Policy Manager, Energy

Overview

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

Audubon Delta is the regional office of the National Audubon Society, encompassing the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and combining the former state office of Audubon Louisiana with two other state offices. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon has had a presence on the Gulf Coast for nearly a century and is invested thoroughly in the region. Audubon Delta has built a reputation as a pragmatic advocate for clean energy transition, backed by best available science and supported by inclusive coalition-building.

Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Policy for Audubon Delta, the Policy Manager, Energy, is a key member of the Audubon Delta policy team, focusing on climate and clean energy issues engagement across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This position will work to target and promote Audubon’s support for the rapid deployment of responsibly sited and operated transmission and generation infrastructure to hasten the transition to clean energy. The incumbent will work closely with Audubon national and state staff, chapters, industry, federal, state and local government agencies, grid planning organizations and other partners.

The Policy Manager, Energy will be responsible for managing and growing Audubon’s Transmission initiative, monitoring and engaging in dockets at public service commissions in the three Delta region states and in the City of New Orleans, and participating in offshore wind initiatives in the Gulf as appropriate. The work will include: drafting policy technical comments and filing in dockets that align with Audubon Delta priorities, engagement and advocacy to improve transmission planning, siting, and permitting policies through federal, RTO, state and local transmission planning and permitting processes, member and policy-maker education on the importance of improved transmission and clean energy transition policies, and advocacy in support of priority transmission and clean energy transition projects.

**This position will work remotely and can be located in Arkansas, Mississippi, or Louisiana.

Compensation:

$75,000 / year

Essential Functions

• Support principal Audubon Delta state policy staff in AR, LA, and MS as they identify dockets in the 4 jurisdictions (AR, MS, LA Public Service Commissions and New Orleans City Council) that would benefit from Audubon priority engagement and support responsibly sited and operated offshore wind using Audubon climate change science as a frame.
• Provide coastal state office staff with resources including recent research related to avian ecology and interactions with offshore wind to engage on individual offshore wind projects and advocate for practices to minimize and compensate for negative interactions.
• Keep track of and coordinate projects, planning processes, campaigns, and public outreach that Audubon is engaged on clean energy transition, responsible transmission, and offshore wind.
• Draft comment letters and provide public testimony for clean energy transition dockets, offshore wind planning activities, calls for information, federal and state research programs, and individual project approval. This will involve coordination with state and regional policy staff, as well as with technical consultants, National climate leadership, and Clean Energy Initiative staff.
• Organize outreach opportunities to educate Audubon membership on the organization’s position and approach to climate and clean energy, especially through regulatory engagement. Participate in offshore wind planning in the form of meetings and webinars, and work with regional office staff to engage members in public comment opportunities and Audubon public speaking.
• Engage underrepresented populations and groups by finding connections and building relationships to elevate and involve new voices in Audubon Delta’s policy work.
• Attend meetings with partners to develop best management practices and monitoring protocols for various Audubon priorities, including clean energy transition, principles of just transition, economic development opportunities, and opportunities for coalition advocacy or action in regulatory venues.
• Represent Audubon with key internal, external, local, state, federal, public, and private sector partners and coalitions focused on clean energy, transmission, and offshore wind.
• Support Audubon fundraising and grant applications as appropriate.
• Work closely with Audubon’s communications team to tell the story of Audubon’s on-the-ground clean energy deployment work in the Region effectively communicating complex policy issues to non-technical audiences.
• Attend weekly policy team meetings to report on clean energy deployment, offshore wind policies, planning processes and projects.
• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and justice principles are incorporated in our policy work.
• Other job-related duties as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, natural resources, or related field required. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• 5+ years demonstrated experience in conservation policies that apply to clean energy projects, the regulatory scheme for energy policy (public service commissions, regional transmission organizations, state legislatures) or related infrastructure in federal and state waters.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with wildlife conservation issues and advocacy, including methods for avoiding and mitigating conflicts between clean energy development and wildlife.
• Desire to build durable, bipartisan public will for conservation issues, work with diverse stakeholders, and engage both Democrats and Republicans on Audubon's policy interests.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent time-management and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to communicate nuanced scientific information to a broad audience.
• Ability to communicate activity progress to various stakeholders.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in consideration of impacts and outcomes of the decision-making process.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts creatively.
• Ability to work both independently, as part of a team, and across teams.
• Ability to speak publicly in front of large audiences, online and in person.
• Must be willing to travel as the job requires and possess a valid driver’s license.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

COVID Policy

All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.