Clean Vehicles & Infrastructure Advocate

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 Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

NRDC is seeking a Clean Vehicles & Infrastructure Advocate to work with the Clean Vehicles & Fuels team in our Washington DC, New York, or Chicago office.

Position Summary

NRDC is seeking a talented individual to engage on federal and state-level policies to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and the build-out of a sustainable supply chain for EVs. This position requires demonstrated ability to work in a team-environment; direct experience in policy, technical analysis, and/or legal engagement within the transportation or an energy-related field; ability to lead and project manage complex assignments; and ability to successfully work with consultants. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience working collaboratively with partners from the environmental, public health, environmental justice, business, and/or consumer organizations, particularly in campaign environments. The Advocate will be an integral part of NRDC’s Clean Vehicle & Fuels team.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for federal and state policies needed to accelerate the electrification of the transportation sector, the largest source of climate pollution in the nation, through engagement with federal and state agencies, legislatures, and executive and administrative offices including written and oral testimony in regulatory proceedings and legislative hearings. Specific policy focus areas are likely to include:
  • Seizing the opportunities to deploy charging infrastructure and to improve the sustainability of the zero-emission vehicle and battery supply chain presented by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act;
  • Working internally and externally across different sectors to promote sustainable manufacturing policies related to battery production, materials processing, and mining, together with end-of-life reuse and recycling policies.
  • Spreading model state policies to deploy charging infrastructure and to ensure that transportation electrification supports an increasingly clean electric grid; and
• Develop public-facing content such as public comments, testimony, presentations, and blogs.
• Actively participate in national, state and regional coalitions and clean transportation stakeholder groups. This will include work with coalitions such as the National EV Charging Initiative, as well as with partners focused on expanding access to charging infrastructure particularly in underserved and frontline communities.
• Collaborate with our federal team to advance supportive legislation and regulations.
• Engage community groups, labor, electric utilities, automakers, EV charging companies, equipment manufacturers, battery manufacturers, mining interests, and other stakeholders.
• Lead research and analysis needed to support our advocacy, either by conducting original research or by managing consultants conducting analysis.

Qualifications

• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience (including some experience in the transportation sector).
• A graduate level degree or commensurate experience in a related discipline(s) such as engineering, public policy, business, or law.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills, especially communicating technical and analytical information in a clear and persuasive manner.
• Strong technical research, analytical and quantitative skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Experience building and working within broad coalitions a plus.
• Familiarity with environmental policy, ideally with clean vehicle and fuel standards, charging infrastructure, utility regulation, energy and climate change policy, and supply chain sustainability issues.
• Project management skills that could be readily applied to the job responsibilities listed above.
• Ability to travel among priority states and occasionally to other NRDC offices for advocacy and planning purposes.

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. For this position, the salary is $83,000 to $95,000. Internal equity considerations will be reviewed before making a final offer.

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.

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.

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