National Wildlife Federation

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America's largest and most trusted wildlife conservation organization with more than six million members and supporters and 52 State and Territorial Affiliates . The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. To save wildlife and ourselves, the National Wildlife Federation believes that we need to ensure that everyone in the United States of America has clean water and air, safe communities, easy, safe, and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.

To advance that mission, the Federation is hiring a Director, Tribal Law to further Indigenous legal and policy priorities, support the leadership and implementation of NWF’s Tribal and Indigenous Partnerships Enhancement Strategy (TIPES), and provide national policy leadership on Tribal and Indigenous issues. The Director, Tribal Law will provide leadership reflective of NWF’s principles supportive of Tribal Sovereignty, self-determination, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the federal trust responsibility as well as core Indigenous values centered on Food Sovereignty, Water Protection, and Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission.

Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):

Working closely with the Vice President and the Senior Director of Tribal Partnerships and Policy, the Director, Tribal Law is primarily responsible for leading and collaborating with NWF staff on national policy issues involving Tribal and Indigenous priorities and providing expertise and associated actions on Federal Indian Law and Policy, including improving existing and crafting new policy with a focus on inclusion, equity, and justice as well as NWF’s core values for Tribal and Indigenous partnerships.

The Director, Tribal Law will model the principles and values of NWF’s Tribal and Indigenous Partnerships Enhancement Strategy (TIPES) and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). This position will forge authentic relationships and partnerships across the country to support Tribal Sovereignty; advance Indigenous policy priorities; and work directly with Tribes and Indigenous Peoples to uplift their voices.

This role will:

• Work with the Vice President, the Senior Director of Tribal Partnerships and Policy, and the Free, Prior and Informed Consent Manager to realize the priorities, goals and visions of TIPES.
• Build and maintain bipartisan relationships with key Congressional and Executive branch offices in coordination with NWF’s advocacy team.
• Collaborates across NWF teams and programs to guide federal policy priorities involving Tribes and Indigenous Peoples.
• Clearly advocate policy interests generated in collaboration with Tribes and Indigenous partners relevant to water protection, food sovereignty, and intergenerational knowledge transmission to Congressional and Executive branch decision makers.
• Improve awareness, provide recommendations, and act on legal matters central to Indigenous conservation priorities, sovereignty, self-determination, and the trust responsibility.
• Advise NWF’s Tribal Advisory Council and NWF’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council on legal matters.
• Engage with NWF’s communications teams and external media on messaging in alignment with the values and principles of the TIPES.
• Cultivate new partnerships and enhance existing partnerships with Tribes, Indigenous organizations, and Tribal coalitions to advance Indigenous conservation priorities.
• Cultivate and coordinate relationships with non-governmental and other non-tribal partners to advance support for Tribal conservation priorities.
• Collaborate and advise NWF staff, board, and affiliates on NWF resolutions.
• Ensure transparency and accountability via benchmarking, tracking, communicating, and reporting on Tribal and Indigenous legal and policy priorities.

The Director, Tribal Law reports to the Senior Director of Tribal Partnerships and Policy.

Skills and Qualifications:

Strong candidates for this position will bring experience in Federal Indian Law and Policy; advocacy and lobbying; excellent communication and writing skills; and a deep commitment to advancing Indigenous policy priorities. These proficiencies are typically consistent with approximately 7-10 years of professional experience.

Desired qualification: familiarity with a language that is indigenous to the Americas.

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.
• 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

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

Travel Requirements:

This position will travel monthly to Washington, D.C. or other domestic locations.

Location and Work Mode: 

The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. This hybrid position can potentially be based in any of the National Wildlife Federation’s offices throughout the U.S. and has options for being 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: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $82,000 - $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 based on a full-time schedule, 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 11 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.

Physical Requirements:

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.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

For more information on our recruiting process, please review our Careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

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 experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

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.

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