Director, Midwest Government Affairs

Overview:

The Natural Resources Defense Council (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 staff helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our staff of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and internationally from our offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Santa Monica; San Francisco; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Midwest Government Affairs Director to work with the Center for Policy Advocacy team in our Chicago office.

The Midwest Director of Government Affairs serves as key strategist and architect for NRDC's midwestern state legislative efforts, managing all state legislative affairs. The Midwest Director of Government Affairs reports to the Managing Director of Government Affairs.

Responsibilities:

Designs and executes proactive and defensive legislative plans, engages on emerging legislation, cultivates and maintains strong state relationships throughout the region.

Coordinates with colleagues across the region.

Skilled writer and communicator that can easily adapt messaging based on audience. He/she should also be a results-oriented, self-starter with demonstrated ability to distill complex issues into concise talking points, position papers, and slides.

The candidate will ideally be a team player with an ability to work independently in a fast-paced and demanding environment. Attention to detail is important, as is an ability to multi-task. We are looking for a natural leader and collaborator. The Midwest Director of Government Affairs may be tasked with leading organization efforts on large cross-cutting issues such as state regulatory reform.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree required JD or MA preferred

Advocacy and environmental policy background preferred

7+ years of experience in federal or state government affairs office or trade association, or Congressional or state legislative staff, or in a relevant state or federal agency.

Proven ability to plan and execute a comprehensive, proactive government affairs strategy that advances NRDC's mission and goals with local, regional, state, and federal elected officials.

Experience monitoring state legislation and policy activities, updating and advising on relevant policy proposals and actions, and working with colleagues to analyze potential impacts on the organization's issue areas.

Commitment to NRDC's .

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming a diversity of 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 commensurate with skills and experience. Salary minimum is $160,000; salary midpoint is $170,000. Salary may be higher as appropriate for the selected candidate, with internal equity considerations taken into account.

To apply, please visit (url removed)/careers and upload your resume and cover letter through our online portal. We would like you to upload any additional papers or project work that you think would showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications NRDC receives, we will only contact candidates we would like to progress through the search process. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes, or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting. NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you are having technical difficulty while applying, or if you are a person with a disability and you need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care by dialing (phone number removed).

For further information about NRDC, please visit .