Senior Advocate, Climate Mobility Adaptation

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 than3 million membersand online activists with theexpertiseof 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 worlds 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 Americas 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 Beijingand 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 acrossAsia Africa and the Americas. At NRDC we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent passion andexpertisetogether for a common purpose: to build a cleaner healthier and more resilient world. Learn more at

NRDC is seeking aSenior Advocatetowork with theAdaptationteaminourWashington D.C. New York or Chicagooffice.

Position Summary

NRDC is seeking a Senior Advocate to lead and expand our work on climate mobility with a particular focus on planned relocation as a climate adaptation strategy. This role will shape NRDCs strategic vision on climate mobility build on the organizations established leadership on home buyouts and connect those efforts to broader climate mobility and planned relocation initiativesinitially focused onworkinthe United Statesthough with a long-term view towards internationalconnectivity.

The Senior Advocate will elevate the importance of planned relocation as a critical adaptation pathway working directly with states local governments and frontline communities to develop tools guidance and policy support. The ideal candidate brings deep technicalexpertisein climate mobility and planned relocation a collaborative spirit and the ability to build strong coalitions with partner organizations working in this emerging and rapidly evolving field.

Critical to this role and developing portfolio is working directly with impacted communities on the frontlines of climate impacts. The ideal candidate will also have a strongtrack recordworking directly with in and for frontline communitiesand provenexpertiseatcoalition-building and forming collaborative partnerships.

This is a highly strategic role focused on thought leadership coalition building policy development andimplementationsupport at multiple levels of governmentand across multiple stakeholder categories.

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).

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and lead NRDCs climate mobility strategy with an emphasis on planned relocation as a just andequitableadaptation response.
• Build on and expand NRDCs existing climate-related home buyout work tomore fully integrate itinto broader mobility and relocation frameworks.
• Identifyemerging opportunities policy gaps and priority interventions for advancingequitableplanned relocation nationally.

Policy Research and Tools Development

• Design and develop guidance analytical tools decision frameworks andimplementationresources to support state local and tribal governments as well as community-based organizations in planning evaluating and executing planned relocation processes.
• Produce research briefs and policy analysis to advance best practices governance models funding structures and community-centered approaches to climate mobility.

Coalition Building & External Engagement

• Build and strengthen partnerships with community organizations academic institutions advocacy groups and governmental entities engaged in climate mobility and planned relocation.
• Serve as a convener across organizations to coordinate messaging elevate the importance of planned relocation nationally and support alignment of practices across sectors.
• Represent NRDC in working groups coalitions conferences and public forums on climate mobility andplannedrelocation topics.

Internal Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with cross-program teams to integrate climate mobility into broader NRDC priorities.
• Communicate strategy findings and recommendations to internal staff leadership funders and partners.

• Advanced degree in public policy climate adaptationenvironmental scienceplanning ora relatedfieldor equivalent experience.
• 710 years of experience in climate adaptation climate mobility disaster recovery planned relocation or related fields.
• Demonstratedexpertisein planned relocation climate mobility frameworks and community-centered adaptation practices.
• Strong understanding of federal state and local adaptation programsand related mechanisms (experience in implementation is a plus).
• Experience working in withand forfrontline communities.
• Experience building and leading coalitions or multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Exceptional writing communication and external engagement skills.
• Ability to navigate complex political social and community dynamics with cultural competency and humility.
• Commitment toequitable community-led adaptation and environmental justice principles.
• Proven experience managing internal processes project teams and budget towards a joint plan and strategy
• Track recordof cultivating high level relationships with political and non-profitadvocacygroups witha well-established professional network in politicsgovernmentand non-profit advocacy
• Problem-solving skills including the ability to proactivelyidentifyobstacles and propose solutions or recommendations to overcome them
• Commitment to diversityequityand inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues and partners
• Commitment to NRDCs mission values and DEI principles
• Ability torepresentNRDC with maturity judgement and professionalism

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 tothe San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We offer competitive salariesexcellent benefits and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and iscommensuratewith skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered todeterminea final offer. For this position the salary range is $130000to $150000.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employeesare required tocome to the office 8 days per month.

As a science-based organization NRDC aims to do our part to helpcontainthe 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 exemptionin accordance withstate and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine.In accordance withstate 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.

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