How to apply for Wildlife Conservation Advocate - Urban Wildlands

About Center for Biological Diversity

The Center for Biological Diversity is a bold, national nonprofit that uses science, law, and creative media to protect endangered species and wild places. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that punches above its weight, often taking on powerful interests to defend biodiversity. Employees value the collaborative, activist culture and the chance to make a tangible impact on conservation.

About the role

As a Wildlife Conservation Advocate for the Urban Wildlands program, you'll fight to protect imperiled species and habitats in California's urban and wildland interface. You'll engage in policy advocacy, regulatory comments, and legal strategies to curb sprawl and safeguard biodiversity. This role is impactful because you'll directly influence decisions that determine whether species like the San Joaquin kit fox or coastal California gnatcatcher survive amid rapid development.

A typical day

A typical day might involve drafting a comment letter on a proposed development project, coordinating with legal staff on a potential lawsuit, and attending a virtual meeting with coalition partners. You'll also spend time researching species biology, analyzing environmental documents, and communicating with agencies or the media to advance conservation goals.

Who Center for Biological Diversity is looking for

• 3+ years of experience in environmental advocacy, policy analysis, or conservation law, with a focus on land-use or urban planning issues.
• Strong understanding of California environmental laws (e.g., CEQA, Endangered Species Act) and experience drafting comment letters, policy briefs, or legal pleadings.
• Proven ability to work independently in a remote setting while collaborating with a distributed team and engaging diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to biodiversity protection, ideally through prior work with nonprofits, agencies, or grassroots campaigns.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your cover letter to the Urban Wildlands program: mention specific California species or habitats you've worked on and how you'd apply your skills to the Center's campaigns.
• Highlight any experience with CEQA, NEPA, or ESA compliance, as these are core tools for the role. Provide concrete examples of successful advocacy outcomes.
• Include a reference list that includes at least one supervisor who can speak to your advocacy or policy work; the Center values strong professional references.
• Submit unofficial transcripts as requested—don't skip this, as it's a required part of the application and shows attention to detail.
• Address your ability to work remotely in California, especially if you live in or near the preferred locations (Bay Area, Sacramento, LA), as local knowledge is a plus.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific experience with California land-use or wildlife conservation issues, including any campaigns you've led or contributed to.", "How you've used policy, law, or advocacy to achieve tangible conservation outcomes, with metrics if possible (e.g., acres protected, species listed).", "Your familiarity with the Center's past Urban Wildlands work and how you'd build on it—show you've done your homework on their campaigns.", 'Your ability to communicate complex scientific and legal concepts to diverse audiences, including policymakers, media, and the public.']

Research before applying

• Read the Center's Urban Wildlands program page and recent press releases to understand their current campaigns and legal actions.
• Familiarize yourself with the Center's broader mission and key victories, such as their work on pesticide reduction or endangered species listings.
• Research California's housing and development policies, especially those affecting wildlands, to speak knowledgeably about the political landscape.
• Look up the Urban Wildlands Director and other team members on LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds and potential interview style.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Describe a time you successfully advocated for a conservation policy change. What strategies did you use, and what was the outcome?
• How would you approach a campaign to protect an endangered species in a rapidly urbanizing California county? Walk us through your first steps.
• What experience do you have with CEQA or NEPA? Give an example of how you've used these laws to influence a decision.
• The Center often takes bold, litigious stances. How do you balance collaboration with agencies and confrontational tactics?
• How do you prioritize multiple urgent conservation issues when working remotely with a small team?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't submit a generic cover letter that could apply to any conservation job—the Center wants to see specific passion for their urban wildlands work.
• Avoid downplaying legal or policy experience; this role requires comfort with regulatory frameworks, so highlight any relevant coursework or on-the-job training.
• Don't ignore the bargaining unit information—acknowledge you understand union fees may apply if you live in certain locations, as this shows you read the details.