Careers

Public lands and natural resources policy careers encompass a broad, interconnected range of skills and knowledge related to protecting land, wildlife and resources.

Private Sector

Sample Positions: 

• Natural Resource Policy Consultant - leads the development of policies and legislation for the management of land, natural resources, fish and wildlife and outdoor recreation. 

Sample Hiring Organizations:  

• Ecological Resource Consultants

Public Sector

Sample Positions: 

• Fish & Wildlife Administrator - manages operations and budget for regional areas under the U.S. 
• Park Ranger - provides public safety, natural resource protection and administrative management of specific areas.
• Recreation Director - leads and oversees the personnel and facilities of an organization's recreation department, produces, coordinates and executes recreational programs and activities for a town.
• Public Policy and Resource Management for:
  • National Park Services
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • US Forest Service
  • State and Local Parks
• Government Relations and Policy Roles

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Bureau of Land Management

• Bureau of Indian Affairs

• National Park Service

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Non-Profit

Sample Positions:

• Project Manager - employs conservation strategies through land acquisition, business practices, partnerships and projects all centered around specific non-profit priorities.
• Conservation Analyst - collects, synthesizes and analyzes conservation data for on-going research and the development of conservation practices. 
• Communications Manager - develops and executes media strategies to advance legislative, environmental and advocacy priorities.

Sample Hiring Organizations: 

• American Alpine Club

• Appalachian Mountain Club

• Center for Natural Lands Management

• Indigenous Environmental Network

• Natural Resources Defense Council

• Protect Our Winters

• The Nature Conservancy

• The Sierra Club Foundation

Careers in Community Economic Development require skills and knowledge in community-building, economic development, improving equitable access to the outdoors, community planning, stakeholder engagement, community leadership, funding mechanisms and the assessment and development of outdoor recreation amenities, among others.

Private Sector 

Sample Positions:

• Marketing and Communications Manager - assists in the development and implementation of strategic marketing, communications, public relations initiatives and tactics to increase program participation and philanthropic donations.
• Community Building Consultant - develops a cohesive vision and implementation strategy for future development, capital improvement projects and strategic investments in partnership with communities. 
• Community Impact Manager - develops, implements, manages and evaluates a company's programs for meeting community impact goals in areas of interest such as sustainability, diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Arc'teryx

• Community Builders

• Logan Simpson

• Mountain IDEAL

• Patagonia

• VistaWorks – Destination Management

Public Sector 

Sample Positions:

• Director of Business Support and Rural Prosperity - helps small businesses achieve their goals by providing consulting expertise and training programs across the state.
• Deputy Director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Office - supports the director of the office while managing most day-to-day communications.
• Director of Economic Vitality - sustains economic vitality by supporting primary companies and collaborating with business, industry and community partners. 
• Community Relations Roles

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Outdoor Recreation Division – New Mexico  

• Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 

• City of Boulder – Community Vitality Department

• State, city and regional recreation offices
  • City planning 
  • Chambers of commerce
  • Workforce development organizations
  • Convention and visitor’s bureaus
  • Destination marketing organizations

Non-Profit 

Sample Positions:

Landowner Relations Manager - maintains relationships with landowners and community members. 

Director of Development - manages the long-term fundraising capacities of an organization, which includes engaging with donors, individuals, foundations and corporations. 

Community Engagement Coordinator - creates and maintains relationships with communities in which outdoor recreation is an economic driver.

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Public Land Solutions

• International Mountain Biking Association

• List of Trail Associations

• REI Cooperative Action Fund

• Trust for Public Land

• Western Resource Advocates

Leading a sustainable business requires a range of skills and knowledge related to embedding sustainability within a company with positions in product design and development, marketing and sales, sustainability consulting, entrepreneurship, management, strategic planning, consumer experience, strategic partnerships, financial strategy and more. Major brands represented in this space include REI, Patagonia, Vail Resorts, Outside, Inc. and many more. There are also roles in small and entrepreneurial companies as well as opportunities for those who plan to start their own businesses after graduation.

Private Sector 

Sample Positions:

• Corporate Sustainability Leader - leads corporate sustainability strategy to reduce a company's environmental and social impacts. This position often includes defining and managing programs, processes, reporting frameworks and policies to reduce the company's sustainability footprint.  
• Sustainability Analyst - this role could be specialized to a specific area of sustainability, i.e. supply chain, raw materials, etc. An analyst in this position would track and report progress towards public-facing sustainability goals. 
• Strategic Sustainability Consultant - provides organizations with the tools and expertise they need to manage their social and environmental impacts.
• Program Manager - works with organizations that curate resources and networks for small business owners. This position focuses on creating and supporting events and resources for entrepreneurs. 
• Entrepreneur - starts your own outdoor businesses by teaching the skills and leadership capabilities needed to see business concepts to fruition. 
• Other: 
  • Leading roles in sustainability, product development, operations and marketing
  • Entrepreneurship (starting a business or joining a start-up)

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Black Diamond

• Colorado Outdoors 

• Cotopaxi

• Origin Outside

• Outside Inc.

• VF Corporation

• Vail Resorts

Public Sector

Sample Positions: 

Director of Sustainable Business Innovation - creates and implements sustainability projects and partnerships to progress innovation in sustainability as it relates to businesses in the outdoor industry. 

Sample Hiring Organizations:

Outdoor Industry Association

Non-Profit

Sample Positions:

• Development and Programs Coordinator - develops and manages existing programs, focusing on one particular program within the organization's offerings. 
• Partnership Manager - grows memberships, generates campaigns and fundraises while working with non-profit partners to coordinate programs.

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Camber Outdoors

• Outdoor Foundation

• Leave No Trace 

• Big City Mountaineers 

• Outward Bound

• National Outdoor Leadership School

Creating inclusive environments where every individual feels a deep sense of belonging represents a shared opportunity for all. Advancing the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is a responsibility that extends to everyone within an organization. Relying solely on a designated DEI office or HR department to effect cultural change across an entire institution is not conducive to sustainable and enduring transformation. Increasingly, organizations are seeking to enrich their teams with inclusive and conscious leaders across all sectors, equipped with the skills to drive inclusive organizational change, foster inclusive communication, implement equitable policies, and cultivate a culture of inclusivity throughout the workplace. This collective effort contributes to fostering an organizational environment where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to pursue equitable growth and opportunities.

While there are specific roles dedicated to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging within the Outdoor Recreation Economy (ORE), spanning the private, public, and non-profit sectors, the opportunity to champion these principles exists within every role within the industry.

Private Sector

Sample Positions: 

• Manager of Inclusive Access - creates more equitable communities and sports through community impact grant giving, program management, and interdepartmental collaboration
• Equity and Performance Lead - instills a mindset of equity & inclusion, ongoing learning, and professional development by designing and implementing organizational and culture change efforts, performance management processes, training, and tools across the company
• Marketing Program Manager - informs and influences all aspects of marketing and consults with other divisions on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Sample Hiring Organizations:  

• Vail Resorts

• Patagonia

• REI

Public Sector

Sample Positions: 

• Inclusion Facilitator - provides assistance to participants with disabilities to ensure a successful recreation experience for participants in a variety of Parks and Recreation programs
• Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer - integrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles into all citywide operations, projects, and services

Sample Hiring Organizations:

• Parks and Recreation Departments

Non-Profit

Sample Positions:

• Community Inclusion Coordinator - increases conservation awareness, creates and sustains partnerships with communities, focuses on new audiences for equitable representation in conservation
• Program Director - responsible for strategic planning and assessment, fundraising and budget, volunteer leadership development, staff management, organizational compliance, media and communications, outreach and coalition building, and chapter engagement leading on equity
• Program Manager - manages and provides oversight for program planning and implementation to serve people with a wide range of disabilities and their communities
• Vice President, Conservation & Communities - builds and advances community-led coalitions, partnerships, relationships, and movements to advance organizations objectives

Sample Hiring Organizations: 

• Chelan-Douglas Land Trust

• Sierra Club

• No Barriers

• The Wilderness Society

Additional Sample Roles Specific to Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging:

Diversity and Inclusion Officer: Responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote diversity and inclusion within an organization. This may involve creating training programs, implementing policies, and fostering an inclusive work culture.

Diversity Recruiter: Focuses on attracting diverse candidates to job openings within an organization. They may attend job fairs, utilize diverse recruitment channels, and work to eliminate bias in the hiring process.

Diversity Trainer/Educator: Develops and delivers training programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics for employees. This role may involve facilitating workshops, leading discussions, and providing resources to promote understanding and awareness.

Diversity Consultant: Provides consulting services to organizations seeking to improve diversity and inclusion practices. This may involve conducting assessments, providing recommendations, and offering ongoing support to foster a more inclusive environment.

Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leader: Leads or supports employee resource groups focused on specific diversity dimensions such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. These groups often advocate for underrepresented employees and organize events to promote diversity and inclusion.

Diversity Program Manager: Manages initiatives and programs related to diversity and inclusion within an organization. This could include developing diversity metrics, tracking progress, and collaborating with various departments to integrate diversity into business practices.

Chief Diversity Officer (CDO): Holds a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the organization's diversity and inclusion efforts. The CDO typically works closely with executives to develop and execute diversity strategies that align with the organization's goals and values.

Cultural Competence Trainer: Provides training and resources to help individuals and organizations develop cultural competence and effectively engage with diverse populations. This may involve teaching cross-cultural communication skills, cultural awareness, and sensitivity training.

Diversity Liaison: Serves as a point of contact for diversity-related issues within an organization, advocating for the needs of underrepresented groups and facilitating communication between employees and leadership.

Diversity Researcher: Conducts research on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing insights and recommendations to inform organizational practices and policies. This could involve qualitative or quantitative research methods and may be conducted within academia, think tanks, or consulting firms.

Inclusion and Diversity Communications Specialist: Brings to life the storytelling element of the organization’s DEIB strategy and outreach. Working collaboratively with the PR/Communications/Marketing teams, the specialist will support in demonstrating the importance of DEIB through a range of internal and external communications touchpoints.

Supplier Diversity Manager: Manages initiatives to promote diversity among suppliers and vendors, ensuring that the organization works with a diverse range of businesses. They develop supplier diversity programs and track supplier diversity metrics.

Diversity Marketing Manager: Integrates diversity and inclusion into marketing strategies, ensuring that campaigns are inclusive and resonate with diverse audiences. They collaborate with marketing teams to develop messaging and campaigns that reflect diverse perspectives and values.