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About the Organization

The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a collaborative effort between a U.S. non-profit organization and a Canadian public charity that together connect and protect habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive.  Yellowstone to Yukon takes a scientific and collaborative approach to conservation, and highlights and focuses on local issues that affect the region.  Y2Y has partnered with over 700 scientists, conservation groups, landowners, government agencies, Indigenous governments and communities and businesses to stitch together this landscape. 

Without a unified vision for this deeply interconnected landscape, local conservation efforts may be isolated and less effective.  Y2Y seeks to ensure conservation efforts are aligned in support of large-scale objectives, and therefore become continentally significant.  Today, Y2Y is recognized as one of the planet’s leading mountain conservation initiatives. 

For more information, please visit y2y.net

Position Description

Yellowstone to Yukon is seeking a highly talented and experienced professional to be our next Outreach Specialist for Wildlife Passage.  This individual will report directly to the Landscape Connectivity Director and will be a key member of Y2Y’s Landscape Connectivity Team, working closely with a highly collaborative staff in a results-driven environment.  The primary role of this position is to implement Y2Y’s multi-faceted strategies to promote wildlife crossings for the busiest highways in the Y2Y region, with an initial focus on the US portion of the landscape, in support of our 2030 Strategic Plan goals to secure wildlife corridors and protect landscape connectivity.

The position will lead Y2Y’s external engagement to raise awareness, mobilize resources, and build collective power to strengthen policies, programs, and funding sources that advance the construction of wildlife crossings across the Y2Y Region.  The Outreach Specialist will also coordinate with Y2Y’s industry-leading science, policy and communications staff to ensure that policies and organizing strategies for wildlife crossings are informed by the latest research and knowledge, advanced through strategic communications and informed by relevant policy and funding opportunities.  Support for Y2Y fundraising, marketing, and strategic communications efforts are important components of this role.

The successful candidate for this position will excel at working independently in a complex, fast-paced and dynamic work environment, while also collaborating with Y2Y team members and external partner organizations and stakeholders to achieve mutual goals. Exceptional communication skills, comfort with taking initiative and navigating uncertainty, and adeptness at building productive relationships with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and lived experience are important capabilities for success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Implement multi-faceted Y2Y strategies to advance the construction of wildlife crossings for the busiest highways in the Y2Y Region, with an initial focus on the US portion of the region, as part of our efforts to protect wildlife corridors and promote landscape connectivity across the entire Y2Y landscape. Implementation includes elements of community organizing, collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations, influencing decision-makers, stakeholder outreach, strategic communications, media engagement, and other related efforts.
• Lead Y2Y’s landscape connectivity-focused outreach and organizing efforts involving a wide variety of stakeholders including government agencies, elected officials, Indigenous peoples, businesses, agricultural producers, community leaders, and others. Build and maintain productive, respectful relationships with stakeholders based on mutual interest in advancing wildlife crossings while adapting our communication approach as needed to fit each unique stakeholder relationship.
• Collaborate with partner organizations and key stakeholders, at times playing a leadership role, to strategically organize individual and collective efforts and mobilize resources to effectively raise awareness and influence decision makers (elected officials, government agencies, industry leaders) to expand and accelerate the construction of wildlife crossings in the Y2Y Region, with initial emphasis on Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.
• Develop functional knowledge of the latest policies, science, funding opportunities and Indigenous knowledge related to wildlife crossings in both the US and Canada and use this awareness to inform stakeholder outreach strategies. Support strategic media efforts to raise awareness about wildlife crossings, cultivate media messengers, and serve as a Y2Y contact and media spokesperson, in close coordination with
• Y2Y’s Marketing and Communications Team.
• Support Y2Y’s Government Relations Team and Y2Y’s Science and Knowledge Team in their efforts to advance research, knowledge, and policies that further advance the construction of wildlife crossings. Support Y2Y fundraising efforts, in close coordination with the Landscape Connectivity Director and Y2Y’s Development Team.  Represent Y2Y at periodic public-facing events such as government or transportation industry conferences, expert forums, etc.
• Contribute as an active member of Y2Y’s multi-disciplinary Landscape Connectivity Team. Collaborate with colleagues working in both Canada and the US to support and coordinate related efforts on wildlife crossings, private lands conservation, wildlife corridor protection, and other landscape connectivity projects.
  Take an active role in ensuring equitable experiences, strengthening inclusion, developing and sharing knowledge and promoting a culture of inclusivity and belonging that embraces the contributions of all team members.
• Set and achieve individual goals that support overarching team and organizational goals while reporting regularly to the Director of Landscape Connectivity regarding progress, challenges and proposed solutions.
• Supervise interns and manage consultants and contracts to support program goal advancement.
• Travel within the Y2Y region is required. Most initial travel will be within Montana during the work week, with a high likelihood of expanding over time to include travel to other portions of the Y2Y region. Approximately 30% of time will be spent travelling to meet with stakeholders in the Y2Y region.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• A clear commitment to Y2Y’s vision and mission as identified by the candidate’s professional and/or personal experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in natural resource management, transportation construction or engineering, environmental conservation, community development, community organizing, or a related field requiring deep engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders around complex issues.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of individuals and organizations across lines of difference, including local community leaders, government agencies, Indigenous peoples, elected officials, businesses and/or other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to comprehend, synthesize, and effectively communicate complex scientific and policy concepts in a variety of contexts, with people from varying backgrounds and levels of expertise.
• Exemplary skills in written, online, and oral communication, including public speaking.
• Demonstrated success working independently, taking initiative, and employing creative problem-solving skills to advance project or program goals.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
• Ability to be flexible and pivot in response to emerging needs in a fast-paced, highly dynamic, and highly collaborative, team-based work environment. Comfort with ambiguity a plus.
• Experience serving as a productive member of successful teams, coalitions, or collaborations.
• Strong sense of personal accountability.

Terms of Employment

• The position offers flexible location within western Montana, near an airport with direct connections to major regional cities.
• Full-time position (37.5 hours/week) with an outstanding benefits package. 
• Salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $60,000 to 70,000.
• Intended start date: December 2024 or January 2024