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Ocean Policy Associate
Seattle Aquarium
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See open jobs at Seattle Aquarium.See open jobs similar to "Ocean Policy Associate" Schmidt Marine.Posted 6+ months ago
JOB POSTING
Ocean Policy Associate (Seasonal)
Posted: Open to internal and external applicants
Reports to: Senior Ocean Policy Manager
Status: This is a part time, hourly role, eligible for overtime. This is a seasonal 7-month position with a specific end date (early October 2024 – early May 2025).
Hours of work: This position will work up to 20 hours per week. The specific schedule will be agreed upon between the person in this position and the supervisor.
Date needed: October 10, 2024 (with some flexibility)
Posting expires: Open until filled, preference given to applications received by July 29
Position description:
The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a part-time, seasonal ocean policy associate to support the Seattle Aquarium’s policy work from approximately Oct. 10, 2024 to May 10, 2025. The position will have the opportunity to work directly on policy and advocacy related to the 2025 Washington state legislative session, which runs from January through April, as well as additional work on federal policy priorities.
Issues of focus are likely to include plastic pollution, protections for wildlife (including salmon and orcas) and ecosystems (including kelp and eelgrass habitats), environmental justice, and voting rights.
Work carried out by the person in this role is anticipated to include tracking bills as they move through the legislature; working on multi-faceted advocacy campaigns with various written communications products; and supporting the organization and delivery of policy trainings. We work within a short, fast-paced legislative session, in which bills move quickly and the window for influencing decisions can be extremely narrow.
All positions at the Aquarium support our SALISH Values (Sustainable, Awe-Inspiring, Learning and Improving, Inclusive Community, Scientific Integrity, Honoring Place). As a part of our values, the Aquarium is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We adopted a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategic plan and Regenerative Plan. We envision a future in which ocean and coastal communities survive and thrive, where we can meet the needs of the present while building more resilient and equitable systems for the future. Our policy work aims to help advance that vision.
The sciences, policy processes, and the conservation movement have historically marginalized many communities from taking on leadership roles. Our team actively seeks to dismantle this practice and to broaden participation in marine and environmental policy professions, making them more inclusive of the full diversity of our communities and responsive to their needs and perspectives. Candidates passionate about anti-racism, social justice, environmental justice, and other intersections will be an asset to our work. Personal and cultural ties to diverse multicultural and multilingual communities in the region as well as to diverse networks and organizations make us stronger as an organization and support our values of inclusive community and honoring place.
Key functions:
- Work on multi-faceted policy campaigns. Tasks are likely to include writing letters, email action alerts, blogs, content for government correspondence, and developing public outreach materials, website content, and social media messages and graphics.
- Track evolving legislation as it moves through the Washington state legislature and Congress; identify opportunities for action or influence and monitor changes that are proposed through amendments.
- Support the organization of policy trainings for Seattle Aquarium high-school and adult volunteers, and possibly also support coordination of an Olympia lobby trip.
- Participate in meetings and phone calls with our partners in the policy arena. This may include representing the Aquarium on a coalition or working group with regular weekly or monthly calls, such as a campaign team for one of the Washington Environmental Priorities Coalition’s state legislative priorities.
- Develop memos, presentations, and talking points on ocean policy issues for internal and external audiences.
- Provide policy updates for Seattle Aquarium board, staff and volunteers through presentations, handouts, intranet posts, and other channels.
- Assist with organizing press conferences and other events on policy topics and bills.
- Depending on availability, may have the opportunity to make 1 to 3 day-trips to Olympia to attend hearings, deliver testimony or participate in meetings and/or Environmental Lobby Day.
- All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.
- Perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the level of the position.
Required skills and experience:
The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s mission and values, including Regenerative and Equity work.
- Familiarity with policy processes at the state or federal level; passion for using policy processes to make change.
- Dedication to inspiring conservation of the Salish Sea and the broader marine environment and familiarity with some of the current environmental policy issues in the Salish Sea.
- General understanding of the importance of Tribal treaty rights and Tribal sovereignty.
- Strong ability to build and maintain positive, respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Ability to approach others from an empathetic, authentic, and curious perspective and maintain respect for cultural differences.
- Experience writing in a variety of formats for different audiences (which could include, for example, legislators, the media, and diverse communities).
- Interest and ability to synthesize findings from scientific papers as well as other available sources of knowledge to develop communications products and inform policy positions.
- Preference for multilingual and English speakers with comfort and practice communicating across cultural and language barriers.
- Ability to track numerous fast-moving pieces of legislation; adaptable and able to organize work and re-prioritize as needed to meet the kinds of structured deadlines that are common in current public policy processes.
- Experience with or willingness to learn PC software, videoconferencing tools, and internet browsers (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Zoom).
- Experience with or willingness to learn to develop social media messaging and to do layout/design of slide presentations, fact sheets, and other materials (e.g., could include using programs like PowerPoint, Canva, and others).
- A history of cultural and community involvement and Tribal engagement are desired experiences for strong candidates.
- Ability to take initiative and advance projects without direct daily supervision, and to be proactive in seeking guidance whenever needed.
- Willingness to both request and aid others on the team and to help create a collegial, inclusive, and healthy work environment; willingness to seek and incorporate feedback as you grow your knowledge base and skills, and to offer feedback to your supervisor and colleagues.
Working conditions:
- Majority of work is performed in a normal office setting at a computer workstation for the duration of your shift. On-site work is performed at a computer workstation in an open office environment.
- Be comfortable using a computer for up to four hours at a time.
- May be a hybrid position with some days working remotely from home, to be agreed with supervisor, but some on-site meetings will be required. Staff working remotely are subject to the Seattle Aquarium’s telecommuting policy.
- Flexibility for occasional evening, early morning or weekend hours (e.g., to work on volunteer trainings, legislative testimony, press conferences), and infrequent travel to Olympia and potentially other destinations (not anticipated to exceed 5-10%).
Salary and benefits:
$24.00 - $27.00 per hour. Temporary staff are not eligible for benefits but accrue paid sick time and are paid an additional $0.75/hour to assist with transportation costs.
How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.
Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.
Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.
About the Seattle Aquarium:
The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.
Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.
Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’re working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org.
Timeline:
We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interview dates. If hired, relocation assistance is not available.
- Application deadline: Open until filled.
- Priority given to applications received by July 29
- Interviews completed in August 2024.
- Start date: October 10, 2024.
This job is no longer accepting applications
See open jobs at Seattle Aquarium.See open jobs similar to "Ocean Policy Associate" Schmidt Marine.