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

We're searching for an experienced professional to partner with our Managing Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to help advance NRDC’s DEI strategy across the organization, solidify the direction of our growing DEI team, and support the cultivation of a positive work culture for all NRDCers. The Senior Manager, Dignity and Belonging provides strategic and tactical execution on DEI best and next practices, programs, and initiatives including ensuring a collaborative partnership with our employee resource groups and office DEI committees.  

Reporting to the Managing Director of the Office of DEI, The Sr. Manager works with senior leaders, managers, staff and team members as a DEI subject-matter expert and people champion, as well as a change agent and strategic partner. They collaborate with ERG leads and communities on programming, communications/storytelling, observances, and vendor management. This role will manage currently one direct report, our DEI Learning Lead.  

This is an ideal role for someone with deep DEI and ERG subject matter expertise with the ability to manage a small team, develop and implement programming, demonstrated ability to execute on a DEI strategy, advise leaders and their teams across levels on how to translate DEI plans into action. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, proactive, and action-oriented resourceful leader capable of quickly establishing themselves as a credible strategic partner to the MD. The Sr. Manager must be trustworthy, strategic, confident, empathetic, and ready to engage with staff of all identities, while operating with a high level of cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence, and an appreciation for and ability to speak to specific areas of equity and inclusion such as erg development, bias, belonging, and allyship. 

Organizational Development & Team Effectiveness 

• Collaborates in the design and delivery of organizational development interventions including leader/team assimilations and team effectiveness sessions or projects 
• Partner with HR Business partners to enable leader and top team success 
• Partner with NRDC global offices to embed strong DEI practices specific to cultural and local context 
• Partner with organization design, talent planning, leadership development and learning professionals to ensure integrated culture and talent success programs 
• Lead and manage a team with clarity and purpose, effectively demonstrating leadership through goal setting, performance management, and ongoing development of team members 

DEI Strategy & Leadership 

• Identify areas of opportunity for ODEI and design/implement solutions aligned with NRDC's overall DEI commitment 
• Provide DEI subject matter expertise, strategic guidance and tactical support to employees at all levels 
• Operate as a culture champion and strategic partner, modeling NRDC values while cultivating a culture of kindness, dignity, collaboration and respect 
• Consult with leaders on fostering inclusive culture, identifying improvement areas, and implementing strategies to address systemic barriers and biases 

Program Development & Implementation 

• Ideate, design and implement DEI program objectives through collaboration, decision-making, and program management 
• Develop processes, documentation and communication strategies for program rollouts and ongoing management support 
• Partner with the DEI Learning Lead to develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics 

Community Engagement & ERG Support 

• Work with Employee Resource Groups as a community cultivator and mentor, helping ERGs mature as culture champions 
• Provide guidance and support to managers and function leaders in implementing inclusive practices, mitigating bias, and promoting cultural competency 

Cross-functional Collaboration & Analytics 

• Collaborate with internal clients to understand needs and partner with other HR SMEs (Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Analytics, Compensation, Communications) to customize solutions incorporating DEI best practices 
• Use metrics and analytics to make proactive recommendations, provide DEI solutions, track progress and measure effectiveness of DEI-focused interventions

Compliance & Risk Management 

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to employee management to reduce legal risks and ensure regulatory compliance, partnering with Corporate Counsel as needed 

Education and Experience

• 5+ years in Diversity and Inclusion with proven experience implementing DEI strategies and leading projects from concept to execution in large, complex organizations. 
• 5+ years across talent management, Organizational Development, or HRBP roles, including hands-on experience with culture change, values integration, employee engagement, inclusion and belonging, and team effectiveness programs. 
• 3 years people management. 
• 5+ years building and deploying global surveys and qualitative listening experiences, accounting for cultural and legal requirements. 
• Global/international experience across a variety of cultures. 
• Knowledge and experience in trauma-informed approaches. 
• Experience working with senior leadership individually to positively impact leadership effectiveness 
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities in a fast-paced work environment. 
• Strong stakeholder management skills. 
• Proven ability to establish positive and productive working relationships and collaborate with cross-functional teams and colleagues at all levels. 
• Experience successfully leading and executing DEI projects from conceptualization to implementation is required. 
• Deep understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and best practices, along with knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations. 
• Demonstrated experience working in a global context and across a variety of cultures.  
• Experience and credibility as a leader in an environment where the ability to influence, work across a complex matrix, and build relationships is critical. 
• Skills and experience in analyzing and diagnosing business problems to identify root causes. 
• Proven experience partnering with senior business leaders and driving change within a matrixed organizational structure. 
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead and execute multiple initiatives simultaneously. 
• Ability to observe, assess and analyze an organization as a single, interconnected entity, and interpret the impacts of working with a system. 
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• DEI and/or change management certification, a plus. 

Key Competencies

• Ability to demonstrate constant professionalism, maintain professional relationships, and exhibit impartiality.  
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, diplomacy, and negotiation skills with the ability to empathize with others and establish positive working relationships across all organizational levels and cross-functional teams. 
• A willingness to roll up your sleeves and dig in.  
• Ability to thrive in an ambiguous, rapidly changing, and fast-paced work environment with excellent time management skills and proven ability to handle multiple competing priorities while meeting deadlines. 
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies.  
• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization's hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and administrative practices related to those factors. 
• Understanding of and ability to track relevant metrics and KPIs.  
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to positively influence and engage stakeholders at all levels both in written and visual formats. 
• Exceptional attention to detail and proven acuity in MS Office suite, with strength in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. 

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 $117,000 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.