Advocate

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 an Advocate to work with NRDC’s Pollinators & Pesticides Team. As the biodiversity crisis has worsened in the last two decades, pollinator populations have dramatically declined, threatening food security and the viability of whole ecosystems. NRDC works to eliminate wasteful use of the pollinator-killing pesticides that not only drive these losses, but also contaminate water, devastate ecosystems, and threaten human health on a vast scale.

The Advocate would work as a member of the Pollinator & Pesticides Team to advance its all-of-the-above strategy to protect our pollinators, our health, and our planet from dangerous pesticide use. This includes a focus on big-tent state campaigns to pass leading model laws; advocacy before Congress and federal agencies making decisions with nationwide impact; cutting-edge litigation to hold decisionmakers and polluters to account; and working in the new media landscape to educate the public and elevate the profile of pollinator-harming pesticides.

This is a limited term 2 year position. 

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:

• Partnering with senior staff to develop and execute strategies to support our: nation-leading state campaign work to pass vanguard model laws that safeguard pollinators, people, and the environment; advocacy before Congress, federal agencies, and other key decisionmakers to secure nationwide protections against harmful pesticide use; and national communications work.
• Along with senior staff, meeting regularly with policy makers, agency staff, and other decisionmakers at the state and federal level to influence policy outcomes and cultivating policy makers to be champions for protecting pollinators, other wildlife, clean water, and human health against harmful pesticides.
• Working to build and maintain relationships with a diverse set of partner organizations, coalitions, and other stakeholders to mobilize our collective power in support of curbs on pollinator and community-harming pesticide uses.
• Speaking in public forums, including testifying at legislative committee hearings, speaking with media outlets
• Developing deep scientific and regulatory expertise in our issue areas and bringing that to bear creatively and persuasively in factsheets, reports, petitions, technical or legal comments, blogs, op-eds, and issue narratives.
• Developing innovative solutions and tactics to solve problems—old and new—as they arise in our work.

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: 

• 2-4 years of relevant experience, including one or more of the :
  • Advocacy/organizing/political experience (e.g., lobbying, campaign, or coalition-building experience; work experience with a federal, state, or local official);
  • Policy/administrative/technical experience (e.g., policy development, work experience with a federal or state agency, or relevant subject matter expertise); and/or
  • Legal experience (e.g., legal research, case-building).
• Bachelor’s degree required; a relevant graduate degree preferred

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Demonstrated interest in environmental and/or public interest issues.
• The desire to be a part of a close-knit team, while independently carrying out core job functions.
• Creativity and curiosity; willingness to learn and listen to others’ perspectives.
• The desire to build relationships with a set of diverse stakeholders and build strong coalitions to advance our advocacy.
• The desire to gain deep expertise on technical or legal issues related to pollinator loss and pesticide pollution and to communicate that expertise simply, persuasively, and with a rigorous dedication to accuracy.
• Comfort with public speaking and representing NRDC and NRDC’s members in front of decisionmakers and large audiences.
• Ability to travel as needed to support our advocacy and campaign work.
• 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 $87,000 to $93,000.

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

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 your Future : Matching 403b whether you contribute or not 
• Well – being : Premium Comprehensive healthcare and mental health programs. 

To apply, visit 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io. 

For more about NRDC, visit