A one- to two-year position: $70,000/year, plus benefits
Temporary, Full-Time | Washington, DC preferred
Advanced degree and two years’ experience preferred
Expected Start: Fall 2024
The Animal Welfare Institute—a DC-based national advocacy organization dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people—seeks to hire a Science Fellow for our Farmed Animal Program who shares our vision of a world where no animal suffers because of humans. This one-year position may be extended for a second year after a successful year, or offered as a two-year fellowship from the start to the right candidate.
About AWI
Working at AWI, you will join more than 30 highly motivated staff and consultants working in our headquarters in Washington, DC, and remotely across the United States and Canada. For 73 years, we have advanced our mission through strategically crafted political and legal advocacy, educational programs, litigation, research, and engagement with policymakers, scientists, industry, educators, other NGOs, the media, and the public. We are a national nonprofit dedicating more than 90 percent of our budget to programs and campaigns that protect animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. AWI is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating a culture that values differences and where all employees thrive.
Why this position matters
This is a new role that expands our Farmed Animal Program and presents an exciting opportunity to enhance our existing scientific expertise. You will help develop and implement innovative legal, policy, and administrative efforts to protect aquatic and terrestrial farmed animals at the local, state, national, and international levels. You will use scientific principles and evidence to advance the Program’s mission to reduce animal suffering on farms, during transport, and at slaughter, as well as to combat deceptive animal product labeling practices and promote more humane food choices. You will spend approximately half of your time helping the Program expand our work related to the farming of aquatic species, and half assisting with our existing terrestrial farmed animal campaigns. You will report to the Program’s Acting Director and Senior Attorney, and work with the rest of the Program’s staff as an integral part of an experienced, close-knit, and collaborative team.
You could be our next Farmed Animal Science Fellow if you have
- An advanced degree in veterinary medicine, animal welfare science, aquatic biology, public health, or a related field. (We are willing to consider candidates with a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields when combined with significant relevant experience.)
- A minimum of two years of relevant experience. (We are willing to consider candidates with exceptional potential and alignment with AWI’s mission but with a varied duration of professional experience.)
- Passion for AWI’s mission and demonstrated commitment to public interest work, including the prevention of farmed animal suffering.
- Experience analyzing complex scientific and technical documents and researching, synthesizing, and presenting scientific information to a wide range of audiences.
- Experience working across disciplines using law, science, policy, and communications to advance science-based advocacy.
- Exceptional research, writing, and communication skills.
- Excellent oral advocacy skills, including public speaking experience.
- Familiarity with federal and state laws protecting farmed animals, including the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, Animal Health Protection Act, and state anti-cruelty laws.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative and think creatively about farmed animal activities and strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and policymakers, including other NGOs, state and federal government officials, and legislators and their staff.
- Superb work ethic and sound judgment, with the ability to assume responsibility for project leadership, including planning and implementation, and the ability to balance independent action with regular communication with the Acting Director and Program team members.
What you'll do as a Science Fellow
- Identify and engage in opportunities to protect aquatic and land animals raised for food through strategic collaborations, federal and state regulatory mechanisms, legislation, and litigation.
- Serve as a scientific expert on issues related to the treatment of animals in agriculture, while on farms, during transport, and at slaughter, and to the marketing of farmed animal products.
- Engage in administrative advocacy by helping to develop petitions for rulemaking, comments on proposed regulations, and policy recommendations for industry organizations and government agencies.
- Conduct scientific literature reviews, analyze published scientific studies and government databases, and identify and assess scientific issues to support Program activities.
- Research and prepare reports and other technical analyses to engage in public education and outreach and to influence public policy.
- Support litigation by participating in issue identification, factual investigation, and other pre-litigation work.
- Contribute to AWI’s state and federal legislative efforts.
- Represent AWI at meetings, hearings, conferences, and other events.
- Draft action alerts, press releases, op-eds, educational materials, social media posts, website content, donor updates, and AWI Quarterly magazine articles highlighting the Program’s activities.
- In conjunction with AWI’s communications team, devise and implement appropriate media strategies to help advance the Program’s activities.
- Cultivate strong relationships and communicate with government officials, scientists, and advocates within coalitions and at other NGOs.
Job Location
While we will consider exceptional candidates who want to work remotely elsewhere in the United States, it is preferred that the Farmed Animal Science Fellow work out of AWI's DC office (located in a row of converted townhouses one block from the Eastern Market Metro) on a regular basis.
Salary and Benefits
The salary is $70,000 a year. An additional amount (up to $5,000) may be offered for candidates working from locations with a higher cost of living (such as Washington, DC, or San Francisco).
You will also receive a benefits package, including:
- 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Three weeks of paid-time-off and 12 paid holidays
- Support for mental wellness, including CareFirst Wellness and an Employee Assistance Program
- 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability benefits
- Access to reduced-rate pet insurance payable through payroll deductions
- A dog-friendly DC office, on-site parking, and access to DC Metro SmartBenefits program
How to apply
- Cover letter: Attach a one-page letter that explains your interest in farmed animal protection and your motivation to work in this position and the public interest field. Make sure to give us a sense of the level of responsibility, complexity, and creativity of the work you have engaged in. Also include your preferred fellowship length (i.e. one-year, two-year, or in-between).
- Resume: Attach a resume.
- Email: Send materials to [email protected] with Farmed Fellow in the subject line.
- Timing: First round of interviews will be taken from applications received by September 8. After this date, we will continue to accept and review applications received as needed. The position will remain open until filled.