Policy Advocate, Virginia

Overview:

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as a representative office in Beijing and affiliate offices in New Delhi (through NRDC’s wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, NRDC India Private Limited) and London (through its UK-based partner NRDC International). 

  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

 

POSITION SUMMARY  

NRDC is seeking a Policy Advocate, Policy to join the Southeast Regional team of the Climate and Energy Program. Our team is committed to transitioning the southern economy to clean energy by addressing environmental and energy inequities through partnership, building the environmental movement, and advocating for ambitious, effective policies. This position will be an integral part of the program’s advocacy success in the south. This role requires a commitment to advancing a just, equitable, and sustainable clean energy future in Virginia and requires working collaboratively, and in a team-based setting with both internal and external partners, the ability to represent NRDC in the media and other public forums with credibility and enthusiasm, an interest in cultivating relationships with state and local elected officials and staff and state agencies. The position will be based in Virginia, with a preference for the Richmond or Charlottesville area, with an expectation to travel to NRDC’s offices on occasion for team meetings, etc., as needed. 

 

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).   

 

This is a limited term 2 year position.  

Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions: 

• Support the development and advancement of a broad portfolio of equitable climate and clean energy policies, including power sector decarbonization, energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation and building electrification, and industrial decarb.   
• Build partnerships and collaborate with state clean energy coalitions and a network of allies, including the environmental community, environmental justice organizations, frontline and community groups most impacted by environmental injustices, utility groups, consumer and low-income advocates, labor, the faith community, and clean energy businesses.   
• Develop and nurture durable partnerships with state and local decision makers and elected officials.   
• Conduct research, analysis, and design of state and local climate and clean energy policies, including utility regulatory policy. 
• Provide written and oral advocacy at state agencies, the state legislature, and the governor’s office. 
• Represent NRDC at conferences and serve as a spokesperson in the press for NRDC’s climate and clean energy mission in Virginia including partnering with the Communications team to respond to media requests and develop advocacy materials to amplify NRDC’s message. 
• Collaborate with a multi-faceted internal team of campaign, communications, public engagement, and policy experts to advance a diverse portfolio of policy initiatives. 
• In partnership with Climate and Energy’s Southeastern Regional Director and southeast team, sector teams (power, buildings, transportation and industrial), Equity and Community Partnership team, and other staff internally, set strategic goals and priorities, budgets, and timelines; effectively manage the budget allocated to Virginia; and deploy consultants and partners to meet project timelines and objectives. 

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.  

Qualifications:

Minimum Education & Experience:   

• Bachelors degree required. Law degree, Master’s degree or other related advanced degree preferred 
• 4-7 years of work experience related to environment, climate, energy policy, or a related field. 
• Experience in state-level clean energy and climate advocacy. 
• Experience navigating diverse stakeholders, building consensus on policy issues, and driving toward positive outcomes within a team, in a coalition, and with other external partners - particularly with partners that reach beyond the traditional environmental community. 
• Experience building and cultivating relationships within administrative, regulatory, or legislative fora. 
• Experience intervening in utility commission and related regulatory proceedings is preferable. 
• Demonstrated success managing projects and engaging in public advocacy. 

 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• A sense of mission and passion for public interest and environmental advocacy. 
• Broad-based interest in climate and clean energy work, including the ability to quickly get up to speed on NRDC’s policy priorities. 
• Ability to represent NRDC with maturity, judgment, and professionalism. 
• Strong oral and written advocacy skills, including a willingness to represent NRDC in a variety of public forums and in the media. 
• Willingness and ability to register as a state lobbyist. 
• Willingness to be a central part of a strong and collegial team that is focused on collaboration, approaches advocacy with innovation and optimism, and is committed to leveraging the full range of expertise within NRDC and among its partners to drive change. 
• This role requires the willingness to occasionally travel to Virginia localities to advance NRDC’s policy goals. 
• Ability to travel to Richmond, VA, as well as to NRDC U.S. based offices as needed. 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values and DEI principles.  

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks 

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary 

Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers 

Frequently: Hand draw illustrations for advocacy materials 

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite  

Work is sometimes performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters. 

 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do 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, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

 

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $117,000 to $130,000.  

 

Perks & Benefits 

Not only do we care about taking care of our planet, we care about taking care of you. When you join our team, we invest in your total well-being. Here is a small glimpse on how we plan to support you: 

  

• Time to Unplug & Recharge: Enjoy a generous time-off policy, highlighted by a company-wide year-end Rest & Recharge Week to reset for the new year. 

• Family – First: Generous family leave policy beyond federal requirements for all NRDCers 

• For your Future: Matching 403b whether you contribute or not 

• Hybrid Policy: The freedom to balance your time around your needs that means, 8 days per month in-office. In-office day requirements can be met with off-site work events such as retreats, conferences, and other work-related travel. 

• Well – being: Premium Comprehensive healthcare and mental health programs. 

 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.