Policy Advocate

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 planets 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 Americas 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.

NRDC is seeking a Policy Advocate to work with the Toxics team in any of our offices preferably San Francisco or Washington D.C.

Position Summary

NRDC is seeking a Policy Advocate to join the Toxics sector within Environmental Health. The Policy Advocate will work as a member of the Plastics and Petrochemicals Advocacy team to work on reducing the harmful impacts of plastics and petrochemicals as well as engaging on issues related to the impact of toxic chemical exposures on human health. Work is focused on reducing such impacts through science-informed policy litigation legislation and corporate 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).

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:

• With the guidance of the Director of Plastics and Petrochemical Advocacy support state and federal policy advocacy to reduce the health and environmental impacts of plastics and toxic chemicals. The work will include advocacy to combat false solutions such as chemical recycling and reduce the use of the most harmful chemical additives and plastic materials via legislation administrative regulations and policies litigation or other advocacy avenues.
• Review regulatory language legislation and other policy and scientific and/or technical information related to plastics and toxic chemicals.
• Meet with federal and state policy makers agency staff and other decision makers to influence policy outcomes and cultivate policy makers to be champions for policies related to plastics and toxic chemicals.
• Collaborate and interface with internal and external teams to advance work and address institutional and team priorities.
• Serve as a spokesperson for NRDC on plastics and toxics issues including with the media and funders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with partner organizations coalitions scientists and experts and other stakeholdersidentifying opportunities for joint advocacy where appropriate.
• Develop expertise in plastics and toxics issue areas and help draft factsheets reports petitions and technical or legal comments.
• Contribute to the creation of clear and compelling written and visual communications to policymakers stakeholders and the general public to advance advocacy priorities including blogs fact sheets comments for public hearings reports and presentations.
• Identify new advocacy issues and opportunities based on emerging research and/or strategic value.
• Participate in fundraising activities including meeting with donors and foundation staff and contributing to proposals and reports to funders.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this positions responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree; Masters in Science or higher (public health toxicology or related scientific field) and/or law degree (JD) preferred.
• A minimum of 4-7 years of experience in a related field.

Skills Abilities Competencies

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams.
• Ability to critically review regulatory language legislation or other policies.
• Ability to engage with scientific and technical material.
• Ability to work with other environmental health-affected and community groups and people from a wide array of cultures backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment to nonprofit/public interest advocacy and environmental public health.
• Commitment to building and maintaining a diverse equitable and inclusive work culture.
• Comfort with public speaking and representing NRDC and NRDCs members in front of decision makers.
• Excellent inter-personal organizational and time management skills.
• Creativity and curiosity; willingness to learn and listen to others perspectives.
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices approximately 20% annually.

Preferred:

• Advocacy or political experience (e.g. lobbying campaign experience work experience with a federal state or local official).
• Policy or administrative experience (e.g. policy development work experience with a federal or state agency).
• Experience with partnership building and developing authentic trust-based relationships with stakeholders.
• Experience in applying science to policy decision-making highly desirable.
• Experience and/or knowledge of plastics and/or toxic chemical issues

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 planets 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 $113000 to $121000.

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

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 and upload your résumé cover letter and a persuasive writing sample (1-4 pages). 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.

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For more about NRDC visit .