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 Managing Director of Political Affairs to work with the NRDC Action Fund team in our Washington, DC office.

Position Summary

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis, protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places, and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  It is joined by the affiliated but separate 501(c)(4) organization, the NRDC Action Fund (www.NRDCActionFund.org), which engages in various advocacy and political activities for which NRDC, a 501(c)(3) organization, faces spending limits or legal restrictions.  In addition, the NRDC Action Votes (www.NRDCActionVotes.org), an independent expenditure political committee affiliated with the NRDC Action Fund, works to educate and mobilize voters independent of candidates. 

The Managing Director of Political Affairs’ principal responsibility is to lead the development, management, and cross-departmental coordination of the NRDC Action Fund’s electoral strategies and programs aimed at building the institution’s political influence in Washington and nationally while also overseeing the work and impact of the NRDC Action Votes.  In addition, the Managing Director of Political Affairs will advise and help shape a limited number of NRDC Action Fund federal and state advocacy initiatives.  Reporting to the Chief External Affairs Officer and also closely advising the Executive Director and the President and CEO, the Managing Director of Political Affairs plays a critical role in charting the NRDC Action Fund’s strategic direction and year-to-year priorities, while being an external leader in fundraising, coalition engagement, and board relations, and as a media spokesperson. 

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: 

Leadership and Program Management 

• Lead a cross-department electoral program team of experienced communications, government affairs, campaigns, and development colleagues to design, manage, and communicate about the NRDC Action Fund, NRDC Action Fund PAC, and the NRDC Action Votes’ electoral programs to build the institution’s relationships with federal and state elected officials and to grow the institution’s brand and influence in Washington and nationally.  These programs include: 
  • Candidate endorsements. 
  • Candidate fundraising through GiveGreen and PAC contributions. 
  • Building up, soliciting, and making PAC contributions to promote institutional relationship-building with elected officials and candidates, in coordination with government affairs. 
  • Electoral communications to members, voters, and the media, in coordination with Communications. 
  • Voter education and Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns, in coordination with external partners and coalitions and candidate campaign committees, as legally appropriate. 
• Oversee and direct the NRDC Action Votes’ goals and approve its budget and spending to ensure their consistency with the NRDC Action Fund’s goals and strategies. 
• Be a partner to the Government Affairs, Campaigns, and Development teams in planning and executing grasstops advocacy programs. 
• Directly supervise 1-3 staff while leading a cross-functional, cross-department team as their matrix-manager and coordinator on electoral program development and implementation. 

Board Relations  

• Work closely with the Board Relations team, executive leadership, and other departments to organize the Action Fund’s board meetings, including its agenda and programming.  Partner with the Board Relations and Development teams to regularly engage the Action Fund’s board members to cultivate their support and sense of community. 

 External Relations: 

• Represent the NRDC Action Fund to electoral partners and coalitions. 
• Serve as one of the chief public faces and as the day-to-day managing authority of the NRDC Action Fund to candidates, elected officials, political donors, environmentally active NGOS, and the media. 
• Represent the NRDC Action Fund on the GiveGreen steering committee.  Lead internal and external efforts to continue to grow the GiveGreen program and maximize its impact. 
• Demonstrate political expertise and become a trusted adviser to Action Fund donors and board members. 

Strategic Planning 

• Be a central thought leader and programmatic voice in the development of the NRDC Action Fund’s next strategic plan, especially around long-term power-building through electoral activities, in close engagement with executive leaders, the electoral program team, and the Action Fund’s board members. 

 Budget and Fundraising: 

• Lead the development and management of the NRDC Action Fund and the NRDC Action Votes’ electoral program budget and in the institutional budget process. 
• Partner with development on a fundraising strategy to increase the number of donors and revenue for electoral programs by the Action Fund and the Action Votes. 

Minimum Education and Experience: 

• 15 or more years of experience in electoral politics and issue advocacy with proven cross-functional leadership ability demonstrated through senior roles held in campaigns, political committees, non-profit advocacy organizations, consulting firms, trade associations, etc. 
• At least two consecutive years of work experience at a large mission-driven advocacy organization. 
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies, and Qualities: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication, advocacy, and social skills. 
• Experience with budgeting, management, and fundraising. 
• Reputation for consistently achieving goals by mastering process and building consensus. 
• A professional network across federal and state elected offices, political party committees and campaigns, major advocacy and political organizations, and donor networks. 
• Ability to build relationships, effectively collaborate, and engender trust from colleagues at all levels of institutional seniority. 
• Ability to handle complex and sensitive discussions and processes with diplomacy, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity. 
• An adept project manager who can juggle multiple priorities and ambiguity. 
• Ability to commute to and work from the NRDC office at least eight times a month and additionally as needed. 
• Ability to travel for work outside of normal office operations approximately 20% annually. 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values. 
• Ambition and growth mindset paired with methodical planning and patient discipline. 

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. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $200,000 to $230,000.

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 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.