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 SUMMARY  

Located in Albany, New York, and reporting to the Eastern Director of Government Affairs, the New York Director of Government Affairs serves as the primary hub and point of contact within NRDC for all state legislative and regulatory work in the state. This position requires collegial work with NRDC staff and collaboration with other organizations to develop and lead coherent strategic advocacy by the New York environmental community. Under guidance from the Eastern Regional Government Affairs Director, the New York Director of Government Affairs leads NRDC’s Albany engagement and coordinates NRDC’s in-state federal advocacy portfolio. This is a limited term 2 year position. 

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).  

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: 

• Design and execute proactive and defensive legislative plans, engage on existing or emerging legislation, and lobby relevant state decisionmakers to advance NRDC’s policy objectives.  
• Develop and maintain relationships with elected officials and staff on Committees of Jurisdiction and legislative leadership.  
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, regulators, elected officials, and decisionmakers in Albany.  
• Advise on legislative and state budget strategy in consultation with NRDC policy and public affairs staff.   
• Execute and occasionally lead environmental coalitions advocating in Albany. Craft effective messages, prepare coalition letters, and help determine priorities for broader environmental community.   
• Track bills and legislative processes including hearings for all priority legislation across the institution. Attend hearings, provide testimony and integrate relevant NRDC policy experts within NRDC as needed to advance policies throughout legislative and regulatory processes. 
• Provide strategic direction to colleagues across the institution on short-, medium-, and long-term objectives needed to advance NRDC’s institutional goals. 
• Draft and review external communications explaining NRDC’s annual legislative agenda and regulatory priorities.  
• Prepare background briefings and staff trainings regarding New York legislative and regulatory processes, and development of effective advocacy strategies.   
• Hold relationships with New York federal delegation offices and engage with the Regional and Federal Affairs teams within NRDC on federal policy objectives.  
• Collaborate on occasional NRDC engagement on state and local ballot measure campaigns.   
• Coordinate and execute projects as needed with NRDC Action Fund. 
   

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.  

Requirements 

• Minimum 10 years’ directly related experience, including a minimum of five years leading legislative and/or regulatory work in Albany.  
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, or relevant field. 
• And/or equivalent education or experience. 
   

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Proven track record of moving legislation from policy concept through all stages of the legislative process in Albany.  
• Fluent understanding of how to navigate the legislative and executive branches of New York Government. Government Affairs experience with New York City government is preferred, but not required.  
• Extensive network of high-level relationships in New York’s government, political, NGO, and philanthropy landscape.  
• Comfort with and willingness to self-motivate and challenge oneself in a hybrid or remote work environment.  
• Willingness to work strange hours – including nights and weekends – during key junctures in the legislative session.  
• Possess the ability to prioritize and respond timely to legislators and their staff, administration officials, donors, affiliates, coalition partners, NRDC staff and the public.   
• Familiarity with managing budgets, including prioritizing and reallocating funds to make the best use of limited resources for strategic purposes.  
• Experience with public speaking on technical and non-technical topics.  
• Proven success in building strong partnerships with national leaders and organizations.  
• Experience in and deep commitment to incorporating and growing the use of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles and practices in strategic goals, work plans, team culture, and operations.  
• Familiarity with and understanding of State and Federal electoral and PAC laws preferred. 
• Experience drafting questionnaires and working candidates through endorsement processes preferred. 
• Experience managing external lobby consultants preferred. 
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices, approximately 10-15% annually 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles 

 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks 

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary 

Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers 

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite  

Work is sometimes performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters. 

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 $150,000 to $170,000.  

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.