Runners For Public Lands is looking for a Director of Advocacy and Education.
Position: Director of Advocacy and Education
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Remote within the U.S.
Salary Range: $65,000-$70,000 + benefits
Application Deadline: September 14, 2025
Link to PDF: You can see a PDF version of the job description here.
About Runners for Public Lands
Runners for Public Lands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that envisions a world in which everyone has access to healthy, clean, and runnable environments. We empower runners to protect public lands and expand access to nature through community service, education, and civic engagement.
Position Overview
The Advocacy and Education Director will lead RPL’s advocacy and educational initiatives—mobilizing runners nationwide to take meaningful action for public lands, climate, and access to nature for all. This role blends communications, strategy, and hands-on program delivery to execute RPL’s national policy agenda, build powerful partnerships, and deliver high-quality programming that serves our members, ambassadors, partners, and the broader running community.
The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator and a coalition-builder who thrives in both grassroots and grasstops organizing. You’ll help ensure runners have the tools, resources, and opportunities to protect the places where we love to run, and you’ll make sure our work is informed by data, policy expertise, and community voices.
Key Responsibilities
Advocacy
- Working with the Executive Director and Policy Advisor to develop and implement RPL’s annual advocacy strategy in alignment with our mission, values, strategic plan, and policy agenda.
- Monitor, analyze, and respond to federal, state, and local policy developments affecting climate, public lands, and equitable access to nature.
- Design and coordinate advocacy campaigns—including digital actions, sign-on letters, in-person meetings, and public testimony—with partners and coalitions.
- Represent RPL in national and regional coalitions, task forces, and policy roundtables.
Communications
- Create and manage engaging written, visual, and multimedia content and digital campaigns for RPL’s social media platforms and communications channels, including our website, blog, and newsletter, to educate our community, promote engagement, and drive growth and revenue.
- Share organizational updates and announcements directly with members, ambassadors, partners, collaborators, and volunteers.
- Act as the brand guardian, ensuring that all content is on-brand and consistent in terms of RPL’s tone of voice, style, and quality.
- Respond to comments, questions, and messages across various platforms promptly.
- Update website/blog to be consistent with current RPL initiatives, events, campaigns, and program activities.
- Utilize Slack and/or Monday.com to plan and track social media and digital communications schedules on a shared calendar.
Education & Engagement
- Design and deliver educational content (e.g., webinars, toolkits, guides, fact sheets) to equip runners and race directors with the knowledge to engage in advocacy and stewardship.
- Educate and empower our team of volunteers to support RPL program delivery to further our impact and mission.
- Facilitate presentations, workshops, and panels at conferences, races, and community events.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with public land managers, policymakers, advocacy partners, and race directors.
Development
- Establish, manage, and maintain a CRM/ Government Affairs Platform such as Every Action, including initial set-up and data transfer.
- Support fundraising efforts by contributing to campaigns, grant proposals, funder reports, and donor communications.
- Contribute to overall organizational administrative support alongside the Executive Director and other staff members.
Qualifications
- Preferred 3-6 years of experience in policy advocacy, environmental education, or a related field, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
- Strong knowledge of public lands, climate policy, and outdoor recreation issues.
- Proven experience designing and leading advocacy campaigns.
- Excellent written, verbal, and digital communication skills, including public speaking and facilitation.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small, fast-paced team environment.
- Ability to support and lead volunteers.
- Comfort with remote work and willingness to travel for events, meetings, and fieldwork.
- Passion for RPL’s mission and experience in the running or outdoor community.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $65,000–$70,000
- Generous vacation policy, including 11 paid Federal Holidays and end-of-year time off
- Health benefits
- Retirement contribution
- Flexible, remote work environment
Who Are We Looking For
Our team at RPL is excited to meet candidates who are passionate, willing to learn, eager to take initiative, and can work independently. The Director of Advocacy and Education will be expected to actively engage in RPL’s mission and maintain messaging that is consistent with our values. Additionally, they should work well with a wide population of people ranging from volunteer ambassadors, outdoor industry brand partners, lawmakers, and Board members.
Our ideal candidate has 3-6 years of experience. While it is not required that this experience be in the nonprofit sector, an interest in environmental justice, advocacy, outdoor recreation, and conservation is essential.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@runnersforpubliclands.org with ‘Director of Advocacy and Education’ in the subject line, no later than September 14, 2025. Please expect an interview process consisting of video calls with RPL Board Members and Staff, and be prepared to submit examples of your work and references.
Runners for Public Lands is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.
Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! RPL is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, please consider applying and joining our team.
