Who do you know that would be a great Policy Program Co-Director?
Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities (WWF&C) and Food Solutions New England (FSNE) have formed a joint regional policy program for New England to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and their mounting threats to human wellbeing and a healthy planet. The program is designed around the premise articulated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that, “land provides the principal basis for human livelihoods and well-being including the supply of food, freshwater, and multiple other ecosystem services, as well as biodiversity.” The program is actively supported by FSNE and WWF&C partners through their strengths in and commitments to science and community knowledge concerned with integrated land and water conservation, food systems, racial equity, and environmental justice.
We seek a Policy Program Co-Director to advance our regional policy program centered on an integrated approach to conserving forests, farmland, and water while democratically transitioning forestry, farming, food, and fishery systems toward greater sustainability and resilience. The open position is focused on land conservation; its established counterpart, which this position will work with closely, is centered on food systems. This work requires strong networking, communication, and collaboration skills to support existing partner efforts and dismantle impediments to public policy that supports sustainability and resilience at state, regional, and federal levels.
The joint policy program will take an intersectional approach to advance ecological and social goals toward a Just Transition and shift from an extractive to a regenerative economy. We consider the six-state region and its many parts individually and collectively; we will work to redress past harms while creating new relationships to advance positive futures for the environment and society. This position will work with their counterpart to jointly lead this effort under the lead coordinators of WWF&C and FSNE. The co-directors will network closely with state-level and regional partners focused on forest and land conservation and farming and food systems to advance policy solutions that bridge across interests, initiatives, and state lines.
An ideal candidate will have experience in:
- Forest and farmland conservation
- Policy development
- Science-based communications
- Facilitative leadership and participatory processes
We recognize that expertise is achieved from a wide breadth of experiences and encourage individuals who may not feel “traditionally” qualified to apply or reach out with questions.
This is a full-time benefited position with the UNH Sustainability Institute based at the University of New Hampshire’s Durham campus. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of renewal depending upon funding and performance. Starting annual salary is $70,000-$75,000. The position will remain open until filled.
The FSNE team continues to work remotely, with occasional in-person meetings and events. The frequency of these in-person meetings will likely evolve over time. For this position, we are open to applicants who are (or plan to be) based in any of the six New England states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut) and who are able to travel to occasional in-person meetings and events at various locations in our region. Office space at the UNH Sustainability Institute is available for staff who would like to base themselves at our offices in Durham, New Hampshire on a regular or occasional basis.
UNH is a federal contractor within the meaning of the Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This position may require that you be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future unless you apply for and receive a religious or medical exemption. You may not test out of this requirement.
Please review the full job description here and apply via the UNH jobs portal at: https://jobs.usnh.edu/postings/53398.
Contact FSNE with any questions you may have about this position or the hiring process. The position will remain open until filled.
