RAY Conservation/Field Operations: Outreach and Advocacy Fellow

Inspired by efforts to increase racial diversity in conservation and clean energy, the Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Diversity Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate environmentally-related career pathways for emerging leaders of color. The RAY Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors—one that, in our visions of the future, fully represents, includes, and is led by the diverse communities, perspectives, and experiences of the United States.

 

The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. For more than 70 years, we have focused on serving the public, invigorating civic life, conducting nonpartisan research, advancing effective public policies and practices, and achieving tangible results. Through rigorous inquiry and knowledge sharing, we inform and engage public-spirited citizens and organizations, linking diverse interests to pursue common cause. We are a dedicated team of researchers, communicators, advocates, subject matter experts, and professionals working on some of today’s big challenges – and we know we are more effective and creative collectively than we are individually. With Philadelphia as our hometown and the majority of our staff located in Washington, DC, our U.S. and international staff find working at Pew personally and professionally rewarding.

 

For more than 25 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment.

 

Pew has worked in the United States and Canada since 1990 to protect vast stretches of wilderness and more recently expanded our land conservation efforts to Australia’s Outback and Chilean Patagonia. Safeguarding these places offers an opportunity to conserve wildlife habitat, shorelines and landscapes for current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity.

 

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew’s ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems.

 

Field Operations advances public policy solutions by engaging international and federal policymakers, local elected officials and other relevant stakeholders in their home states and countries through education, organizing, communications, and government official outreach and engagement. Field staff work with contractors – our “organizers” – to develop unique state, regional and country specific strategies and then take action.  

·      Education: Field uses the best-available science to educate the public and policy makers about the scope and severity of major environmental problems. Organizers advance local understanding of the causes and consequences of environmental threats through fact-based presentations, round-tables and other forums. The field team in Washington, DC, collaborates other Pew colleagues and with organizers to engage leading experts, synthesize research, and localize information for educational outreach.

·      Organizing: Field recruits and mobilizes diverse stakeholders, such as community leaders, businesses, institutions, and grassroots supporters, by building coalitions and public support for Pew’s policy objectives. Organizers involve stakeholders in policy discussions through local activities and educational events, sign-on letters, resolutions of support, social media, and videos. We work with our Pew colleagues and with organizers to identify optimal organizing strategies for Pew’s projects.

·      Communications: Field informs the public and policy makers about our policy goals by increasing earned media coverage of campaigns’ policy goals. We organize press conferences; inform editorial boards; find appropriate third-party spokespeople to appear on television, radio news programs, social media and author opinion editorials; and assist supporters and coalition partners in their media outreach and strategic messaging. The field team collaborates with Pew’s communications department and organizers to develop materials for diverse media outlets.

·      Government official outreach: Field engages policymakers about Pew’s policy objectives by coordinating public outreach to government officials locally, domestically and internationally. Organizers facilitate public interaction with government officials through public and private events tailored to the local political landscape. We work with Pew’s government relations department and with organizers to coordinate all international, federal, state and local government outreach efforts.

The RAY Fellow will have a unique opportunity to work on domestic and international projects across Pew’s Environment portfolio, and also will work closely with other teams across the institution (including communications, government relations, legal, finance and compliance). Field Operations’ charge is to work closely with local communities, organizations and individuals, and to meet them where they are and support their unique points of view. Working in support of these efforts, the Fellow will focus on listening and learning from the people of the cities, counties, states and countries where we engage to understand their different identities, challenges and needs. 

 

·      Work with Field Operations team to support organizers’ short and longer term organizing and advocacy needs, as well as partner groups and campaign specialists, located domestically and internationally.

·      Assist with organizers’ work plans, consistent with public policy and objectives, and adapt them to specific circumstances. Coordinate organizers’ activities with other Pew staff and partners. Maintain the highest professional standards in achieving public policy objectives.

·      Support the coordination of field operations for one or more specific policy objectives. Work with the policy team, government relations, communications and other staff to develop strategies and work plans for all field organizers involved in the policy objective. Maintain internal communication about the field operation’s activities, troubleshoot and modify strategies and work plans as needed. Assist in identifying and recruiting additional field organizers, campaign specialists and partner groups. 

·      Work with team and project director to expand and adjust strategic field operations as necessary.

·      Create or modify materials including fact sheets, legislative correspondence, action alerts, op-eds, press releases, presentations, and talking points. Conduct research necessary to produce materials.

·      Work closely with international policy team to explore new project opportunities.

·      Perform other duties as required.

In addition to the responsibilities at the host institution outlined above, RAY Fellows will spend, on average, 2-4 hours per week (5-10% of work time) on the following:

 

RAY Fellows will also attend:

 

Eligible RAY Fellow applicants will:

·      Come from a racial / ethnic background underrepresented in conservation and clean energy and demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

·      Be no more than 1 year out of college and have a Bachelor's Degree by July 2021 (we are not considering individuals with graduate degrees at this time).

·      Have not had a full-time job in conservation or clean energy.

·      Have the ability to work in the United States and commit to the entire fellowship.

 

This is a two-year, full-time fellowship (one year with a one year renewal) starting on or after July 15, 2021.

The Fellowship is compensated and sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts, who offers a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; work/life benefits to maintain a good balance; as well as training and professional development opportunities.

To apply for the RAY Fellowship Program, applicants must:

 

1.    Complete the online application survey found through the external application link on Handshake

2.    Follow the instructions on the linked application webpage to submit a curriculum vitae or a resume, two essay and one short answer responses, and a letter of support.

 

Applications must be submitted to the RAY Fellowship Program no later than March 26, 2021. Transcripts and additional writing samples are not required. Questions about the application process can be submitted to the RAY Conservation Program Manager, Guilu Murphy, via email at guilu@elpnet.org.