Senior Associate, Environment (Cross Cutting Support)

The Environment Portfolio at The Pew Charitable Trusts

For more than 30 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pew’s global environmental program focuses on science-based, nonpartisan, and sustainable solutions to help protect the planet and people. We work in partnership with governments, Indigenous rights holders, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, scientists, and other researchers to advance public policy so that nature and communities can thrive.

Since 1990, Pew has worked in North America, South America and Australia to protect large and critically important terrestrial ecosystems, including rivers and other freshwater resources, coastal temperate rainforests, interior mountain ranges, the northern boreal forests, Australia’s Outback, and Chilean Patagonia. We work to ensure these natural systems remain bountiful, functioning, and resilient, providing essential ecological services such as clean air and clean water, sustenance and food security for local communities and more broadly for the welfare of current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, sociology, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity.  

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew’s ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating large scale marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems. We also work to address systemic threats to the ocean, including from plastics, over-and-illegal fishing, seabed mining, and climate change.

Environment Management Support Team

The environment portfolio’s management support team maximizes the effectiveness of projects and links the portfolio’s diverse bodies of work. The group manages and leads internal initiatives and ensures the quality, consistency, and compliance and accountability of Pew’s work across the environment portfolio.

Position Overview

The senior associate, environment provides high-level programmatic services for the environment portfolio and helps serve to link the portfolio’s diverse bodies of work. The position reports to the officer, environment, and works closely with members of the portfolio’s leadership team, other leadership groups, and cross-cutting staff.  The ideal candidate has demonstrated effective collaboration across functional teams and has managed efforts to develop effective solutions to complex problems. In addition, the ideal candidate for this position has exceptionally strong people, communication, and organizational skills.

This position is located in Pew’s Washington, D.C. office and will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project’s related goals.
• Conceptualize and execute internal portfolio communication products, in partnership with and in support of members of the portfolio’s leadership and management support teams.
• Lead the development and execution of Environment Learning Week, townhall meetings, and other priority events and outputs, as needed.
• Support the senior officer, management support team, in implementing initiatives and projects related to the portfolio’s culture and inclusion work. This could include, but is not limited to, managing processes for drafting and implementation of portfolio standards for environment principles and safeguards, identifying and supporting external speakers, or drafting communications about training and education opportunities.
• Support portfolio leadership on internal communication processes and products such as board briefings and board agenda documents. Ensure that high-quality products are timely submitted in an efficient manner. As needed, respond to requests for information and memoranda from the environment portfolio for Pew’s president and chief executive officer and the executive vice president and chief program officer.
• Provide individualized support for members of the environment leadership team, including, but not limited to, drafting remarks and messages, supporting and executing high-level action items, and developing and managing processes to ensure timely and efficient use of leadership expertise, time, and capacity.
• Provide project management support for teams scoping new and renewing lines of work and taskforces convened around timely and important considerations for the portfolio, as needed.
• Support the portfolio’s leadership in building and maintaining a culture of excellence and accountability in the portfolio. Ensure the portfolio’s human resources, lobbying, and contract activities are completed in a timely manner and consistent with Pew policies.
• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
• Generally, four years of applicable experience with a proven track record of collaborating effectively across functional teams.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including ease in briefly summarizing the essence of issues and means to address them. Strong oral, presentation, facilitation, and written communication skills. Clear, effective writing style.
• Experience exercising sound judgement and maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information. Outstanding instinct for discretion and managing information flow that balances transparency with operational excellence.
• Strong interpersonal skills: an excellent listener who works productively and diplomatically with a wide array of people and institutions that frequently disagree with and are in competition with one another.
• Excellent time and project management skills. Highly flexible, with the capacity to juggle multiple priorities, adjust to changing circumstances, remain attentive to details, and identify resources for projects.
• Excellent analytic and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with environmental issues preferred.

Travel

This position requires occasional travel to meetings and conferences.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.