Campaign Director

The Western Energy Project (WEP) works to protect our treasured landscapes in the American West by ensuring that the development of oil and gas from our federal public lands is done responsibly. We support preserving ecologically and culturally important areas, adopting and defending common-sense protections for our water, air, land, and wildlife, and safeguarding opportunities for Americans to enjoy our public lands. WEP is a project of Resources Legacy Fund (RLF). RLF works with donors to conserve land, water, and ocean resources while advancing healthy communities and social equity. RLF engages economically and ethnically diverse communities to foster new funding and better policies for environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

General Description of the Campaign Director Role:

The Western Energy Project seeks a highly energetic individual to be our team’s Campaign Director. The Campaign Director, a member of the organization’s leadership team, will work closely with the WEP Executive Director, WEP policy staff, and partners located across the Inter-mountain West and in Washington, DC, to develop and implement successful campaigns to secure and defend landscape protections and policy changes, and to advance related efforts concerning the federal onshore oil and gas program. The Campaign Director will lead and support various coalitions and will work to help identify and engage new partners to advance and/or protect organizational priorities. To be successful, this individual will need to enjoy interacting with groups across the West, as well as national partner organizations. An ideal candidate would be creative, detail-oriented, enthusiastic, motivated, flexible, intuitive, organized, and internally driven; would have experience in developing and implementing all stages of issue-based campaigns; would have fun engaging and collaborating with numerous people and organizations; would thrive in a fast-paced environment; would be willing to go the extra mile to get the job done; would have political experience (either via an advocacy organization, electoral campaign, or work for an elected official or agency); would have strong written and verbal communications skills; would enjoy coordinating people and organizations; would have a basic understanding of key policy issues related to WEP’s campaigns; and would be passionate about protecting our public lands.

The Campaign Director is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the WEP Executive Director. The position is located in Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, or Washington, DC. We do not currently have a central office, and all staff members work remotely. There is occasional required travel alongside the opportunity for additional travel as opportunities arise.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Working directly with the WEP Executive Director and policy staff to develop and implement campaign plans, including, but not limited to, writing plans, recruiting the right partners, lining up grantees in support of campaigns, and overseeing the execution of the plans.
• Overseeing the development of campaign messages and the creation of advertising and other public advocacy products.
• Leading coalitions of partner organizations and grantees to advance WEP’s priorities and achieve campaign objectives.
• Being a true partner to grantees and partner organizations by ensuring open and helpful communication driven by a commitment to the partnership and a desire for shared success.
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with Western-based and national organizations and other individuals needed to ensure our campaigns are successful.
• Assisting WEP grantees in developing strategic plans to advance WEP’s priorities.
• Helping provide political advocacy expertise, especially as it relates to Western decision-makers and news outlets.
• Mentoring and supervising WEP’s Campaign Manager.
• Being able to grasp complex (and geographically dispersed) work dynamics, problem solve, and think quickly and re-prioritize appropriately.
• Maintaining records of activities and providing reports on activities.
• Participating in standing organizational meetings, phone calls, and activities, as well as meetings, phone calls, and activities with WEP partner groups, grantees, and contractors.
• Representing WEP in coalitions, conferences, and other events.
• Exercising good, independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance related to WEP campaigns.
• Performing other duties in support of WEP campaigns, as directed by the WEP Executive Director.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Outstanding writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively organize and manage multiple responsibilities at once while maintaining a calm and friendly demeanor.
• Commitment to thinking creatively to help move our conservation policies forward.
• Collaborative team player who is a self-starter, able to take initiative, set priorities, and accomplish tasks in a timely manner.
• Proven ability to work in coalitions and with allies, as well as a desire to enhance those skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, while interacting and performing in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Innovative and solutions oriented, including a demonstrated resourcefulness, optimism, and flexibility in approach.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and working knowledge of web-based tools and platforms (google docs, sheets, etc.).
• Significant experience at an issue advocacy organization or senior-level work on a political campaign.
• Ability to travel, especially throughout the Inter-mountain West.
• Familiarity with issues related to conservation in the West and/or oil and gas leasing on public lands is desired, but not mandatory.

Competitive Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary range is 95-105k. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k plan with a 5% match, and generous paid time off. RLF also offers a technology allowance, student loan repayment assistance, the Calm app, mental health benefits, and approximately 17 paid holidays per year.

Procedure for Candidacy:

WEP is a project of Resources Legacy Fund. Resources Legacy Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps philanthropic institutions and individuals catalyze the lasting conservation of natural resources. Resources Legacy Fund embraces the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally in our hiring process and organizational culture, and externally in our grantmaking and related practices. We are an equal opportunity employer, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of all staff members, so we are committed to recruiting, welcoming, developing, and retaining individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Beginning December 16, interested individuals should send a cover letter, resume, and list of references to jobs@westernenergyproject.org. Application materials will be accepted on a rolling basis until the job is filled. Successful candidates will participate in virtual discussions with individual team members and then the entire team together. There will be in-person meetings that would require travel (paid for by WEP) during the final stages of the candidate search. We would like to welcome our new team member by spring of 2025.