Job Overview

Winter Wildlands Alliance is looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual to lead our stewardship and grassroots organizing work in California. A major focus of this work will be on implementation of new Forest Service over-snow vehicle (winter) travel plans and engagement in ongoing planning efforts. The Forest Service recently published winter travel plans for the Stanislaus and Lassen National Forests, with more plans expected soon on the Tahoe, Eldorado and Plumas National Forests. The California Stewardship Manager will work with the Forest Service and other partners and stakeholders, under the direction of WWA’s Policy Director, to develop and deploy education and monitoring tools and protocols (including winter recreation maps, signage and handouts); conduct and coordinate region-wide data collection and reporting; help to develop and coordinate WWA’s new Backcountry Ambassador program; and participate in winter travel planning where it is ongoing (Lake Tahoe Basin, Inyo National Forest); 

Position involves occasional travel throughout the Sierra Nevada, and possibly to Sacramento and/or the Forest Service Regional Office in Vallejo.

Classification: Part-time (24 hours per week) with the potential to grow into a full-time position

Location: Sierra Nevada region, California/Nevada (fully remote) with a preference for the Tahoe area

Responsibilities

• Work with WWA’s network of human-powered snowsports advocates, the Forest Service, and other winter recreation stakeholders to engage in Forest Service winter travel planning and implementation of winter travel plans in California and western Nevada. For example:
  • Coordinate grassroots groups, volunteers, and other partners to conduct and report on annual winter recreation data collection across National Forests in the region.
  • Coordinate WWA’s Backcountry Ambassador program.
  • Work with the Forest Service and other stakeholders on collaborative implementation of winter travel plans, and to pursue opportunities to improve winter recreation experiences for all National Forest visitors.
  • Lead winter recreation data collection efforts, including coordinating volunteers, contractors, and partners. 
  • Help form new groups of human-powered snowsports advocates where opportunities arise for local campaigns that achieve WWA’s mission
  • Work with the Policy Director to prepare comments on draft Forest Service winter travel plans and, where appropriate, forest plan revisions and otherwise engage in these NEPA processes
  • Work with the Marketing and Outreach Director to prepare and distribute Action Alerts and other materials to mobilize and inform WWA constituents regarding Forest Service projects related to the management of winter recreation or conservation of wild snowscapes in the region.
• Represent WWA in the Outdoor Alliance California coalition policy shop and work with this group (with Access Fund, CAMTB, American Whitewater and others) to advance WWA goals relative to OACA’s work.
• Work with WWA’s Events and Marketing Director and Membership Director to increase brand awareness and grow WWA’s membership and constituency in California and western Nevada. 
• Work with WWA’s Events and Marketing Director to identify opportunities for new Backcountry Film Festival screenings and coordinate and grow existing screenings throughout California and western Nevada.
• Work with WWA’s SnowSchool Director to identify, coordinate, and grow SnowSchool sites in California and western Nevada.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in public policy, law, natural resource management, environmental studies or related degree, or 3 years relevant work experience
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience and proficiency in both traditional and digital communication
• Ability and willingness to travel, attend and participate in public meetings and events
• Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders, including local communities, outdoor industry representatives, federal agencies, elected officials, grassroots groups, other non-profit organizations and individual recreationists
• Community organizing and public outreach experience
• Ability to organize events and facilitate meetings
• Research capacity including ability to analyze and synthesize existing data and resource materials
• Proficient in word processing (Microsoft and Google Suite), data management, and other basic computer skills
• Fluency in public lands policy and regulatory processes desired
• Familiarity with GIS mapping desired
• Enthusiasm for human-powered winter recreation, conservation and WWA’s mission
• Authenticity and credibility within the human-powered winter recreation community
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability and desire to work collaboratively with the WWA team  
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice, and to integrating these principles into your work. Open to take part in and/or has had previous JEDI training experience.

About Winter Wildlands Alliance

Winter Wildlands Alliance is a national nonprofit organization working to inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes. We are an Alliance of environmental and outdoor recreation organizations, SnowSchool sites and backcountry partners. Our SnowSchool program engages over 33,000 kids in science-based field trips and education across 60 sites nationwide. Our Backcountry Film Festival, premiering every winter in Boise, Idaho, tours more than 100 locations worldwide and raises $200,000+ each tour season for local mountain communities.

Our staff and board are made up of people from all different backgrounds. Our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) is woven throughout our internal training, year-round community events, digital and print communications, and staff and board meetings.

At Winter Wildlands Alliance, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Snow is fun and working at Winter Wildlands is too. Read more about your future coworkers here: www.winterwildlands.org/staff.