Policy Advocate, New Jersey

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 in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

  

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, New Jersey to join the Northeast Regional team of the Climate and Energy Program. Our team is committed to transitioning to a clean energy economy and addressing energy and environmental inequities through partnership, building the environmental movement and ambitious, effective policies. This position will be an integral part of the program’s advocacy success and requires: a commitment to advancing a just, equitable, and sustainable clean energy future in New Jersey; working collaboratively and in a team-based setting with both internal and external partners; the ability to represent NRDC with decision-makers and in the media and other public forums with credibility and enthusiasm; and, the willingness to travel to Trenton and other NJ localities to advance NRDC’s policy goals.

 

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).  

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:

• Develop, build support for, and advance a broad portfolio of equitable climate and clean energy policies, including energy efficiency, power sector decarbonization, renewable energy, and building and transportation sector electrification.
• Build durable 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, utilities, consumer and low-income advocates, labor, the faith community, and clean energy businesses.
• Develop and nurture relationships with state decision-makers and elected officials;
• Provide written and oral advocacy to further NRDC’s priorities with the New Jersey legislature, the executive branch, the Board of Public Utilities and state agencies;
• Conduct policy research and analysis to develop and support positions;
• Represent NRDC at conferences and serve as the key New Jersey spokesperson in the press for NRDC’s climate and clean energy mission, 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 policy, campaign, and communications experts to advance a diverse portfolio of policy initiatives.
• In partnership with the Climate and Energy department’s Regional Director, Northeast and other staff, set strategic goals and priorities, budgets, and timelines, and deploy consultants and partners to meet project timelines and objectives.
• 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.

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: 

• Law degree, Master’s degree or other related advanced degree
• 4+ 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
• 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
• Ability to travel to Trenton, NJ, as well as to NRDC’s other U.S offices and locations 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

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 $115,000 to $130,000.  

 

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

 

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.