Application Guide
How to Apply for Utah State Director
at The Wilderness Society
🏢 About The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society is one of America's oldest and most respected conservation organizations, with nearly 90 years of history protecting wild places through science-based advocacy and community partnerships. Unlike many environmental groups, they combine deep scientific expertise with strategic political engagement to achieve lasting conservation victories. Working here means joining a legacy organization that has successfully protected millions of acres while building diverse coalitions across political divides.
About This Role
As Utah State Director, you'll be the primary architect of conservation strategy for one of America's most ecologically significant states, translating national organizational goals into effective local action. This role requires balancing high-level political advocacy with on-the-ground project management, serving as both TWS's public face in Utah and the internal leader coordinating multidisciplinary teams. Your success will directly impact the protection of Utah's iconic landscapes like Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and the Wasatch Range.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might begin with a strategy call with TWS's national policy team about upcoming Utah legislation, followed by reviewing grant proposals for local conservation projects. In the afternoon, you could be meeting with county commissioners about wilderness protections, then mentoring your Utah-based staff on campaign tactics. The day often ends with preparing briefing materials for TWS leadership about political developments affecting Utah's public lands.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who The Wilderness Society Is Looking For
- Has 10+ years of hands-on experience leading complex advocacy campaigns or policy initiatives, preferably with demonstrated success in Utah's unique political and environmental landscape
- Possesses deep knowledge of Utah's public lands issues, including familiarity with key stakeholders (tribal nations, county commissioners, recreation groups) and current debates around monuments, wilderness designations, and energy development
- Is an experienced manager who has led diverse teams through coalition-building efforts, with proven ability to mentor staff while maintaining collaborative relationships with external partners
- Can point to specific examples of managing multi-year conservation projects from conception to implementation, including budget oversight and measurable outcomes
📝 Tips for Applying to The Wilderness Society
Quantify your advocacy experience with specific metrics: instead of 'led campaigns,' state 'secured 15,000 petition signatures leading to county commissioner support for X wilderness designation'
Demonstrate Utah-specific knowledge by referencing recent TWS Utah campaigns like protecting the Bonanza Flat or Bears Ears National Monument in your materials
Highlight experience working across political divides, as Utah's conservation work requires engaging with conservative lawmakers and rural communities
Show how you've built diverse coalitions by naming specific partner organizations you've collaborated with (tribal governments, hunting groups, local businesses)
Include examples of managing remote or distributed teams, as this role likely coordinates with TWS's Denver and DC offices while supervising Utah-based staff/contractors
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your specific understanding of Utah's conservation challenges and how TWS's science-based approach could address them", 'Examples of building and maintaining relationships with decision-makers across the political spectrum', 'Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders while achieving measurable conservation outcomes', "How your leadership style aligns with TWS's collaborative, partnership-driven culture"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → TWS's current Utah campaigns and recent victories (check their Utah-specific web pages and annual reports)
- → Key Utah conservation legislation and policy debates from the past 3 years (Red Rock Wilderness Act, public lands transfer movements, monument designations)
- → TWS's organizational structure and how state directors interface with national programs and leadership
- → Utah's major conservation stakeholders beyond TWS (SUWA, Nature Conservancy Utah, tribal nations, recreation industry groups)
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic environmental passion without Utah-specific knowledge or experience
- Overemphasis on national environmental issues without connecting them to Utah's unique landscape and politics
- Presenting as primarily an activist rather than a strategic manager who builds lasting relationships with decision-makers
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to The Wilderness Society!