JOBS
STAFF ATTORNEY
The role of the Staff Attorney is to bring litigation on behalf of Western Watersheds Project, and at times our allies, in the interests of protecting and restoring western watersheds and wildlife, particularly in the context of livestock grazing. The geographical focus of the Staff Attorney will be the 9th Circuit (West Coast states plus Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Arizona). The position will entail administrative appeals and litigation of federal and/or state agency decisions, oversight of agency planning processes, media outreach, and advising program staff on legal issues. Some limited legislative advocacy may also be required. The staff attorney should be highly organized, strategic, self-motivated, able to synthesize and understand ecological and legal concepts, and have strong written and oral communication skills.
JOB DUTIES:
• Review federal and state decisions regarding public lands and wildlife, evaluate legal compliance, and prepare litigation memoranda presenting facts, case law, and particular features of the potential case to assist WWP decisionmakers on litigation strategy;
• Represent WWP in the capacity of lead attorney on litigation efforts, particularly in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona;
• Engage in settlement negotiations with federal and state agencies on behalf of WWP and, at times, partner groups;
• Represent WWP at public meetings or hearings;
• Participate in media outreach opportunities including press releases, op-eds, position statements, newsletter articles, and blog posts;
• Coordinate communications among co-plaintiffs;
• Regularly participate in conference calls, both internal WWP staff calls and calls among co-plaintiffs and other allies;
• Attend trainings, conferences, and workshops as directed;
• Visit public lands, documenting habitat conditions and management.
• Demonstrate mindfulness about the history of public lands in the western United States, including Indigenous lands and unceded territories.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• J.D. required, with a background in environmental law and policy preferred;
• Admitted to the bar in at least one 9th Circuit state required;
• Environmental litigation experience preferred;
• Affinity for and knowledge of remote and rugged areas in the West;
• Highly organized and experienced in researching applicable case law and analyzing administrative documents to glean important evidence;
• Strong oral and written communications skills, including skill at writing legal briefs and presenting oral arguments before courts;
• Desire to make a difference in protecting native species from livestock grazing impacts on public lands;
• Able to take direction and work as part of a team;
• Self-directed and accountable;
• Position may be located in any state where WWP operates (Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, or Montana).
• Experience litigating environmental cases preferred.
The Staff Attorney position is a full-time, benefited position with a current salary of $73,491 per year. The anticipated start date for the position is December 1, 2023.
TO APPLY: Send a cover letter, resume summarizing relevant work and educational achievements, three professional references (including contact information), and a writing sample highlighting your legal abilities, in a single .pdf file, to jobs@westernwatersheds.org by October 31, 2023.
COLORADO DIRECTOR
Western Watersheds Projectseeks a Colorado Director to continue and expand WWP’s campaign to protect and restore public lands and wildlife in Colorado, with an emphasis on livestock grazing and related environmental problems. The position will entail administrative and legal oversight of federal decisions, fieldwork, data collection and analysis, participation in agency planning processes, media outreach and legislative advocacy. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, self-motivated, be able to synthesize and understand ecological and biological concepts, and have strong written and oral communication skills.
Job Duties:
- Coordinate and develop WWP’s public lands and wildlife protection efforts in Colorado and work with current staff on existing projects and threats posed by domestic cattle/sheep grazing on public lands across the West;
- Submit public comments and appeals of environmentally harmful agency decisions;
- Engage in discussions with the Forest Service and BLM about how to protect public lands from domestic livestock, including the use of grazing permit retirement;
- Visit public lands grazing allotments, document habitat conditions and management concerns, and communicate these findings to land and wildlife management agencies.
- Work with WWP’s Policy Director to pursue legislative options specific to livestock grazing and predator defense issues;
- Coordinate with WWP staff to advance Colorado wolf reintroduction;
- Participate in public outreach including press releases, op-eds, position statements, newsletter articles, and blog posts;
- Attend trainings, conferences, and workshops as directed;
- Work with legal counsel to develop priority litigation; and
- Collect and track research documenting the impacts of livestock on public lands, and utilize a variety of tools to determine focal areas for protection emphasis.
- Educational background in science, law, or policy and/or advocacy experience;
- Affinity for and knowledge of remote and rugged areas in the West;
- Willingness to travel to and camp in remote field sites;
- Highly organized and able to use GIS software, mapping tools, and basic database software;
- Strong oral and written communications skills;
- Desire to make a difference in protecting native species from livestock grazing impacts on public lands;
- Able to take direction and work as part of a team;
- Self-directed and accountable;
- Candidate must reside in or be willing to relocate to western Colorado.
Western Watersheds Project offers a salary of $73,491 and competitive benefits package, including health insurance benefits, family leave, and retirement contributions. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and willingness to bring their perspectives to the work and the organization.
Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample (preferably administrative or legal comments, protests or appeal) and 3 references in a single .pdf file by September 30, 2023 to jobs@westernwatersheds.org. Position open until filled.
Internships
Students and other interested professionals should consider internship opportunities with Western Watersheds Project. Interns gain unique experience with a variety of conservation issues and activities including opportunity to be involved monitoring public lands and wildlife habitat, engaging various administrative efforts, learning about environmental legal programs, and a variety of other efforts. More often-than-not, interns are encouraged to identify particular disciplines/passions of interest and are given the guidance and tools necessary to make a positive difference on the ground themselves !
Volunteering
Western Watersheds Project welcomes the support of active members and volunteers who are ready to engage public land and wildlife management agencies and insist on protection and restoration of western watersheds and wildlife.
Much of Western Watersheds Project’s success is attributable to our active membership and volunteers. Often, it is a member or volunteer who brings to Western Watersheds Project’s attention a problem or issue with public land and wildlife management. Similarly, it is often a member or volunteer who is in the best position to help.
If you are interested or concerned about a problem with livestock grazing on public lands in your area, contact Western Watersheds Project to learn more about what you can do to help.
