Conservation Planning Specialist - British Columbia

Position Overview

The Conservation Planning Specialist works closely with the Land and Freshwater Conservation team to deliver CPAWS-BC’s crucial land-based conservation work. The Conservation Planning Specialist supports the organization’s participation in land planning and management processes and spaces, including land use planning, forest landscape plan, management and advisory boards, and through mapping and spatial analysis. They will engage directly with partner organizations, coalitions, governments and First Nations to support strong conservation outcomes across British Columbia.

About CPAWS-BC
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is part of one of Canada's oldest nonprofit conservation groups. We have been protecting lands and waters in BC since 1978 and are dedicated to keeping BC's natural environment thriving forever. Nature is BC's best hope.

CPAWS-BC works on the unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples have stewarded their territories since time immemorial and continue to do so today. The staff and board at CPAWS-BC recognize that decolonization is an ongoing process that requires all of us to be actively involved and responsible. CPAWS-BC is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within every aspect of our work to protect lands, freshwater, and the ocean.

We are a small, dedicated team located across BC. Join us to help safeguard homes for grizzly bears, migratory birds and orca, threatened grasslands, and vital stretches of boreal forest, keeping British Columbia wild forever.

Position Details

This is a permanent full-time position. Like all roles at CPAWS-BC, this position is funding dependent.

Location: Flexible within British Columbia. The Conservation Planning Specialist can work from the CPAWS-BC office in Vancouver, or from a home/remote office within BC.

Work hours: CPAWS-BC operates on a 32-hour, 4-day work week, Monday to Thursday. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Compensation: $66,950 annually, plus benefits.

Closing deadline: Applications will be reviewed as they are received, starting August 10. We encourage you to apply early.

Starting date: No later than October 19, 2026.

Responsibilities & Duties

Land Use Planning and Indigenous-Led Conservation (45%)

• Engage in select land management processes across BC, providing technical input and feedback that supports strong conservation outcomes
• Review and interpret existing First Nations land use plans, Provincial land use plans, and other relevant plans to identify opportunities that advance Indigenous-led stewardship and IPCAs alongside CPAWS-BC's conservation goals
• Draft materials such as briefing notes, submissions, and responses for government and partner-led processes
• Bring a landscape-level lens to land use planning input, ensuring recommendations account for large-scale habitat connectivity and ecosystem integrity across priority regions
• Support CPAWS-BC's work to ensure protected and conserved area totals are accurately and rigorously counted toward BC's 30x30 target

Collaboration & Engagement (30%) 

• Build and maintain relationships with First Nations partners, applying judgement on how and when to engage in ways that respect Nation-led processes and priorities
• Participate in coalition meetings to bring CPAWS-BC’s vision and knowledge into collaborative responses to conservation issues in BC
• Coordinate with colleagues and partner organizations to identify opportunities for public engagement of key conservation opportunities
  

Campaign Communications (20%)

• Support the creation of campaign content and promotional materials to engage supporters through social media channels, website content, and email communications
• Oversee media monitoring of key conservation issues and conversations
• Plan and deliver in-person and digital activities that broaden support for conservation campaigns in priority regions
  
  
  

Other (5%)

• Enable special projects and research opportunities that advance conservation in priority regions
• Identify funding opportunities to meet specific campaign needs
• Support funding proposals and reporting, as needed
• Monitor expenditures to balance campaign needs with available financial resources and ensure alignment with budget
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

No minimum education is required. CPAWS-BC recognizes the value of both formal education and lived experiences. We invite applications from candidates who are excited about this role and bring some of the following skills and experiences.

Knowledge & Experience

• REQUIRED: Experience engaging in land management processes in British Columbia, including but not limited to provincial land use planning, First Nations land use planning, forest landscape planning, land and resource management planning, etc.
• Knowledgeable about land and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity
• Current understanding of key conservation opportunities and challenges in British Columbia
• Demonstrated experience building relationships with Indigenous Nations, representatives, or governments
• Experience with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) practices in the workplace is an asset

Skills & Abilities

• GIS, mapping and spatial planning skills 
• Proficient in organizational and time management skills
• Strong in both written and verbal communication
• Confident communicator, with ability to shape messaging, influence audiences, and engage with media
• Mentoring or coaching skills 
• Capable of performing well in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
  

Education

• Post Secondary Education in a relevant field such as environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, forestry, or resource planning may be useful
• 5+ years experience in advocacy, campaigning, conservation, resource management and planning, or related areas
  

Competencies

Core Competencies

These are the essential skills and attributes we expect all staff in Specialist roles to bring to their teams and work at CPAWS-BC.

• Decision quality: makes sound decisions, even the absence of complete information, relies on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgement when making decisions, recognizes when an 80% solution will suffice;
• Situational adaptability: picks up on situational cues and adjusts in the moment, understands that different situations may call for different approaches, adjusts behaviour to suit specific circumstances
• Nimble learning: learns quickly when facing new situations, experiments to find new solutions, takes on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, extracts lessons learned from failures and mistakes
• Resourcefulness: orchestrates multiple activities simultaneously to accomplish a goal, gets the most out of limited resources, applies knowledge of internal structures, processes and culture mobilize resources
• Communicates effectively: is effective in a variety of settings, adjusts to fit the audience and message, provides timeline and helpful information to others across the organization, encourages the open expression of diverse ideas and opinions

Behavioural Competencies

These are the essential skills and attributes we expect all staff members to bring to CPAWS-BC.

• Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Values differences: seeks to understand different perspectives and cultures, contributes to a work climate where differences are valued and supported, trusts others' diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives to get results
• Demonstrates self-awareness: uses a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses, is willing to admit mistakes and gain insights
• Self-development: shows personal commitment and takes action to continuously improve, accepts assignments that broaden capabilities, learns from new experiences and others as well as structured learning
• Instills trust: gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity and authenticity

Application Process

To apply, please submit one combined PDF document that includes a one-page cover letter and your resume. We thank all candidates for their interest in the position. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We encourage you to use your cover letter to tell us how your background and experience align with this role and share any information about yourself that you think is important for your application.

CPAWS-BC is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We know that research shows that society has conditioned communities of colour, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to apply for jobs only when they meet all or most of the listed requirements, even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about conservation in British Columbia, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.