Director, Western Water

The quality and quantity of water in the West is heavily dependent on the lands that surround the West’s waterways, including the forested headwaters that regulate the supply and release of snowmelt, and the riparian and wetland areas that filter, enhance, and extend water supplies. Therefore, the National Wildlife Federation is seeking a Director of Western Water to focus on improving land management policies and practices that foster resilience and sustainability of the West’s water resources, including the conservation of headwaters and the restoration and protection of riparian corridors.

The Director of Western Water is responsible for advancing the organization’s efforts to achieve the following vision: “There is adequate water for people and wildlife in the West through sustainable and equitable land management policies and practices. Headwaters and riparian ecosystems that are critical to water quality and quantity are conserved, restored and resilient to support wildlife habitat and equitable community needs.”  The Director will lead coalitions and projects that help to achieve this vision, while collaborating across NWF regions and programs to achieve greater benefits for water in the West. The work will primarily be focused on: (1) headwaters conservation and management; and (2) riparian connectivity and restoration. Please see the Western Water Concept for more information about these focus areas.

This position may be based anywhere in the continental Western U.S.  Coordination with NWF program partners will require in-person travel to regional offices (Denver and Missoula), as well as to the National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C. and project locations across the West.  Regular travel will be required, anticipating 10-15 trips per year, 20-30 nights per year. While travel is limited during Covid-19, we expect in-person relationship building to occur strategically until travel becomes more feasible.