Careers

Current Openings

director of policy and advocacy

Title: Director of Policy and Advocacy
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Reports To: Executive Director
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Summary:

For 50 years, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (“Friends”) has been at the forefront of protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness from threats to this pristine wilderness. Today, proposed copper-nickel sulfide mines threaten the Boundary Waters and the other clean waters of northeastern Minnesota. Friends is seeking a Director of Policy and Advocacy to oversee all policy and advocacy functions and lead our legislative and executive branch efforts at the federal, state, and local levels to meet this unprecedented threat to the Boundary Waters. This senior position is an extraordinary opportunity for a talented and hardworking individual to lead a growing government relations and advocacy team to make a lasting difference.

The person in this position must be a strategic thinker, with a demonstrated ability to operationalize strategy through disciplined execution and attention to detail. The ideal candidate has legislative, government relations, and political experience in both Washington, DC and Minnesota. This person is also responsible for overseeing and implementing the work of Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network (“Action Network”), the Friends’ affiliate 501(c)(4) organization, which implements both political and non-political work to advance the shared mission of protecting the Boundary Waters.

Primary Relationships:
  • Reports to the Executive Director
  • Manages and mentors the government relations and advocacy team
  • Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Policy Committee of the Friends Board of Directors
  • Manages the operations of the Action Network, including developing the budget in cooperation with the Operations Director and implementing fundraising efforts in cooperation with the Development Director 
  • Works with the Legal Director to ensure that litigation and other legal strategies complement legislative and other advocacy and policy strategies
  • Works with the Communications Director to develop impactful, multi-faceted advocacy communications and media strategies for the Friends and Action Network
  • Works with the Development Director to support and implement effective fundraising strategies for the Friends and Action Network
  • Works with the Operations Director to develop the budget for the Action Network and for advocacy efforts of the Friends
  • Works with the Climate Change and Conservation Director to support policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Boundary Waters and northeastern Minnesota
  • Works collaboratively with all other staff to create a supportive atmosphere at the Friends
Responsibilities:
  • Develops and implements comprehensive advocacy and policy strategy at the federal, state and local levels to protect the Boundary Waters from copper-nickel sulfide mining and other threats to the wilderness
  • Develops and implements comprehensive lobbying and electoral strategy for the Action Network to support Boundary Waters champions for public office
  • Manages, mentors, and inspires the government relations and advocacy team
  • Ensures effective government relations with Congress and the Minnesota Legislature, including making visits to legislative offices, presenting legislative testimony, preparing the Executive Director or other staff to present testimony, and maintaining these relationships during and outside of legislative sessions
  • Ensures effective government relations with key regulatory and executive departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Strengthens and grows relationships with key strategic partners, including expanding the Friends’ Clean Water Coalition into a national movement of businesses, organizations, and faith institutions committed to protecting the Boundary Waters and Minnesota’s other waters from copper-nickel sulfide mining
  • Strengthens and grows the Citizen Action Network of committed volunteers who support the advocacy efforts of the Friends
  • Tracks, analyzes, and synthesizes emerging policy issues
Qualifications:
  • 10-15 years of experience in government relations, lobbying, political campaigns or elected office
  • Extensive experience in developing legislative, political, and other advocacy strategies
  • Experience with the Minnesota Legislature and/or regulators strongly preferred, but not required
  • Extensive experience in managing, mentoring, and inspiring staff
  • Strong understanding of lobbying and campaign compliance requirements
  • Experience in fundraising for nonprofit organizations and/or political campaigns
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills
  • Attention to detail and strong follow-through
  • Ability to work independently as well as with a team
Compensation and Benefits:
  • $120,000 – $150,000
  • Paid vacation and sick leave, health and dental insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan
  • In addition to paid vacation and sick leave, the Friends provides a $600 stipend and five additional paid vacation days to each employee to take time off and recharge in the Boundary Waters or Quetico. 
  • Flexible working hours and hybrid in-person/remote working options
  • We encourage life-long learning and ongoing professional development
To Apply:

Submit a cover letter, resume and three references to:

Bree Sikorski
2550 University Ave W, Suite 180S
Saint Paul, MN 55114

bree@friends-bwca.org

In the subject line of any electronic communication, please put “Director of Policy and Advocacy.”

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

At Friends we have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and do their best work. The Friends is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. 

Opening – Board of Directors

Summary

The Board of Directors determines the mission, strategic direction, and programming for Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (“Friends”). A Director ensures and nurtures adequate human and financial resources and actively monitors and evaluates the Executive Director’s performance and the Friends’ financial results. A Director approves and systematically implements policies to ensure achievement of the mission of the Friends.

Primary Relationship
  • Reports to the Board Chair
  • Works closely with the Executive Director and other staff to ensure the achievement of the mission
  • Works closely with and gets to know other Board and committee members and builds collegial working relationships that contribute to consensus
  • Serves as a spokesperson outside the organization and delivers consistent, compelling messages on mission, programs, and finances, and encourages civic participation
Leadership Responsibilities
  • Knows and commits to the Friends’ mission, vision, and values
  • Provides leadership continuity by ensuring Board succession, including identifying, recruiting, and orienting new members
  • Is knowledgeable about Friends’ policies, programs, and operations, and oversees their implementation and evaluation
  • Is accessible and responsive to other Directors and staff
  • Actively seeks out financial and other resources for the organization
Management Responsibilities
  • Engages in strategic planning
  • Approves written policies and procedures governing the work and actions of the Friends’ employees and volunteers
  • Hires, sets the compensation for, and annually evaluates the performance of the Executive Director
  • Reviews the overall compensation structure for staff and establishes policies on employee benefits, vacation, and sick leave
Fiscal Responsibilities
  • Approve the annual operating budget; at least four times per year assesses the organization’s financial performance
  • Assists in developing fundraising plans and actively participates in fundraising initiatives each year
  • Makes an annual gift to the Friends as circumstances allow. There is no minimum contribution amount, but the Friends should be in a Director’s top three charities for annual giving.
  • Ensure that an internal review of the Friends’ compliance with legal, regulatory, and financial reporting requirements is conducted annually
Board Meetings and Committees Responsibilities
  • Regularly prepares for, attends, and participates in Board meetings
  • Participates actively in at least one Board committee
Committee Chair Description
  • The Committee Chair presides or assigns someone to preside at all meeting of the respective committee. The Committee Chair has general supervision, direction, and active management of the committee’s affairs, working in partnership with staff and volunteers. The Committee Chair reports to the Board Chair.
To Be Considered

Email a CV or Resume and the answers to the following questions:

  • What about joining the Friends’ Board of Directors interests you?
  • What is your connection, if any, to the Boundary Waters?
  • Are you willing and able to participate in quarterly Board meetings (about 3 hours), quarterly committee meetings, and at times ad hoc meetings as needed?

To Case McCullough at casey@friends-bwca.org. In the subject line of any electronic communication, please put “Board of Directors.”