Policy Manager

~ 1 Mississippi is supported by the Mississippi River Network (MRN) to encourage River Citizens through education, inspiration and opportunities to embrace the Mississippi River. ~

The goal of the Network is to protect the land, water and people of the United States’ greatest River. Founded in 2005, the Network has grown into a diverse coalition of 49 nonprofit organizations and businesses from the River’s headwaters in Minnesota, to where it drains into the Gulf of Mexico.

Coordinated by Bluestem Communications, a nonprofit organization of communications and coalition-building specialists, Network members share resources, implement whole River strategies and support the 1 Mississippi national campaign.

Position Overview

The Mississippi River Network: Headwaters to Gulf is seeking applicants for full-time salaried position to work on the coalition's policy agenda. The MRN is a collaborative effort of 55 organizations who have joined together to protect and restore the Mississippi River. The MRN has several initiatives: 1) a public communications campaign 2) improved and amended policies that restore and protect the River and 3) promoting communication and collaboration among the MRN members and partner organizations.

The Policy Manager will provide key analysis and proactive policy development in issues relating to water quality, restoration, and conservation of the Mississippi River, analyze proposed legislative or administrative changes to federal and state policies, appropriations and laws related to the River, educate members of MRN, the public, and the media on such policies and proposals, and cultivate support for those policies and proposals among policymakers and other stakeholder organizations.

The Policy Manager will accomplish this by, among other means, coordinating policy work among the MRN members, educating MRN members, the public and decision makers, and planning and attending briefings and meetings locally along the Mississippi River and in Washington, DC. The Policy Manager will work with the MRN Director and 1 Mississippi Campaign Manager on engaging interested members of the public (River Citizens) and building capacity of MRN members. With guidance and direction from the MRN Policy Committee, the Policy Manager determines what policy information and advocacy opportunities are relevant and appropriate for MRN Members and the public.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with a solid understanding of environmental policy and have experience working with coalitions and in grassroots organizing. We are searching for someone with at least three years professional work experience in the environmental policy arena, and demonstrated organizational, communications, research, and writing skills. The ability to work well with diverse interest groups and within a team is a must. An understanding of and experience with Capitol Hill and the federal policy process is highly desirable. She or he will be supervised by MRN Director.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed annual strategy and workplans to meet the MRN’s policy goals.
• Create annual targeted list of decision makers.
• Work in an inclusive manner with standing MRN committees (most directly the Policy Committee, but also Steering Committee and Campaign Committee) and members to meet policy goals.
• Communicate with MRN members on Mississippi River related issues, including legislative updates and other pertinent activities or media coverage via newsletters, webinars, print materials, action alerts, tool kits etc.
• Educate decision makers, MRN members and River Citizens on MRN policy priorities including related to nutrient pollution from agriculture and the protection and restoration of floodplains and wetlands by conducting in-person meetings, events, writing fact sheets and tool kits, blog posts, etc.
• Travel throughout the ten-state MR region and Washington, DC, to meet with partners and other stakeholders.
• Represent the MRN in relevant policy meetings and workgroups.
• Identify and recruit new MRN members and partners.
• Identify advocacy opportunities to educate River Citizens and MRN members about MRN policy goals and related issues.
• Work with other MRN staff to support the integration of the policy work with the on-going public campaign and inform and communicate effectively with MRN members.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to successfully work with coalitions and build consensus.
• Experience with and understating of how policy is made and changed at federal and state levels.
• Familiarity with issues related to the Mississippi River, specifically the current status of federal legislation and appropriations (Farm Bill, Water Resources Development Act, FEMA’s Flood Insurance Program, Clean Water Act) and federal programs (EPA’s NPDES program, targeted USDA River Basin initiatives and US Army Corps of Engineers programs).
• Experience with managing several projects at the same time.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Creativity and the ability to quickly adapt to new situations.
• Passion for and a belief in the legislative process.
• Bachelor’s degree is a must, preferably an advanced degree, but appropriate experience is equally important.

Minimum Education Required:

• 4-year degree.

Additional Information

Location:

• The location of MRN policy manager is in Chicago or at a location near the Mississippi River and a large airport, as travel to and from Chicago, Washington, DC, and the ten main-stem Mississippi River states is expected.

Hours:

• This is a salaried, full-time position. This position requires overnight travel approximately once to twice a month and at times requires weekend work for outreach/campaign events.

Benefits:

• Health insurance, paid time off, 403 (b) plan.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to upload your resume, cover letter, and three professional references.
• No phone calls please.
• Start Date: 10/22/2018
• Application Deadline: 10/04/2018
• The position will remain open until filled.