Equity & Justice Associate, The Wilderness Society

Equity & Justice Associate

Clerical

Salary Range:$55,000.00 To 60,000.00 Annually

Location: Washington, DC 

 Application Deadline: Please submit resume & cover letter by April 24th.

General Description

The Equity & Justice Associate plays a critical role in the development of organizational initiatives and operationalizing our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice (EDIJ) at The Wilderness Society. This position plays an important role in supporting an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes.   TWS has made diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice strategic priorities for the organization and the Equity & Justice Associate will integrate these priorities throughout our EDIJ work.  Across our team, we aspire to be campaign-oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.  

The Equity & Justice Associate is a member of The Wilderness Society’s Equity, Culture & Learning team and will work collaboratively to develop organizational efforts with the purpose of building a more inclusive culture by working within the team to ensure we are effectively connecting with and learning from colleagues across the organization and being responsive to their needs and concerns. 

The primary responsibility of the Equity & Justice Associate will lead the Equity, Culture, & Learning team in data collection, analysis and application as it relates to advancing our EDIJ goals and meeting our measures of success as a team. This position will also provide critical support in key program areas including communications, purchasing and budget management, event coordination, and outreach. This position supports the functions of the ECL Team by providing administrative support and management of shared departmental files and occasional project management on internal equity-advancing efforts. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze data to assess program benchmarks and success measures relevant to TWS goals for equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice.
• Utilize data systems to collect information, assemble it for broader consumption, and disseminate as directed to inform decisions across the organization in support of our team and organizational EDIJ goals. 
• Coordinate team and organizational communications, including but not limited to event announcements, recognition of cultural and heritage celebrations, and opportunities for additional engagement. 
• Provide administrative support for the Equity, Culture, & Learning team by organizing, planning, developing, coordinating and arranging team and committee meetings and special functions for the ECL team, including announcements, agendas, and minutes for team workshops, events, and caucuses, to name a few. 
• Coordinate travel arrangements and event purchases for the team as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS 
Experience & Competencies

• Minimum 2 years of experience working for a non-profit, government, or school setting.
• Strong interest in and commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice within their work. 
• Track record of working successfully in teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives—across race and gender. 
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills and self-awareness combined with the ability to maintain an effective and supportive working environment while prioritizing competing demands.
• Must demonstrate the ability to analyze and solve problems and can develop new, innovative, and efficient practices when necessary.
• Strong time management skills and attention to detail. 

At The Wilderness Society, we look for and support staff in embodying the following TWS Staff Competencies to ensure we are developing an inclusive culture in which all team members can thrive:

• Self-Awareness - Demonstrates awareness of the multiple group identities of self and others when engaging with people inside and outside of the organization. Consistently brings a high level of self-reflection, empathy, and understanding of those identities to work and interpersonal interactions. 
• Solution Orientation - Suggests solutions to make work processes and systems more equitable and therefore more effective. Encourages colleagues to consider what strategies may solve problems at the team and organizational level or asks clarifying questions to support team members in developing solutions. Seeks hope in the face of challenges. 
• Equity, Learning, Analysis & Ownership - Clearly and consistently articulates a deeper understanding of racial equity, structural racism along with other forms of inequity and oppression, and the centrality of this analysis to the work we do and how we operate at TWS. Integrates that knowledge into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class, gender identity and expression, and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects.
• Direct Communication & Feedback - Communicates clearly and directly with colleagues, working intentionally to match intent and impact in interactions, and is proactive to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, especially across difference. Consistently gives and requests both positive and developmental feedback to support learning, professional and personal growth.
• Meaningful Relationships - Intentionally builds and sustains robust, trusting, productive working relationships with colleagues of all races and other group identities, including TWS staff, partners, and stakeholders. Treats colleagues and partners at all levels and of all backgrounds with respect shown through active and reflective listening, kindness and consideration, consideration of others' time, and contributing to the success of others across the team and organization. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to [x] pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not exposed to adverse weather conditions.   The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of this position and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of experience, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; and a retirement plan.  TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation. 

TWS has instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all staff reporting to a TWS office or engaging in in-person work meetings.  There is an exception to the vaccine mandate for any staff who have an objection because of a medical or religious reason.  We will do our best to devise reasonable accommodation that respects your objection while balancing the competing demands of your specific position.  

As an organization, we aspire to being inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are.  Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day.  Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive.  We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society