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 Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking a Climate Solutions Fellow to work with the Climate and Energy team in our New York or San Francisco office. This is a 2-year fellowship.

Position Summary 

The Ralph Cavanagh Climate Solutions Fellowship was created to prepare rising early career professionals in the climate and clean energy space to be part of the next generation of environmental leaders. It is our hope that they will embody his values of optimism, innovation, practicality, bipartisanship, and dedication to progress. The fellows will be an integral part of NRDC’s Climate & Energy Program, which fights climate change by designing equitable policies with community partners to cut carbon pollution and expand the contribution of energy efficiency and renewable energy to ensure clean, reliable, and affordable energy services that a healthy and sustainable economy needs.  

The Fellow will gain skills in research and analysis, written advocacy, oral advocacy, legislative and/or regulatory processes, and inclusive and equitable policy development. The Fellow will gain exposure to a variety of activities including attending policy meetings, working with private sector stakeholders, engaging in joint advocacy with other partners, conducting policy analysis and development, and doing legislative and regulatory research and drafting. 

The Fellow will work with the power sector and state/regional teams to advance investments, policies, and standards that significantly accelerate the clean energy transition. Two potential areas of focus include: realigning rate design and utility regulation/incentives to support greater levels of clean energy and climate ambition, ensure affordability, and allow large-scale electrification; and addressing electric load growth by increasing investments/standards in renewables, efficiency, grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), virtual power plants (VPPs), and other essential clean energy investments and avoid new fossil fuel investments. The Fellow will be involved directly in the development of advocacy strategies and in the preparation of NRDC materials designed to influence specific public policy decisions.  

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:

Under guidance from Senior Analyst, Regulatory and Economic Policy: 

• Support collaboration with key stakeholders, and in the preparation of NRDC materials designed to influence equitable public policy decisions to support our climate and environmental goals. 
• Conduct research and analysis on state and local climate and clean energy policies, including utility regulatory policy and climate advocacy. 
• Coordinate priority projects, including contributing to project plans and timelines, tracking key deliverables, maintaining files on a centralized drive, scheduling, and preparing agendas and takeaways for meetings. 
• Draft user-friendly and tailored resources such as fact sheets, presentations, comments, and infographics. 
• Develop strong relationships, communicate project updates, and drive collaboration with internal and external partners. Collaborate with a multi-faceted internal team of campaign, communications, public engagement, and policy experts to advance policy initiatives. 
• Draft messaging, talking points, and other communication resources in support of advocacy initiatives. 
• Be a central part of a strong and collegial team that is focused on collaboration, approaches advocacy with innovation and optimism, and is committed to leveraging the full range of expertise within NRDC and among its partners to drive change. 

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

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s Degree (minimum) or Graduate Degree 
• 1-3 years of directly related experience and/or equivalent education or experience 
• Academic or professional experience in energy, climate, environment, business, law, public policy, engineering, or related, and an interest in climate and clean energy policy. 
• Experience navigating diverse stakeholders, building consensus on policy issues, and driving toward positive outcomes within a team, in a coalition, and with other external partners, in particular partners that reach beyond the traditional environmental community.

Skills, Abilities, and Competencies 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.   
• Excellent research and analytical skills.  
• Outstanding problem-solving skills, including the ability to proactively identify obstacles and propose solutions or recommendations to overcome them.   
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects involving multiple people and deliverables, and to perform or quickly learn new tasks, systems, and technologies.   
• Ability to prioritize and efficiently execute many tasks, follow institutional procedures, and work independently with meticulous attention to detail.   
• Strict adherence to confidentiality requirements and discretion with sensitive information.   
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), in addition to knowledge of or ability to learn relevant industry and NRDC specific software and platforms.   
• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues, leaders and partners. 
• Strong oral and written advocacy skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting. 
• Commitment to NRDC’s values and mission and passion for advocating for the public interest.

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.   

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).  

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 $61,875 to $69,375.   

NRDC operates in a hybrid workplace. We offer our team members flexibility and ask them to come into the office to collaborate meaningfully with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence.  

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 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.