The National Wildlife Federation

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Careers

Founded in 1936 by a visionary conservationist, the National Wildlife Federation is America's largest and most trusted wildlife conservation and education organization. What began as a conference to unite conservationists has grown into a federation that works closely with regional centers, state and territory affiliates, project offices, and partners across the country.

The National Wildlife Federation has a rich history of success in conservation and continues to be a strong voice for wildlife. The most valuable assets in achieving our mission are our employees, who exemplify our core values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and taking pride in our mission of “uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world.” At the National Wildlife Federation, our halls are filled with caring, committed individuals with a passion for the preservation and protection of wildlife and wild places.

Inventiveness is one of the hallmarks of the National Wildlife Federation. Our environment supports growth and innovation, and we ardently support individual talents. Our environment is also one of employee and workplace safety, dignity and respect, corporate social responsibility, and positive employee morale. We promote a healthy work/life balance that creates time for family, friends, and connecting with nature.

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Diversity at the National Wildlife Federation

At the National Wildlife Federation, diversity means understanding and valuing each other’s perspectives. We aspire to be an inclusive multicultural organization that brings together and celebrates the rich dimensions of diversity. With leadership from our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Steering Committee, we are committed to integrating these core values more deeply into all elements of our daily work.

Employment Benefits

At the National Wildlife Federation we strive to give our employees the kinds of benefits they need to support their work and home lives. The National Wildlife Federation offers a flexible benefits package to allow choice among a variety of options to customize a benefits package based on individual employee/family needs.

The National Wildlife Federation offers comprehensive health, vision, prescription, and dental coverage through a PPO plan. The National Wildlife Federation pays the majority of the medical premium. Employees may elect to cover a spouse, domestic partner (same or opposite sex), or dependents under the health, dental, vision and supplemental life insurance plans.

  • Vacation Leave: 15 to 20 days per year depending on position and tenure
  • Wellbeing Leave: 10 days each year

13 days each year, including most federal holidays and personal floating holidays. We also provide a paid winter break during the last week in December for our employees to relax and recharge.

Most National Wildlife Federation employees start their day between 8 and 10 a.m. Lots of employees work a standard 40-hour work week. But we recognize that everyone is different. We try to stay flexible. Working with your team, you can customize your work schedule to meet the particular demands of your job.

  • Tax Deferred Annuity 403(b): Employees can join immediately with immediate vesting. The National Wildlife Federation matches up to 3% immediately, 4% after three years and 5% after five years. After your first employment anniversary employees are eligible for an Employer Contribution equal to 2% of annual salary at year-end, regardless of employee’s contribution. The contribution is subject to a graded vesting schedule.
  • Tuition Reimbursement: Employees are eligible for up to $1,500 in tax-free educational assistance for undergrad or grad-level courses, annually.
  • Flexible Spending: Includes the option of a medical and/or dependent care account.
  • AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) Insurance: One and half times annual salary up to $400,000, all paid by the National Wildlife Federation
  • Life Insurance: One and half times annual salary up to $400,000, all paid by the National Wildlife Federation.
  • Short Term Disability: Employees receive 50%-100% of their pay paid by the National Wildlife Federation depending on length of disability.
  • Long-Term Disability: Employees receive 60% of their salary
  • Employee Assistance Program: Provides confidential short-term counseling services for employees and their families in a variety of areas including stress management, legal or financial issues, alcohol and drug abuse; and information on elder care, family and education resources. Offers Personal Health Partners that lends a hand with many aspects of family healthcare.
  • Paid Parental Leave: The National Wildlife Federation provides paid time off for the birth or adoption of a child.
  • Credit Monitoring: If you want someone else to monitor your credit report and restore your identity if it is ever stolen (hopefully, it won’t!), it can be done, at a group rate.
  • Transportation Benefits: Employees can select a pre-tax payroll deduction for the purchase of a SmartBenefits fare card for commuting to and from work on D.C. metro area public transportation
  • Supplemental Life Insurance: Employees may purchase additional life insurance in an amount ranging from half to five times the employee’s salary, up to a maximum of $200k. You can even purchase life insurance for your dependents
  • Pet Insurance: Because sometimes the most important person in your life isn’t a person, you can get a 10% discount off normal rates.
  • Membership in The National Wildlife Federation: For the convenience of the National Wildlife Federation staff who wish to make membership donations to the National Wildlife Federation, employees can request that their chosen donation amount be divided into incremental payroll deductions over the course of the year.

Our benefits go well beyond the traditional. Take our parties, for example—where we get silly with photo booths—or games like corn hole and table tennis. Or join in for our annual chili cook-off, or our “Bike to Work Day” ice cream party, or maybe even a wildlife scavenger hunt or nature walk. We even have a massage therapist! These examples are ways we strive to make our workplace comfortable, fun, and one that builds a sense of community and inclusivity.

Conservation Fellowships

Through the Fellowship program, the National Wildlife Federation brings students and recent graduates to its offices nationwide, where they can experience many aspects of the National Wildlife Federation's conservation mission, including work on endangered species, land stewardship, and protecting our nation's water. Departments benefiting from the skills Fellowships provide include conservation, education, philanthropy, communications, legal, and publications. These paid Fellowship opportunities are 48 weeks in duration and full-time, at 40 hours per week.

Working side-by-side with knowledgeable professionals and receiving support from the fellowship coordinator, fellows develop a variety of professional and personal life skills. Fellowship projects support commonsense conservation in communities and throughout the nation. By encouraging innovative ideas and multicultural perspectives, the National Wildlife Federation provides a gateway through which fellows can launch an effective career in conservation and strengthen the environmental movement at the same time. Moreover, by diversifying our organization through the contributions of interns from a variety of backgrounds, the National Wildlife Federation (and ultimately the conservation community) is learning important lessons for making conservation relevant and effective in the 21st century.

A conservation fellowship with the National Wildlife Federation is a separate program from our EcoLeaders Fellowship program, which offers the chance to apply skills to practical campus projects.

Conservation Fellowship Benefits

In addition to the perks and privileges of being a National Wildlife Federation Fellow, there are also medical, dental, and holiday benefits.

These benefits apply to “Benefit-Eligible Fellowships.” See below for an explanation of Benefit-Eligible Fellowships. Enrollment in the National Wildlife Federation benefit program is effective the first of the month following employment.

The National Wildlife Federation offers comprehensive health, vision, prescription, and dental coverage through a PPO plan. The National Wildlife Federation pays the majority of the medical premium. Employees may elect to cover a spouse, domestic partner (same or opposite sex), or dependents under the health, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans.

  • Holiday: 13 days per year
  • Paid Floating Holidays: 5 per fellowship
  • Wellbeing Leave: 5 days per year
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Transportation Benefits: SmartBenefits and Bicycle Commuter Reimbursement
  • Employee Credit Union
  • Nature Catalog
  • Merchandise Discounts
  • Free Wildlife Magazines

Internships

In addition to our 48-week Fellowship program, the National Wildlife Federation offers an internship program for students who are currently in high school or are pursuing an undergraduate college degree. These paid internships offer structured work experiences to students, with a number of perks, including relevant and professional work experience, skill development, professional connections, resume enhancements, and an opportunity to assess their own interests and skills. Internships with the National Wildlife Federation can be any length, and may include summer assignments or opportunities throughout the school year. Although an internship with the National Wildlife Federation does not offer benefits, we guarantee our interns will have a great learning experience.

  • High school or college students may apply for internships. Graduates and graduate students may apply for fellowships. Students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply.
  • Former Campus Ecology Fellows become eligible for an internship a year after the fellowship ends.
  • Applicants are selected based on a variety of measures, including professional goals, course work, job experience, resume and cover letter, GPA, along with professional/academic references.
  • Candidates should demonstrate commitment to and experience working with multi-cultural communities, environmental justice and diversity.

Due to the high volume of applications, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Search internship opportunities here.

EcoLeaders Fellowships

The National Wildlife Federation's EcoLeaders Fellows confront climate change on their campuses and help to educate and engage the campus community on climate change impacts and solutions. Learn more about EcoLeaders fellowship opportunities.

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Where We Work

More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.

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Regional Centers and Affiliates