Job  Board

Title: BFG Tribal Conservation Fellow 
Type: Full-time, temporary | 24-30 months duration 
Supervisor: Director of Programs and Initiatives 
Salary: $80,000/annually with generous benefits 
Location: Remote, US-based, must be able to access an international airport easily 

Founded in 1987, Biodiversity Funders Group (BFG) is a professional association of environmental, conservation, and climate and energy grantmakers. Our vision is a just, healthy, and sustainable future for all life on Earth, supported by an effective philanthropic sector. To achieve that, we cultivate and support a community of biodiversity grantmakers to pursue complementary and collaborative strategies. 

In 2021, we embarked on a partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) to develop programming on Tribally led conservation and other environmental issues in Indian Country. Sparked by the Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative and the embedded commitment to support Tribally led conservation and restoration priorities, we designed a series of learning events to brief funders about urgent opportunities to advance this objective. The Tribal Conservation Fellow is a new position for BFG; the Fellow will be an integral part of the staff team supporting the Tribal Conservation Initiative. 

Along with the BFG Director of Programs and Program Coordinator, the Fellow will interact with our partners at Native Americans in Philanthropy and other Indigenous-led organizations and entities, helping to deepen the learning and shape new connections. The fellow will conduct initial research to identify gaps in the learning program, through interviews with philanthropic and Tribal partners. Working with NGOs and federal partners, they will also review potential opportunities to align philanthropy with policy, surfacing emerging issues for deeper engagement. The Tribal Conservation Fellow will assist in shaping the content for Tribal and Indigenous-led conservation components of the Learning Circle, the Learning in the Field Program, and the Land and Freshwater and Marine Conservation Program Annual Meetings, as appropriate. As part of their tenure with BFG, 

they will also produce a shareable compendium of resources, developed from their research and learning along the way. 

The BFG Tribal Conservation Fellow should have at least two years of experience working on Native American issues at an NGO, academic institution, Tribal government, or similar entity. Strong writing and communication skills are important, as is experience working effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders including volunteers. 

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES 

The position includes a variety of programmatic, communication, administrative, and outreach responsibilities. 

Program Development 

• Work with the Director of Programs and Initiatives and Program Coordinator to identify key issues, speakers, and opportunities for funders to advance Tribal and Indigenous-led conservation initiatives 
• Assist the Director of Programs and Initiatives and Program Coordinator with developing learning and engagement programs for funders, including field trips and other special events within the Tribal and Indigenous-led programming arena 
• Working closely with Native Americans in Philanthropy and other partners, produce reports and other materials to showcase emerging issues and opportunities 
• Serve as one of the key connection points to Tribal and Indigenous-led project leads 
• Assist with Tribal Conservation Pledge tracking and reporting 
• Develop a toolbox of resources to complement Tribal Conservation Initiative activities 

Program Coordination and Planning 

• Design and distribute announcements for program events and activities for the Tribal Conservation Initiative 
• Prepare and distribute webinar and meeting follow-up communications 
• Manage logistics for webinars and virtual meetings 
• Notetake during webinars and meetings 
• Coordinate speaker travel and lodging, including tracking expenses and processing receipts 
• Provide logistical support for site visits and field trips 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• At least two years of experience working in philanthropic, non-profit, or governmental sectors 
• Knowledge of key issues and trends in terrestrial and/or marine stewardship, such as 30x30, co-management/co-stewardship, land return, marine protected areas, US and/or international conservation policy widely 
• Strong writing skills for a professional audience 
• Demonstrated project management skills 
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to “meet people where they are” 
• Proficiency in Mailchimp, Canva, Zoom, and event-hosting platforms like RegFox 
• Familiarity with communications strategy and basic design skills for digital communications 
• Commitment to fostering equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work 
• Ability to travel as many as many as four or five times a year, for a few days at a time 

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS 

• Knowledge of Tribal and Indigenous-led legal structures and policy levers 
• Professional background in conservation, climate resilience, natural resources 
• Experience in designing and/or hosting offsite learning and events for small groups 
• Experience working for coalitions or membership organizations 

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions and qualifications of the position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this description. 

LOCATION: The position is remote, but candidates must be able to access an international airport in the US easily. 

COMPENSATION: This is a full-time temporary position, ending December 2026. BFG offers an excellent benefits package. Annualized salary is $80,000. 

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates should email, as a single PDF, a resume and a cover letter to jobs@biodiversityfunders.org. Please reference Program Fellow in the subject line. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, July 26, 2024 

No phone inquiries or other attempts to reach individual BFG staff members, please. All complete applications will be acknowledged during the search process. 

The Biodiversity Funders Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, race or disability. BFG’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is based upon our belief that the best organizations are composed of individuals who bring a variety of skills, perspectives, backgrounds, and resources to address complex and strategic challenges.