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. 

Position Description 

NRDC seeks an Associate Director in our New York office to join the Board Relations team to play a key role in evolving and elevating the operational support of the NRDC and NRDC Action Fund Boards.  

Working with a small and agile team within the Executive Office, the Associate Director, Board Relations is responsible for Board operations and logistics, managing a team of two, in addition to serving as a strategic partner to the Director in the evolution and overall management of the NRDC and NRDC Action Fund Boards. This role works across departments to plan for and execute board meetings, committee meetings, and other Board-related programs and events. 

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful people manager, highly skilled project manager, and strategic collaborator who can remain calm and provide clear direction in a high stress environment. We seek a candidate with an excellent ability to prioritize, able to zoom in and out when it comes to goals and priorities; and who can remain nimble in a highly dynamic environment.  

• Produce highly engaging and superior in-person, virtual and hybrid meetings and retreats for the NRDC and NRDC Action Fund Boards. Lead planning meetings, track deliverables, coordinate with vendors, oversee the planning team, and produce necessary planning documents.  
• Oversee and elevate Board operations, making efficiencies wherever possible. Manage a team of two coordinators who collectively manage Board scheduling, record and data management, and the overall administrative and operational support for individual board members, the Boards, and Board committees. 
• Support the Director in the stewardship of board member relationships and in the planning and strategy for meetings with board members, committees and board meetings, by drafting correspondence and preparing and reviewing meeting materials. 
• Partner with the Director, and colleagues in other departments, to deepen Board member engagement by building new engagement opportunities and enhancing existing programs. 
• Oversee the upkeep and management of OnBoard, the Board’s online platform. Lead the introduction and implementation of new tools on the platform, as needed. 
• Evolve and improve internal processes, with an eye towards simplification and efficiency; produce templates, standard operating procedures, and other documents; adopt and implement new planning software and tools, as needed. 

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 required 
• Project management certification a plus 
• 5 -7 years’ experience in meeting and/or events planning at mission-driven and/or philanthropic organization; 3 years managerial experience required 
• Relationship management experience with donors, supporters, or board members required.  
• Experience with advocacy or environmental groups a plus. 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies 

• Superior project management skills and ability to prioritize and balance a high volume of projects and tasks in a fast-paced environment. 
• Flexible and nimble, able to adjust targets and deliverables in a changing environment. 
• Thoughtful and empathetic manager; ability to effectively lead a team in a high stress environment. 
• Highly skilled communicator, able to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. 
• Extraordinary attention to detail and highly organized. 
• Seasoned collaborator and excellent listener; willingness to be regular communication with team. 
• Experience in process development, and implementing the use of templates, new software, and tools. 
• Ability to be self-motivated and self-directed.  
• Comfortable with ambiguity and working in a complex organization. 
• Superior customer service skills and polished demeanor.  

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 $110,000 to $130,000.  

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.