Political Affairs Director

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

The NRDC Action Fund's mission is to build political support in the United States for protecting the planet and its people. We mobilize influential constituencies, experts, community leaders, and others to directly advocate for clean air and water, public health, biodiversity, and a stable climate. We support candidates who stand up for environmental protection, and we expose those who side with polluters rather than the public good.

POSITION SUMMARY

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis, protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places, and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. It is joined by the affiliated but separate 501(c)(4) organization, the NRDC Action Fund ( which engages in various advocacy and political activities for which NRDC, a 501(c)(3) organization, faces spending limits or legal restrictions. In addition, the NRDC Action Votes ( an independent expenditure political committee affiliated with the NRDC Action Fund, works to educate and mobilize voters independent of candidates.Under the overall leadership of the Managing Director of Political Affairs of the NRDC Action Fund, the Political Affairs Director of the NRDC Action Fund works to build the Action Fund’s political impact and influence in Washington and in key states. The Deputy Director does this by developing and managing programs to endorse and support pro-environment candidates for federal and state elected offices. They will work with partner organizations and allied groups to support endorsed candidates with PAC financial and in-kind contributions, GiveGreen candidate fundraising, and legally permitted candidate coordinated campaign activities through the 501(c)(4) NRDC Action Fund or the independent expenditure PAC NRDC Action Votes. The Deputy Director will also support donor engagement and fundraising activities in coordination with Development and may work closely with NRDC’s Center for Campaigns and Organizing team (CCO) and others involved in designing and implementing non-electoral advocacy campaigns that include c4 funds. The Deputy Director will assist the Managing Director with the overall management and workflow of the Action Fund core team and serve as a partner in designing and implementing the Action Fund’s work plans. This role is responsible for developing and executing electoral program plans for the Action Fund. As a primary purpose c4, the majority of the Action Fund’s budget is spent on non-electoral issue advocacy and accountability campaigns.

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:

Strategic Direction

• Work closely with the Managing Director and other key stakeholders to develop the Action Fund’s advocacy and political power building strategy and ensure that the Action Fund’s tactics align with the strategy.
• As a member of the Action Fund’s senior team, play a leadership role in developing and implementing the Action Fund’s next 3-year plan.
• Collaborate with the Development Director on fundraising activities targeting both the Action Fund and its PAC.
• With the Managing Director, represent the NRDC Action Fund within the climate community’s c4 community and with other key political allies and partners.
• In partnership with the Managing Director, oversee the work of Action Fund core staff.

Electoral Strategy

• Formulate the Action Fund’s electoral strategies and plans and ensure their implementation.
• Oversee and execute coordinated electoral set of activities, e.g. endorsements, GOTV, member outreach and communications.
• Work to ensure alignment between the electoral plan and its endorsements with GiveGreen and the Action Fund’s PAC giving.
• Represent the Action Fund in the development and implementation of GiveGreen’s political strategy and plans, e.g. endorsement decisions, listing on GiveGreen, prioritization of races, etc.
• Work with the NRDC Action Votes Director to ensure that the independent expenditure strategy is aligned with the Action Fund’s overall political strategy.
• Work with Action Fund’s Communications Director to ensure the successful development and implementation of an electoral communications plan. This will also require close coordination with NRDC’s Media and Digital, Advocacy and Fundraising (DAF) teams to ensure they have the appropriate/necessary messaging and targeting information.
• Work with the Managing Director and Development Director to fundraise the electoral plan.
• Present the electoral strategy and plan and regular updates to key stakeholders, including the Action Fund Board of Directors, donors, NRDC and Action Fund staff leadership, and others as appropriate. This will entail developing the presentations as well as the strategies and plans.
• Represent the Action Fund in coalition and partner meetings.
• Prepare and present a summary of the Action Fund’s electoral plan and accomplishments after the election.

Political Affairs

• Work with the Managing Director to design and implement off and on year political engagement plans that further strengthen the Action Fund’s relationships with key elected officials and build our reputation as a trusted partner to our allies.
• Directly plan and manage key off-hill political events

Advocacy

• Ensure that the Action Fund’s strategic goals are incorporated into the priority c3/c4 issue advocacy campaigns.
• Work closely with the Campaigns and Government Affairs teams in the design and implementation of the priority c3/c4 issue advocacy campaigns.

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 and Experience:

• 10 or more years of relevant experience working on political campaigns with a preference for having some combination of experience working in both campaign and official side roles with elected officials.
• Campaign management and/or experience in a senior position in a frontline member office preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• And/or a combination of equivalent education and experience.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies, and Qualities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication, advocacy, and social skills.
• Ability to build relationships, effectively collaborate, and engender trust from colleagues at all levels of institutional seniority.
• Familiarity with a range of online and offline campaigning strategies and tactics, including direct advocacy, grass tops outreach, digital organizing, field, and earned and paid media outreach strategies.
• Understanding of how to engage elected officials on the political side, both in Washington and in key state capitals.
• Familiarity and understanding of the c4 and 527 political space and an ability to navigate conversations with partners representing different entities.
• Understanding and experience with PAC fundraising.
• Experience planning and implementing political events of all scopes and sizes.
• Superb project management and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to facilitate team discussions and build consensus.
• Ability to juggle multiple, complex projects simultaneously and effectively.
• Familiarity with legislative lobbying and advocacy concepts and practices.
• Ability to handle complex and sensitive discussions and processes with diplomacy, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity.
• An adept project manager who can juggle multiple priorities and ambiguity.
• Ability to commute to and work from the NRDC office at least eight times a month and additionally as needed.
• Ability to travel for work outside of normal office operations approximately 20% annually.
• 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 $162,000 to $180,000.

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.

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