NPCA POSITION DESCRIPTION
Date: February 13, 2023 Position Title: Senior Veterans Fellow

Job Status: Term – 24 months FLSA: Exempt
Department: Regional Operations
Location: Remote (Continental US)
Immediate Supervisor: Larissa Walker, Director of Outreach & Engagement Manager’s Supervisor: David Lamfrom, Vice President of Regional Programs Incumbent / New Position: New Position

Salary: $62-65k, commensurate with skills and experience

Grade: M

Primary Purpose of the Position: With more than 1.6 million members and supporters beside us, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is the voice of America’s national parks, working to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for present and future generations. NPCA’s veterans program meaningfully engages the military community — including veterans, active duty, reservists, and military families — to support national parks through strategic outreach, park experiences and advocacy.

This position is a two-year fellowship opportunity for an experienced leader to:
1) Bring their own personal experiences and passions to NPCA’s park protection campaigns and veterans-related policy issues.
2) Work with NPCA staff to advance campaigns in geographic areas where issues affecting national parks and military facilities, or Department of Defense issues intersect.
3) Build relationships with elected officials and community leaders, as well as deepen NPCA’s relationships within the military community.

Essential Functions:

% of Time

• Policy and campaign work: Advance NPCA’s campaigns and policy efforts related to park protection and

  issues affecting veterans and the military community. Build relationships with members of Congress and their staff to support key legislative efforts. Work with NPCA colleagues in our Regional Programs and Government Affairs departments to organize fly-ins, in-district meetings, and other opportunities for our veteran partners to meet with elected officials and key agencies. Represent NPCA and attend meetings related to relevant campaign and policy efforts. (40%)

• NPCA’s Veterans Council: Work with the Veterans Program Manager to run NPCA’s Veterans Council. This includes quarterly meetings, regular communication with council members, and identifying opportunities for council members to lend strategic support on policy and campaign issues. (30%)

• Partnership building: Deepen relationships and learning among existing veteran advocates; develop new relationships with veteran partners and communities. Attend events and activities as needed; represent NPCA to community leaders, other organizations, and the public. (30%)

Total 100%

Other:

Respect employees regardless of their position or background. Participates in developing department goals, objectives, and systems. Participates in administrative staff meetings, organization-wide meetings, staff committee meetings, training programs, and attends other meetings and seminars as designated by the supervisor. Assists in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position.

Minimum Work Schedule: Monday – Thursday (24-28 hours/week); may occasionally require weekend and/or evening work. NPCA’s offices are closed on Fridays.
Some regional and national travel is required for meetings and events. (10-20%)

Minimum Scope of Position: Interacts with Regional Programs staff, Government Affairs, Communications, and other organizational staff as well as volunteers such as members of NPCA’s Veterans Council.

Minimum Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Education, and Traits:

• Commitment to protecting and restoring America’s National Park System;

• Lived experience relevant to the position that demonstrates understanding, sensitivity, recognition of

  opportunities, and knowledge of veteran and/or non-profit systems valued;

• 4-5 years of experience with at least 3 years in a leadership position in veteran relations, community

  organizing, or nonprofit organization.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically about relationship building and campaigning;

• Demonstrated ability to work in collaborative teams to organize tasks, to set and observe priorities, and

  to maintain schedules.

• Proven ability to build relationships across political and interest boundaries;

• Excellent communication skills; demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills;

• Proven ability to self-manage, self-motivate, and work independently.

• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures,

  backgrounds and orientations.

• Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and

  celebrates differences.

  Core Values

  Live, honor and own NPCA’s Core Values:

• Commitment. We are passionate about NPCA and dedicated to achieving excellence through our work and mission. We seek to improve our performance by taking opportunities for professional and personal development and encouraging reasonable risk-taking and innovation.

• Inclusion. We value diversity of thought, background, experience, and opinion. We create a culture of empowerment by welcoming and encouraging meaningful participation from all people and promoting an environment that embraces different perspectives.

• Integrity. We hold ourselves accountable to each other, our members and partners, and our mission. We evaluate the impact of our work and strive for honesty and transparency across the organization. We operate ethically in the organization’s best interests.

• Respect. We collaborate in results-oriented teams based on trust and consideration for each other. We promote harmony between our work and our personal lives. We foster a healthy and positive workplace culture and work collaboratively with external partners.

  Physical Environment: Typical office setting or opportunity for remote work.

  Physical Effort and Dexterity: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  Employer’s Rights: NPCA reserves the right to revise this position description at any time. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the NPCA and employee and is subject to change by the NPCA as the needs of the NPCA and requirements of the job change. The above is in no way an exhaustive list of the requirements for the position. NPCA is committed to diversity among its employees and hiring practices. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.