an environmental non-profit. A typical day could consist of working in our office, conducting outreach on the phone and email, performing various research tasks, helping to organize an educational event, or promoting our work through various social media outlets. There may also be occasional visits to schools, organizations and to youth and environmental events around the Bay Area. Intern tasks vary seasonally according to our application and program cycle and they can be categorized into these broad areas:

• Outreach & Communications
• Application Recruitment & Processing
• Event Planning – Media Outreach and Promotion
• Event Planning – Soliciting for In-Kind Donations and Program Partners

Tasks Include

• Recruitment: Assist our team in reaching out to a wide spectrum of schools, organizations and youth activists encouraging them to apply for our programs.
• Event Planning: Assist in creating dynamic events throughout the year as well create a high-energy week of activities for Brower Youth Award recipients in October.
• Research & Archive: Aggregate information about potential partners, collaborators and archive organizations and individuals the program has been involved with in the past.
• Local Outreach: Telephone and e-mail outreach to grassroots groups, tabling at local events, short speaking engagements with campus and community groups.
• Fundraising: Research and contact potential foundations, corporations and in-kind sponsors.

You may also be asked to support other areas of the organization if help is needed.

Hours

Interns should commit 12-30 hours weekly. Internships will last 3-4 months in the spring and fall, and 2-3 months in the summer.

Qualifications

The intern must be comfortable and confident with public contact in person and over the phone. Resourcefulness and the ability and desire to take initiative and follow through projects until completion is essential. The intern must also be able to articulate needs to the rest of the New Leaders Initiative team. Familiarity with Word, Excel, e-mail and Google docs is necessary. Graphic design skills familiarity is a plus! And of course, a strong interest in youth environmental activism is key.

Benefits

You will be interacting with some of our nation’s most dynamic young activists. Hone your people skills, organizing tools, web skills and get your feet wet with one of the best youth environmental organizations out there! In addition, we’re located in the David Brower Center – a hub of amazing and diverse environmental and social change organizations. Our office atmosphere is friendly, warm and relaxed!

Our internships are unpaid, but a transportation stipend may be available.

Interested?

Send resume and brief letter of interest to Program Director, Anisha Desai atAnisha Desai at her email address. No calls please. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Other Opportunities with our Projects

Many Earth Island-sponsored projects depend on volunteers to advance their goals. Visit our Project Directory to find a campaign that fits with your interests.