Conservation Fellow

POSITION TITLE: Conservation Fellow

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: Conservation Communities

REPORTS TO: Conservation Communities Manager 

STATUS: Regular, Full-Time

LOCATION: New York City

 

ABOUT THE DR. ROGER ARLINER YOUNG FELLOWSHIP

In an effort to make the conservation and clean energy fields more equitable and accessible, the Dr. Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate environmentally-related career pathways for emerging leaders. The RAY Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors—one that, in our visions of the future, fully represents, includes, and is led by the diverse communities, perspectives, and experiences of the United States.

 

ABOUT THE OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE

The Open Space Institute protects scenic, natural and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Founded in 1974 to protect significant landscapes in New York State, the Open Space Institute (OSI) is a leader in environmental conservation. OSI has partnered in the protection of nearly 2.5 million acres in North America, from southeastern Canada to Florida. All of OSI’s work is directed by a consistent strategy emphasizing permanent protection on a landscape scale. Each discrete transaction, whether buying a conservation easement on a family farm in the Hudson River Valley or helping fund the purchase of 100,000 acres in Maine, connects natural lands and prevents fragmentation. You can learn about our values here:  OSI for Everyone - Open Space Institute 

The Conservation Communities Department serves as the home department for the Conservation Fellowship throughout the full two-year fellowship term. Conservation Communities plays a central role in advancing OSI’s commitment to broadening the constituency for conservation and manages several core programs, including OSI’s fiscal sponsorship program, Citizen Action, its education grant programs—the Malcolm Gordon Charitable Fund (MGCF) and the Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards—and the Conservation Fellowship itself. Citizen Action, OSI’s oldest program, provides financial and legal oversight to emerging, environmentally focused grassroots organizations, enabling them to focus on programming and capacity building. Participants of the Citizen Action program have ranged from community gardens and land trusts to environmental educators and promoters of nature-based arts and activities. MGCF strengthens environmental education efforts in under resourced communities, while the McHenry Awards match exceptional young leaders with environmentally themed projects at nonprofit organizations in New York’s Hudson River Valley.
 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Conservation Fellowship provides exposure for recent college graduates with a demonstrated commitment to equity in the diverse and interconnected components of conservation. Fellows will have an opportunity to support staff on projects including research for land transactions, land stewardship, advocacy, grantmaking, and community engagement. During the first year of the fellowship, fellows will spend a portion of their time providing hands-on administrative and programmatic support to the Conservation Communities Department while also rotating through other OSI departments to gain exposure to the full scope of OSI’s work. In the second year, fellows will choose 1 department to work within where they will get an in-depth look into a particular area of OSI’s work. This structure allows fellows to develop a strong departmental home base while building cross-organizational knowledge, skills, and professional networks that support long-term careers in conservation.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fellows will shadow and work alongside OSI staff on projects related to some of the following: 

  • Community Education Grants: Small grants to support environmental education in under-resourced communities and connect emerging conservation leaders with projects led by nonprofits in the Hudson River Valley.
  • Citizen Action: A fiscal sponsorship program for grassroots startups working on environmental education and open space recreation and stewardship 
  • Land Program: Conservation real estate negotiations and land acquisitions for permanent protection 
  • Science and Planning: Combines conservation science and GIS to provide geospatial analysis, mapping, and data driven insights to support conservation planning across OSI and for external partners.
  • Parks & Policy: Access and improvements to urban and state parks. Includes parks advocacy for parks and public spaces through local, state and regional advocacy events. 
  • Stewardship: Stewardship of protected lands and conveyance (sale, donation, easement assignment) of OSI-owned lands 
  • Conservation Capital: Planning grants and technical assistance to support partner organizations in integrating climate science into their conservation strategy. 
  • Equity: Projects assessing, communicating, and implementing established organizational equity values and practices 
  • External Affairs: Communications and Development departments working with partners, funders, and the Board of Trustees to promote our work and raise funds 
  • Legal: Land transactions and grants 
  • Operations and Finance: Finance, accounting, and administration of a large non-profit organization

 

ADDITIONAL FELLOWSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to the responsibilities at the host institution outlined above, RAY Fellows will spend, on average, 2-4 hours per week (5-10% of work time) on the following:

  • Actively communicating and building community with their RAY Fellow cohort and previous RAY Fellows. 
  • Meeting regularly with mentors both inside and outside the host institution. 
  • Attending monthly professional development webinars, trainings, and other opportunities to build knowledge and skills as scheduled.
  • Developing a Personal Leadership Plan (PLP) in their 2nd year with the support of supervisor(s), mentors, RAY program staff, and their RAY Fellow cohort. The PLP will serve as a tool for self-reflection, planning, and assessing progress towards professional, personal, and leadership goals.
  • Preparing and leading an hour-long end-of-fellowship webinar highlighting their Fellowship experience.

RAY Fellows will also attend:

  • A 3-day Orientation Retreat in late Summer/Fall 2026.
  • A 3-day Mid-Fellowship Leadership Retreat in Fall 2027.

 

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

Eligible RAY Fellow applicants will:

  • Come from a background underrepresented in conservation and clean energy and demonstrate a commitment to the shared values of the importance of promoting fairness, acknowledging various perspectives, and fostering a welcoming environment.
  • Be no more than 3 years out of college and have a Bachelor's Degree by July 2026 (we are not considering individuals with graduate degrees at this time).
  • Have not had a full-time job in conservation or clean energy.
  • Be able to relocate to New York City, or commute to New York City at least 3 days a week, for the duration of the fellowship.

 

SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

  • A college degree in a related field by the time of employment 
  • Familiarity with ArcGIS, Autocad and/or real estate 
  • Demonstrated  capacity to work well with others 
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills 
  • An openness to learn new skills and an eagerness to collaborate with colleagues across departments 
  • Interest in a range of fields relating to land conservation including, ecology, real estate, business, marketing
  • Passion and interest in the land conservation and/or non-profit related field 
  • Demonstrated commitment to the mission of conservation or the environmental movement, including diversity in conservation 
  • Availability and commitment to full and enthusiastic participation in all aspects of the Conservation Fellowship 

 

TERM / LENGTH OF ASSIGNMENT

This is a two-year, full-time fellowship (one year with a one year renewal) starting on or after July 15, 2026.

 

COMPENSATION

The Open Space Institute offers a competitive starting salary of $63,000 prorated with a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, paid time off, and paid holidays. OSI also offers training and professional development opportunities.

 

HOW TO APPLY/APPLICATION

To apply for the RAY Fellowship Program, applicants must:

  1. Complete the online application survey on the RAY Fellowship Program website: www.rayfellowship.org/apply 
  2. Follow the instructions on the linked application webpage to submit a resume or curriculum vitae, one essay response, one visioning response, and one short answer response. 

 

Applications must be submitted to the RAY Fellowship Program no later than March 27, 2026. Transcripts and additional writing samples are not required. 

 

If you have questions please see our FAQ page and any further questions about the application process can be submitted to ray@elpnet.org.

 

 

OSI is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize that our conservation mission is best advanced by the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and cultures. We are committed to cultivating and retaining a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters belonging.

Consistent with New York State law, OSI does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.