Posted: 11/11/24

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is made up of members, volunteers, a board, and staff in Utah and across the United States who share the common goal of preserving Utah’s remaining desert wild lands, known collectively as America’s redrock wilderness. Since 1983, SUWA has been the only organization working full-time to defend America’s redrock wilderness from oil and gas development, unnecessary road construction, rampant off-road vehicle use, and other threats to Utah’s wilderness-quality lands.

SUWA’s bold mission is to permanently protect 9.5 million acres as Congressionally-designated Wilderness. SUWA has learned that success requires:

• Tenacity: Taking on big goals and creating the capacity to survive multi-year legal and political fights.
• Impact: Nationalizing our work by building a Protect Wild Utah movement, mobilizing volunteers, and organizing support both in Utah and nationally.
• Risk Taking: Aggressive action creates opportunities. Be bold. When in doubt, lead from the front. Being flexible and nimble when making decisions and prioritizing resources.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Exhaustively researching, mapping, groundtruthing and monitoring proposed wilderness lands. Being flexible and nimble when making decisions and prioritizing resources.

The Executive Director plays a crucial role in SUWA’s success by working with the Leadership Team to ensure that SUWA has the capacity and strategy to achieve its mission of protecting the redrock wilderness. This leader is passionate about protecting public lands and is a fearless and enthusiastic champion of SUWA’s mission, vision and values.

This experienced individual will continue to sustain an organizational culture of teamwork, mutual respect, and one that encourages diverse viewpoints; they will grow a culture that defines and establishes quality work operations and processes while advancing SUWA’s mission. This is a high-profile position, requiring a dynamic and persuasive individual who will motivate and mobilize both internal and external audiences to support SUWA’s work. This individual must demonstrate success in cultivating authentic relationships with a wide range of constituencies, including SUWA members, other nonprofits and partners, tribal leaders, elected officials, and government agencies.

SUWA is looking for a candidate who demonstrates an unwavering passion for SUWA’s mission and the lands that the organization seeks to protect! This individual will have progressive leadership and management experience ideally gained while working at an environmental advocacy organization. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to operate effectively within a nonprofit governing environment, including a proven expertise and track record in fundraising and nonprofit management.

This person must have strong verbal and written communication skills that translate into effective communications across a variety of platforms and should demonstrate an ability to navigate a political environment at the local, state, and national levels. The successful candidate, ideally, will have experience working with both the Department of the Interior and federal elected officials on Capitol Hill.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position annually is between $160,000 and $175,000 and will be commensurate with experience. SUWA has a supportive culture, encourages professional development, and is an organization that cares about employee wellbeing. The comprehensive benefits package includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexibility Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care FSA, Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Short- and Long-Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D, and a 3.5% contribution to the retirement plan. Generous Paid Personal, Parental and Bereavement Leave, and Paid Holidays. For each five years of employment, employees are eligible for a two-month sabbatical.

To Apply

If you want to lead this dynamic organization, please submit a current resume and cover letter to Kittleman & Associates. The cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your passion for the SUWA’s mission, as well as organizational impact in current or prior roles.

This role will be filled as soon as possible and the deadline for applications is Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (Click on the Apply link at the bottom of the page)

All qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

SUWA – Executive Director Position Guide

Click here for more information and to apply

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) has openings for several Wilderness Conservation Crew Technicians. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to Ray Bloxham, Field Director, at hiring@suwa.org. The deadline to submit your application is January 31st, 2025.

Job Description 

The Wilderness Conservation Crew (WCC) Technician is a part-time, field-based position focused on implementing on-the-ground protections for designated wilderness areas in central Utah. Working on a team of four crew members, the WCC Technician will use remediation techniques, data collection, and monitoring to ensure the long-term protection of designated wilderness areas. The position requires long and physically demanding days in remote areas and substantial amounts of backcountry driving, often on rugged and technical four-wheel-drive roads (field vehicles will be provided). The position reports directly to The Wilderness Conservation Crew Lead, with additional supervision by SUWA’s Field Specialist and Field Director.

Responsibilities 

• Conduct on-the-ground remediation of impacts to designated wilderness (including, but not limited to, naturalization, signing, and fencing) using a range of tools including shovels, rakes, hammers, and various power tools.
• Implement approved site remediation techniques and design standards at pre-determined project locations.
• Utilize app-based mapping tools and photography to document project areas before and after completion, as well conduct monitoring of past project areas.
• Communicate frequently with SUWA’s Field Specialist and Field Director, including attending pre- and post-trip meetings.

Preferred Skills 

• Demonstrated commitment to wilderness preservation and interest in wilderness management.
• Education and/or field experiences related to public lands.
• Trail work, land restoration, construction, or other applicable manual labor experience. • Ability to regularly lift and carry heavy objects (i.e., rocks, wood, fencing material) over rough terrain
• Experience recreating or working in wilderness or backcountry settings, including knowledge and proficiency in backcountry travel and orienting using topographical maps. • Ability to implement field data collection protocols with initiative and attention to detail. • Experience driving on rugged, four-wheel-drive roads in remote locations, as well as experience dealing with unexpected vehicle issues.
• Ability to spend 5 or more consecutive days and nights at a time working and camping in remote locations without cell phone service, including long days and rigorous physical activity.
• Willingness to work in all types of weather conditions, including harsh and often high temperature desert environments.

Requirements 

• Commitment to working hitches of 5-6 days, 8-12 hour/days, every other week from March 3rd to October 31 (with a potential summer break during periods of excessive heat).
• Current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.
• A valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and ability to work both individually and on a team.

Location, Start Date, Compensation and Benefits 

• Based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, with travel throughout central Utah. Anticipated start date is March 3rd, 2025.
• $20/hour plus food stipend and workers’ compensation coverage. Part-time employees are eligible for overtime pay but are not eligible for health insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, pension or retirement, vacation/holiday pay, or sick pay.