Southeastern Regional Lead

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 Southeastern Regional Lead team remotely.

Position Summary
The Resilient Communities division of the People & Communities program focuses on building and activating partnerships, advancing holistic policies and climate solutions that provide strong health, economic and social benefits, and seeing them through investment and implementation. We aim to support historically underrepresented communities, BIPOC communities, EJ communities, and communities most impacted by climate action and inaction, specifically related to infrastructure, buildings, power, and transportation.  We believe to make lasting and far-reaching progress on climate change, we must form inclusive partnerships and coalitions to drive wide-ranging and effective change, explicitly designed to benefit people in the places they work and live.  
 
Resilient Communities’ matrixed team is made up of advocacy, equity, technical, community engagement, and partnership experts who collaborate to advance equitable climate action throughout the country. It includes a Place-Based Integrated Solutions team (PBIS), an Equity, Networks & Partnerships team (ENP), and Center of Excellence (COE) teams for Transportation, Buildings, and Energy.    
 
The PBIS team is comprised of regional teams who support NRDC’s long-term regional climate and equity priorities. They collaborate with local governments, city, state and federal policy experts, local community groups, other non-profits, and national partners to create and expand the impact of climate and equity policies and programs at the city and state level.     
 
The Southeastern Regional Lead oversees a team working on climate and equity policies, programs and partnerships at the state and city levels within the Southeastern region of the United States. The Southeastern Regional Lead is responsible for leading the development of a holistic regional strategy to build-out and integrate climate and equity solutions (including state-state, city-city and city-state) within the region as well as connecting the region’s city and state work with NRDC’s national policy efforts. The position is also responsible for coordinating and connecting efforts within the region with Resilient Communities’ COEs, as well as with other NRDC programs, centers and departments.

Responsibilities

• Regional Strategy Development: In collaboration with colleagues within their own team, in the COEs, with the ENP team, in other programs, and in key departments across NRDC, develop a holistic regional strategy to build-out and integrate climate and equity solutions in assigned region (including state-state, city-state, city-city)
• Advocacy Strategy Development: In collaboration with colleagues in COEs, the ENP team, other programs, and across NRDC, develop regional advocacy approaches for campaigns and communications. Guide NRDC’s approach to regional connections with state and federal advocacy, and strategic partnerships to advance climate and equity goals
• Regional Operational Planning: In collaboration with the COEs and the ENP, leads the creation, execution, and measurement of the team’s operational work plans in support of the regional strategy and advocacy plans
• External Partner Relationships: Leverage existing relationships with key external strategic partners to accelerate and deepen climate action. Develop new relationships with additional relevant community partners as well as government decision-makers and key policy staff, coordinating closely with staff leading on community partner engagement. May serve as a voice of NRDC on regional issues
• Team Management: Serve as the direct manager to a team of regional and/or local policy advocates. Provide regular individual coaching, feedback, and development while fostering team cohesion
• Direct Engagement: May serve as Southeastern City/State Advocate for multiple areas in the region identified by NRDC
• Perform other duties as assigned by direct manager or as part of the matrixed Resilient Communities team

Qualifications

Required

• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values
• Bachelor's degree in sustainability, environmental science, policy, public administration, or a related field or equivalent work experience; advanced degree or equivalent work experience preferred
• At least 5 years of related work experience
• At least 3 years of experience advocating for or implementing clean energy/climate /transportation policy and programs
• Experience being part of large, cross-sector, multi-partner initiatives
• Experience successfully managing team members, including managing performance, giving feedback, coaching, and developing employees preferred
• Experience working collaboratively across teams towards shared outcomes
• Experience utilizing and implementing equity frameworks or working with partners and communities to ensure equitable outcomes of policies and programs
• Experience building productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent writing skills, strong verbal communication, and confident public speaker
• Ability to establish efficient processes and systems
• Skilled in employee engagement, team-building, and management skills
• Broad knowledge of environmental issues and environmental donors
• Deep understanding and demonstrated commitment to and competency in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, including contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment and experience with advancing DEI
• Detail-oriented and committed to quality output
• Willingness to travel throughout the United States, as well as to other NRDC offices as needed

Preferred

• Deep experience and partner relationships in one or more states in the Southeast, with Georgia or Texas preferred.

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 $120,000 to $140,000.

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, 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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