Senior Forest Protection Advocate

NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our staff of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and internationally from our offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Santa Monica; San Francisco; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing.

Position Summary

NRDC is seeking a Senior Forest Protection Advocate to work on the Our Forests Aren’t Fuel Campaign in our Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Bozeman, San Francisco, or Santa Monica office.

• Work with NRDC’s UK biomass campaign lead to spearhead the Cut Carbon Not Forests campaign and coalition to end biomass subsidies in the UK
• Work with NRDC’s US federal policy team to carry out Congressional and administrative advocacy to prevent the adoption of bad biomass definitions and incentives
• Coordinate with campaigners in Brussels and other European countries where biomass electricity incentives are in place or at risk of proliferation
• Represent NRDC through active participation in coalitions, providing collaboration and guidance to maximize effectiveness and grow support for needed policies
• Develop and implement high-impact advocacy strategies and tactics that advance NRDC’s biomass campaigns, including but not limited to, organizing policymaker briefings to elevate the scientific consensus about the harms of forest biomass and community voices
• Enhance NRDC’s engagement with local environmental justice groups and other community leaders in the U.S. Southeast and Gulf South impacted by the biomass industry
• Help bolster research and arguments on the biodiversity impacts of biomass harvest for electricity, particularly in the U.S. Southeast
• Assist NRDC’s biomass team in identifying and evaluating potential legal tactics to challenge biomass industry expansion in the United States
• Liaise, as needed, with funders in support of the biomass team’s development goals
• Engage with U.S. and foreign reporters, as needed, in support of the biomass team’s communications goals

• 5+ years working experience in policy advocacy
• JD or Masters Degree in Public Policy or Administration
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, understand and translate complex scientific, legal and policy matters for advocacy purposes
• Strong strategic skills relevant to policy, advocacy, litigation (if lawyer), and project development
• Substantial knowledge of and experience with the federal administrative and legislative process
• Substantial knowledge of and experience in leading campaigns and achieving campaign goals and objectives
• Knowledge of nature-based solutions
• Demonstrated ability to build and work within broad coalitions that reach beyond the traditional environmental community
• Track record of success in promoting advocacy goals
• Demonstrated ability to work with and manage consultants, fellows and/or interns on discrete projects
• Persuasive verbal and written communication skills
• Strong inter-personal, relationship-building and networking skills
• Substantial experience with public speaking and oral advocacy with decisionmakers 
• Commitment to NRDC’s values and mission.

Compensation

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. For this position, the salary is $90,000 to $115,000.

Since March 2020, NRDC’s offices have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You will be associated with one of our offices, but until circumstances allow us to re-open, we will continue to support NRDCers with remote working arrangements.

To Apply

Please click on "Apply on Company Website" below and follow the link to NRDC's career portal, where you'll 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.

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