Campaign organizing, leadership, advocacy

Position: Nature Network Senior Organizer – Protected Areas
Organization: Nature Canada
Location: in person, Ottawa ON

Organization

Founded in 1939, Nature Canada is the voice for nature in Canada.

Our mission is to cultivate and strengthen the connections and conditions needed for species and habitats to flourish.

Our vision is a Canada where nature is restored, thriving, and an integral part of everyday life, rooted in all the decisions that shape our shared future.

We work nationally to defend nature, strengthen the movement of people and organizations working for nature, and engage Canadians in taking action on the issues that matter most for wildlife, habitats and biodiversity.

Job Summary

The Nature Network Senior Organizer is always thinking about what can be leveraged to inspire nature groups and other stakeholders to raise their voices for protected areas in Canada.

This vital role on our team loves to be connected to passionate people and invests their time in building impactful partnerships to get things done.

Whether they’re thinking about national days of action, a campaign with a local conservation group, or a site-specific educational webinar on a new protected area, they know that through strong partnerships and collective action, the work can be successful and make a difference for nature. Organizers think systemically and understand how local action can contribute to national change. They are curious about politics and policy, but are equally energized by seeing people and organizations build power and achieve change in their own communities. They think outside the box, bring people together, and inspire others to push forward even when the work seems hard.

This is a one-year maternity leave coverage position. The position is based out of our office in Ottawa, and Nature Canada currently offers a hybrid work environment.

The Opportunity

Canada is at a pivotal moment for nature. Through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Canada has committed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and to protect at least 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. The federal government’s 2030 Nature Strategy and its 2026 A Force of Nature action plan have created important opportunities to advance conservation, including renewed investment in protected and conserved areas and Indigenous-led conservation.

At the same time, Canada is under growing pressure to accelerate housing, infrastructure, energy and other major projects. This creates a defining challenge: how can Canada build faster while maintaining the environmental safeguards, Indigenous rights and biodiversity commitments needed to ensure that development does not come at the expense of nature? Across the country, nature faces continuing threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation, climate change, industrial development, pressures on species at risk, and the loss of intact ecosystems.

The window to tackle the nature crisis is now. Meeting Canada’s international biodiversity commitments will require more than government policy. It will require informed, organized and sustained public participation. Nature Canada’s Nature Network brings together more than 1,200 local conservation organizations and partners across the country. The Senior Organizer will help turn the knowledge, relationships and passion of this network into coordinated action for protected areas, while supporting local organizations to build their own capacity and influence.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of national policy and local action: connecting decision-makers with people who know and care about nature in their communities; helping local groups develop effective advocacy strategies; and building coordinated campaigns that make the case for protecting land, freshwater and ocean while supporting Indigenous-led conservation and reconciliation.

Description of Duties

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Nature Network organizations across Canada in line with campaign priorities through in-person, telephone and online outreach, following engagement organizing principles.
• Work with local, provincial and national Nature Network partners to identify opportunities for collective action on protected areas.
• Provide campaign coaching and strategic support to local groups, helping them develop goals, theories of change, target audiences, decision-maker strategies, mobilization plans and pathways to greater local influence.
• Help Nature Network organizations build organizing capacity through one-on-one coaching, peer learning, webinars, workshops, toolkits, training opportunities and other practical resources.
• Support partners to move people through meaningful engagement pathways—from learning and participating to taking action and developing as leaders—and help identify opportunities to deepen engagement over time.
• Leverage the political and policy calendar, including legislative moments, federal budgets, elections, international biodiversity meetings and major announcements, to coordinate timely Nature Network actions.
• Coordinate national and regional mobilization opportunities, including lobby days, meetings with decision-makers, public actions, letter-writing and calling campaigns, and other moments that bring local voices to national policy debates.
• Build public and stakeholder support for protected areas in site-specific locations by engaging a variety of audiences, including community organizations, businesses, youth groups, academics and other allies.
• Develop and execute creative in-person and virtual events, and coach Nature Network partners to design and facilitate effective events of their own.
• Work closely with colleagues in policy, communications, and other teams to translate policy priorities into clear, accessible organizing opportunities and materials for Nature Network partners.
• Use CRM and engagement data to understand network participation, identify opportunities for follow-up and relationship-building, and support coordinated campaign journeys and mobilization.
• Help assess incoming requests for campaign support from local and community organizations, determining the appropriate level of coaching, resources or involvement while ensuring that support aligns with strategic priorities and team capacity.
• Document, evaluate and share lessons from Nature Network organizing and campaigns so that successful approaches, tools and stories can be adapted across the network.
• Contribute to building a more connected, inclusive and resilient nature movement by creating opportunities for organizations to learn from one another and by supporting relationships grounded in respect for Indigenous rights, leadership and knowledge.

Summary of Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant higher education or life experience in campaign outreach and mobilizing, ideally in conservation (marine and terrestrial), climate or environmental advocacy.
• Demonstrated track record in building impactful partnerships; you prefer to make the phone call (or swing by for a visit!) rather than just sending the email.
• Experience supporting or coaching community organizations, volunteers or partners to develop and carry out advocacy or organizing strategies.
• Good strategic judgement that can see opportunities for change and pathways to get there.
• Ability to build trust quickly, bring people together and work effectively with people and organizations with different perspectives, capacities and experiences.
• Excellent communications skills, both oral and written.
• Experience using a CRM and/or digital engagement tools.
• Strong time management skills and ability to juggle multiple priorities at the same time.
• Familiarity with conservation science, biodiversity policy, climate policy, protected areas and/or environmental law is a strong asset.
• Bilingualism in English and French is an asset.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Nature Canada and a deep commitment to the protection of lands and waters.

Salary

The salary range for this position is $65,000-$75,000/year, with a benefits package that kicks in after a 3-month probation period. Nature Canada is currently operating under a 4-day work week.

To Apply

To apply for this position, please send a CV and a one-page cover letter describing why you are suitable to info@naturecanada.ca with “Senior Nature Network Organizer – Protected Areas application” in the subject line.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2026

No calls please. We thank all candidates for their interest, but we will only contact those selected for an interview.

We encourage applications from members of equity-seeking groups. Nature Canada is committed to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment and intimidation where everyone can participate safely, freely and confidently.