The Position

As the first Director of Impact and Advocacy for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, you will help launch a new era and initiative for the Garden. As we near our centennial, we are moving from a botanic garden with a focus on conservation, to a biodiversity conservation organization that, among other things, operates a botanic garden. In this role, you will track emerging policy trends and opportunities, shaping the organization’s response to influence the greater utilization of native plants across both the region and California. You’ll work with a variety of stakeholders and play a key role in community scanning and maximizing the Garden’s opportunities for external engagement. This role furthers our mission by supporting biodiversity in wildlands and the areas we live, work, and play.

You’ll be responsible for developing and executing strategic policy initiatives and advocacy plans for the Garden at the local, regional, and statewide levels. This position oversees the coordination and implementation of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s impact and advocacy agenda. You will work closely with communications, horticulture, conservation and education teams, to strengthen and maintain relationships with external partners, elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and stakeholders. Raising awareness on key issues and opportunities for expanding the use of native plants and supporting biodiversity throughout Santa Barbara County is a priority.

This position maintains both internal and external responsibilities. External roles include representing the organization with policy makers, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, project partners, private sector, and frequently some funders and donors. You will identify and develop strategic partnerships and long-term relationships, ensuring the Garden has a strong external presence and direct involvement in high-priority biodiversity-related activities. Internal roles include co-creation and management of policy and advocacy strategies and campaigns, collaborating with the Garden’s leadership team and Board of Trustees to implement the goals of the strategic plan.

This full-time (40 hours/week), exempt position reports to the Executive Director.

The Team

Our leadership team includes professionals with experience in both the for-profit and non-profit world, but we all have one thing in common – a passion for our mission to conserve native plants. You’ll be in good company!

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the planning and development of the Garden’s impact and advocacy program, including priorities and strategies for action, coordination with other Garden departments as appropriate, and identifying and developing pathways to increase community impact of the Garden’s work.
• Work with senior leadership (staff and board) to identify and prioritize efforts relating to changing municipal, county and statewide policy and community efforts to increase the use of native plants in the built environment.
• Draft position papers, policy briefs, testimony, op-eds, blogs, etc. to represent the organization’s work and drive community impact and public policy agenda.
• Coordinate meetings, briefings, and strategy discussions with elected officials, allies, and policy makers about SBBG’s work.
• Advocate for native plants and biodiversity goals at public forums, hearings, public meetings, etc. Serve as the government and community affairs liaison with an initial focus on Santa Barbara county, and eventually expanding to SLO and Ventura counties, and supporting statewide initiatives as time allows. Participate in regional, statewide, and national coalitions as needed.
• Develop and maintain a network of external partners, collaborators, and allies.
• Ensure the creation and management of a system to track information, policies, and trends related to California native plants and support for biodiversity at the local/regional, state and national level, and train staff on use and maintenance of the system/database. This includes monitoring legislative and public policies that align with SBBG’s priorities, developing briefs and recommending actions on positions, and the implications of the activities for the strategic plan
• Track funding and related legislation at state and local levels.

You Must Be Able To:

• Independently identify local, state, and national initiatives that the Garden should track
• Craft policy initiatives on behalf of the organization for review and consideration by the Executive Director and the Board
• Work independently, with high degree of autonomy and accountability, and work as part of a team to further the goals of the organization
• Embrace a fast-paced environment that requires quick turnaround and flexibility
• Occasionally work weekends and evenings
• Sit for up to 2.0 hours at a time and use a computer and phone for lengthy periods
• Stand/walk for extended periods of time
• Lift and carry 10 lbs., bend, squat, climb stairs, and walk the Garden trails

You Will Definitely Need:

• Experience with policy and advocacy at a senior staffing level
• Knowledge of conservation policies and appropriate government regulations and how these policies impact the conservation and use of native plants
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and expertise in database management
• Strong project management skills
• Great presentation skills
• Experience organizing and coordinating advocacy/engagement activities (meetings, advocacy campaigns, workshops)
• Passion for native plants
• A valid California driver license and an acceptable driving record

More About Us:

The Garden is a beautiful place to work! And in this role, you are often outdoors. In addition to beautiful views, outdoor work environments also include exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure.

Disclaimer:

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.