Current Opportunities

Environmental Research & Review Analyst

Position: Permanent/Full-Time
Location: Flexible, but preferably Minnesota
Compensation: $80-90k, starting, commensurate with education and experience
Supervised By: Policy & Science Director

Background: Save the Boundary Waters is a campaign coalition launched in 2013 and led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness (NMW). NMW was founded in 1996 to provide a local voice for wilderness protection on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is America’s most-visited wilderness area, a unique landscape, and the only lake-land wilderness of significant size in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Save the Boundary Waters includes ~30 environmental NGO partners, > 375 business partners, and ~30 hunting and fishing nonprofit partners, all of which are united in the shared objective of achieving permanent protection of the Boundary Waters from the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining in the Boundary Waters watershed.

Position purposes: Review, analyze, and draft polished written comments on and critiques of preference right mineral lease renewals/reissuance, mine plan(s), and related proposals using comprehensive knowledge of general mining practices and methods, and of environmental review practices, methods, limitations, and prediction failures; draft or participate in the drafting, finalization, and submittal of formal comments from NMW on mine project and other proposals; conduct research by obtaining, archiving, and reviewing mine projects’ environmental review documentation and predictions, scientific journal articles and government reports, baseline and post-mine-development monitoring data, etc.

Core Duties & Responsibilities:
• Track priority industrial projects in northeastern Minnesota;
• Issue-spot and prioritize needs for further research and expert advice;
• Review and interpret project proposals, environmental review and permitting documents, government reports, SEC filings, scientific and trade journal articles, prior comments on the same or similar proposals, baseline environmental monitoring data, expert reports, etc.;
• Prepare and submit comment letters alone or in cooperation with others;
• Edit for content and clarity, and maintain a high level of quality control and factual and scientific integrity in all written materials produced;
• Research and summarize the history, core components, environmental review/permitting predictions, and actual performance of select mines;
• Research, analyze, and write materials intended for a range of audiences.

Required Knowledge and Abilities:
• Excellent reading and writing abilities, with a demonstrated skill in producing clear, well-structured writing on complex topics;
• Effective speaking skills;
• Firm command of environmental review and permitting procedures;
Knowledge of general mining practices and methods, and experience working on mining-related issues;
• Familiarity with basics of one or more areas of natural resource science;
• Familiarity with statutory interpretation, legal writing, and environmental laws;
• Attention to detail, ability to track and organize multiple research and writing projects, some of which will involve many components and multiple authors, contributors and/or reviewers; and
• Ability and willingness to work occasional stretches of long, non-standard hours when under deadline(s), with a schedule that could include working evenings and/or weekends.

Preferred Education, Experience, Skills, and Qualities:
• Effective interpersonal skills, including an ability to work well with others and on deadline to complete tasks requiring problem solving and collaboration;
• A J.D. and legal experience including statutory/regulatory interpretation;
• A degree(s) in one or more areas of natural resource science (e.g., hydrology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, aquatic chemistry, geomechanics, geophysics, biology,
ecology) is ideal;
• Minimum of six years’ experience in mining, in writing or commenting on mine plans of operation, in writing or commenting on mine project environmental review and permitting documents, or some combination of these;
• Facility with common office word-processing software, Adobe, Dropbox, etc.;
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and outlook.

Benefits:
• Annual salary: $80,000–$90,000 to start, commensurate with experience;
• 403(b) retirement plan (with 3% match vesting after one year of employment);
• $565/mo. stipend for medical, vision, and dental insurance, with organization group plan options;
• $2,000 annual professional development stipend;
• 9 paid holidays, 18 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), which increases with time accrued at the organization;
• Paid parental leave per Minnesota’s new parental leave law: https://pl.mn.gov/;
• Work alongside seasoned professionals on a historic national public lands campaign – Save the Boundary Waters;
• Do well while doing good.

NMW is committed to ensuring that wilderness and the pursuit of its protection should be welcoming and accessible to all. NMW is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the organization as it works to protect this special place for everyone and for generations to come. See NMW’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice commitment here.

Please send a resume and brief letter of interest for the position by Monday, August 31st to Matt@savetheboundarywaters.org

Communications Fellow 

Position duration: This is a two-year-long Wyss Fellowship position (Fall of 2026 to Fall of 2028)
Location: This position is a hybrid position based out of Save the Boundary Waters’ Minneapolis North Loop office 
Compensation: $68,000/yr
Supervised By: Communications Director

Who we are: 
Save the Boundary Waters was launched in 2013 and is led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness (NMW). NMW was founded in 1996 to provide a local voice for Wilderness protection on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is America’s most-visited Wilderness Area, a unique landscape, and the only lake-land Wilderness of significant size in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Save the Boundary Waters includes ~30 environmental NGO partners, > 375 business partners, and ~30 hunting and fishing nonprofit partners, all of which are united in the shared objective of achieving permanent protection of the Boundary Waters from the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining in the Boundary Waters watershed.

About the position:

As the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness faces unprecedented threats from Congress and federal agencies, the Communications Fellow will help advance Save the Boundary Waters' advocacy communications strategy at the state and federal levels. Working alongside experienced staff and a dedicated mentor, the Fellow will gain hands-on experience in strategic communications, public affairs, and conservation advocacy. This fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of conservation leaders by demonstrating how communications shape public opinion, influence decision-makers, and drive policy change. The Fellow will learn how to build and defend public narratives, craft messages for key audiences, execute rapid response communications, and use storytelling to connect people to conservation issues. They will also gain practical experience with modern advocacy tools, including digital campaigns, audience targeting, coalition communications, and media relations. By working at the intersection of communications, politics, and grassroots organizing, the Fellow will develop the skills and strategic perspective needed to lead high-impact conservation campaigns.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Communications Fellow will play an active role in advancing Save the Boundary Waters' advocacy communications strategy while gaining hands-on experience in conservation campaigns at the state and federal levels. The fellow will:

• Develop compelling communications that counter misinformation, hold decision-makers accountable, and build public support for protecting the watershed of the Boundary Waters permanently.
• Research and write blogs, fact sheets, messaging, talking points, and other advocacy materials.
• Support rapid response communications by responding to breaking news, federal and state policy developments, and media opportunities.
• Help develop and execute integrated communications campaigns that advance policy goals and grow the audiences of Save the Boundary Waters.
• Strengthen national visibility through media outreach, digital storytelling, coalition partnerships, and collaborative campaigns.
• Track and evaluate campaign performance using media monitoring, digital analytics, and audience insights.
• Work with Save the Boundary Waters staff on the ground at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul to capture stories via camera or phone.
• Manage communications projects from concept to execution.

Learning opportunities:

This fellowship offers an immersive experience in strategic communications for conservation advocacy. Working alongside experienced communications and public affairs professionals, the fellow will:

• Build persuasive public narratives that shape opinion and influence policy.
• Develop messaging that resonates with diverse audiences and motivates action.
• Execute rapid response communications in a fast-moving political and media environment.
• Use storytelling, digital advocacy, media relations, and coalition communications to advance campaign goals.
• Apply audience research, targeting, and analytics to strengthen communications strategies.
• Understand how strategic communications, grassroots organizing, and public affairs work together to achieve legislative and administrative victories.

By the end of the fellowship, the fellow will have the practical skills, campaign experience, and strategic perspective needed to launch a career in conservation advocacy, public affairs, or mission-driven communications.

Required knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of advocacy communications trends and best practices.
• Ability to distill information in an accurate, concise, and compelling manner.
• Ability to work under fast deadlines and respond swiftly and effectively under “rapid response” media moments.
• Basic video editing and interview story capturing via camera and smartphone. 
• Experience in advocacy communications, understanding the difference between communications that inform and communications that move people to act.
• Ability to manage time effectively.
• Capable of giving and receiving honest and open feedback

Preferred education, experience, skills, and qualities:

• At least two years of demonstrated skills, knowledge, and experience in the design and execution of communications, advocacy, public affairs, or marketing activities.
• Experience updating and editing content management systems (Drupal, Squarespace, Wix, etc)
• Experience running social media campaigns. 
• Familiarity with the Boundary Waters and surrounding communities. 
• Curiosity, a love of learning, and desire to problem-solve.
  
   

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Wilderness and the pursuit of its protection should be made to be welcoming and accessible to all. Protecting Wilderness relies upon public engagement which cannot be expected when people are disenfranchised, unwelcome, hurt or tokenized due to their sexuality, race, age, ability, size, gender identity, gender expression, culture, religion, political affiliation, or anything else. The pursuit of permanent protection for the Boundary Waters from sulfide-ore copper mining and other threats is no different. Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all aspects of the organization as it works to protect this special place for everyone and for generations to come.

Benefits:
• 403(b) retirement plan (with 3% match vesting after one year of employment);
• $565/mo. stipend for medical, vision, and dental insurance, with organization group plan options;
• $2,000 annual professional development stipend;
• 9 paid holidays, 18 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), which increases with time accrued at the organization;
• Paid parental leave per Minnesota’s new parental leave law: https://pl.mn.gov/;
• Work alongside seasoned professionals on a historic national public lands campaign – Save the Boundary Waters;
• Do well while doing good.

Please send a resume and brief letter of interest for the position by October 1 to Libby@savetheboundarywaters.org

We invite anyone interested to let us know you'd like to be considered for our board! Please fill out this brief form to indicate your interest in being considered for the NMW board. This form is open at any time, and we further consider new board applicants as board roles become available on a limited basis. You may also reach out to Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director, at Ingrid@savetheboundarywaters.org