The Wyoming Outdoor Council is Wyoming’s oldest independent statewide conservation group.
In 1967, Tom Bell, also the founder of High Country News, came together with other conservation leaders to establish the Wyoming Outdoor Council. Since then, the Wyoming Outdoor Council has grown to be a nationally recognized leader in protecting Wyoming’s environment and quality of life.
OPEN POSITIONS
LEGAL & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR
We’re looking for someone to lead our policy and legal efforts in support of our conservation work as our legal and government relations director. If you’re interested in working with a broad coalition of interests to advance policy and regulations in harmony with our mission and vision for a vibrant Wyoming, we’d encourage you to apply. Among other duties and responsibilities, you’ll serve on our management team, work closely with governmental agencies, elected officials and tribes, represent us in legal proceedings, and research relevant legal issues.
FIELD ORGANIZER
If you love working on a collaborative team and want to use your skills in grassroots organizing and community engagement to further the mission of the Outdoor Council and our presence throughout the state, you should consider applying to be our newest field organizer! You’ll join our program team to help support and implement our campaigns and activities throughout Wyoming communities by engaging in outreach to the public and coordinating projects and events.
ORGANIZING DIRECTOR
Have a background in grassroots organizing and community engagement? Join our team! We’re seeking an organizing director to develop and execute organizing strategies to support the communities we serve across the state and Wind River Reservation. This position will assist in the building and supervising of a team of field organizers and innovate campaigns to support WOC’s programmatic issues.
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Do you have knowledge of Mac hardware and software installation? Are you experienced at diagnosing and resolving technical issues? Do you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills? Do you want to put your skills to good use and help us protect Wyoming’s landscapes and wildlife? As Administrative Coordinator, you will join a team of motivated advocates and help support the conservation and fundraising work of the Wyoming Outdoor Council.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Do you have a knack for social media? Love using digital tools to educate and inspire? Want to put your creativity to work for Wyoming’s public lands and wildlife? We’re seeking a digital communications coordinator to enhance our social media presence and digital marketing efforts. This position will work as part of the communications team to develop and distribute communications products across a range of digital channels.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Wyoming Outdoor Council believes we have an obligation to support and mentor future conservation leaders. Our internship program offers motivated people valuable, real-world experience in legislative advocacy, environmental law and policy, citizen engagement and the day to day work of a conservation nonprofit organization.
Interns help further the Outdoor Council’s mission. Interns add capacity and allow us to take a deeper dive on priority issues or explore issues on the outside edges of our work that we may decide to address in the future. Interns bring new perspectives and skill sets. They also help us grow our network of members and informed citizens.
We are committed to thoughtful advertising of these opportunities to ensure we are recruiting non-traditional applicants, women, and people of color.
We offer three kinds of internships: legal, legislative, and project-based.
Every intern at WOC can expect:
- Formal onboarding to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the work of a conservation advocacy group and more specifically, a comprehensive understanding of the Outdoor Council. The onboarding will include:
- An introduction to all staff and an overview of our teams;
- Overview (via print pubs, strategic plan, e.g.) of our current issues;
- A gift membership, hat, and t-shirt;
- Invitation to join staff, program, and board meetings;
- If the internship is in-person, an orientation to office protocols, office space, use of equipment, any HR paperwork, etc.
- A staff supervisor/mentor who will give them considerable support and direction;
- A meaningful and in-depth project they can “own”;
- A feature story about them in our Frontline or e-newsletter.
- Academic credit or a paid stipend for an agreed-upon length of time.
LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIPS
The Wyoming Outdoor Council’s power comes from informed and engaged citizens. This is especially true during the state legislative session—when key policy decisions about our public lands, wildlife, and environmental quality are made every year. As part of our effort to increase civic engagement in Wyoming, we offer a handful of legislative internships, giving interns of all ages and backgrounds, a week-long immersive experience in the Capitol during the legislative session.
Each internship includes a dynamic and in-depth curriculum that covers:
- The basics: how a bill becomes law and an orientation to the Capito
- Hands-on training in lobbying and communicating with legislator
- Researching actual legislation filed—including possible meetings with government agency staff and creating fact sheets
- Attending committee hearings and monitoring floor debates
- Participating in strategy meetings with other lobbyists and interest groups
- Opportunities to testify before committees and/or lobby legislators directly about upcoming bills
Outdoor Council staff will provide the majority of this training, often through on-the-go learning related to the Outdoor Council’s own work. Each internship will vary based on the pace and schedule of the upcoming legislative session that year. Interns will be needed in Cheyenne for the duration of the week, starting with an orientation meeting that Sunday evening and finishing by Friday afternoon. The Outdoor Council will provide lodging in Cheyenne and a $250 stipend for the week.
LEGAL INTERNSHIPS
The Wyoming Outdoor Council offers internships to motivated law students who are passionate about protecting public lands, wildlife, clean air and water in Wyoming. We offer an 8-week internship in the summer and semester-long externships for students. We offer in-office experiences and can facilitate remote work if a student would like to work on a project while in school.
Eligible applicants should be second or third year law students with some prior experience in public lands, natural resource, energy, and/or environmental law (classwork, clinics and/or previous internships). Applicants with strong writing skills and familiarity with bedrock environmental laws are encouraged to apply.
Legal interns can expect to work with our attorneys and other advocates on staff and assist in meaningful, ongoing conservation advocacy work. Interns may research and analyze legal and policy questions, draft memoranda, and assist with drafting NEPA comments on land use plans, oil and gas lease sales, and proposed projects on public lands.
Interns will receive academic credit in accordance with their law school’s program requirements or a $2,500 stipend for an 8-week internship. Hours are flexible, but based on a 40-hour/week commitment.
PROJECT-BASED INTERNSHIPS
The Wyoming Outdoor Council offers internships designed to provide a future conservation leader the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the work of a conservation nonprofit. We have worked with interns on a wide variety of projects that support our mission, including GIS mapping, a short video documentary, a policy research paper, and community outreach and engagement. We will advertise for specific needs, so please check back. A strong candidate would have a desire to pursue a career in conservation or environmental advocacy or a nonprofit career and relevant experience or academic background in the type of project proposed. We offer a $2,500 stipend for an 8-week internship or can authorize academic credit if desired. Hours are flexible, but based on a 40-hour/week commitment.