NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

POSITION SUMMARY  

Under the guidance of the Managing Director, Strategic Communications, the Senior Manager, Strategic Communications: Litigation, develops comprehensive communication strategies that advance organizational goals and enhance public engagement for the work led by NRDC’s litigation team across climate, nature and environmental health sectors.  

Serving as the primary communications partner to NRDC’s litigation team, this role translates complex legal strategies and developments into clear, accessible narratives that expand public engagement, elevate NRDC’s thought leadership, and drive supporter and policymaker action. The Senior Manager collaborates closely with media, digital advocacy and fundraising, content, creative, and analytics teams to plan, launch, and assess the effectiveness of integrated, multichannel communications across earned, owned, and paid platforms, using performance insights to refine strategy and maximize reach, engagement, and impact among key audiences.   

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:  
 

• Under the guidance of the Senior Director, Strategic Communications, develop and execute clear, compelling, and measurable multichannel communication plans for NRDC’s litigation work and cases, that expand reach beyond core supporters and reinforces durable narratives collaborating closely with litigation, programmatic, governmental affairs and communications teams. 
• Create and update messaging and talking points for NRDC’s litigation work and specific cases, ensuring messaging is consistent, accessible, and aligned with NRDC’s brand and mission. 
• Coordinate communications team’s response to major legal developments, including court rulings, regulatory actions, and litigation filings. 
• Provide regular updates on litigation projects/cases to the communications team. 
• Manage the intake and execution of incoming communications and marketing requests from litigation establishing clear timelines, workflows and expectations. 
• Establish and maintain  litigation communications  calendar and set short- and long-term priorities aligned with organizational goals. 
• Maintain expertise of relevant priority litigation narratives along with audience trends in alignment with policy issues in the U.S. 
• Identify and develop storytelling opportunities (e.g., case studies, attorney and client profiles, human-centered narratives) that demonstrate the real-world impact of NRDC’s litigation. 
• Collaborate with Editorial and Content teams to develop written and visual assets that will resonate with target audiences, create compelling story telling, and drive relevance, engagement and action for the organization.  
• Support the Digital Advocacy and Fundraising team in developing appropriate materials and tactics to promote key messages with NRDC supporters when needed. 
• Collaborate  with Earned and Social Media teams to amplify key institutional priorities, litigation cases and initiatives. 
• Champion a data-driven approach to evaluate communications performance and apply insights to refine future strategies, partnering with the Director of Analytics. 
• Utilize storytelling, thought leadership and strategic messaging to influence and shift public narratives on climate change, nature and environmental health, highlighting the benefits and importance of environmental protection and climate action for our health, our societal values and our economy.  
• Investigate litigation cases to identify and develop content (e.g. profile pieces, case studies, human-led stories) that highlight the impact of NRDC’s litigation work and profile our clients and attorneys.  
• Create and manage a story bank from current and past litigation cases to enable  communications team to quickly and efficiently develop content across  NRDC’s brand channels.  
• Provide guidance to  communications colleagues on law and litigation matters and procedures; and advise litigation colleagues on communications best practices and processes 
• Educate and advise litigation colleagues on the evolving media, digital, and communications landscape, including emerging platforms, audience dynamics, risks, and opportunities that may affect litigation strategy and public engagement. 

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. 

Minimum Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in journalism, communications, law, advocacy, or a related field. 
• 4 or more years relevant experience leading communications campaigns and coordinating communications teams, with 7 years total experience in communications, journalism, law, advocacy or a related field. 
• And/or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Developing and rolling out communications campaigns relating to U.S. state and/or federal law/litigation cases on climate, environmental health, nature or similar issue areas.  
• Law/litigation communications experience preferred, e.g. a communications role in a law firm or legal communications role for a non-profit organization.  
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is desirable.  

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Strong collaborator with inclusive mindset that leads with confidence and inspires confidence among colleagues at all levels.  
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams.  
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical communications and marketing initiatives, with the nuances needed to navigate a broad range of litigation perspectives. 
• Ability to speak and write in a clear and understandable manner for internal/external relations.   
• Strong organizational and project management skills. 
• Proven experience managing priorities and working effectively across multiple internal stakeholders.  
• Experience developing and implementing multichannel communications plans. 
• Expertise in advocacy communications, with a deep understanding of audience segmentation, engagement tactics, and optimization. 
• Strong analytical skills and experience leveraging data insights to drive decision-making and improve communications campaign outcomes. 
• Strong attention to detail, proofreading and accuracy  
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and prioritize multiple tasks 
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with the highest level of discretion and professionalism. 
• Skilled in guiding, mentoring and fostering growth in fellow colleagues  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.    
• Familiar with project management tools like Asana. 
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. offices, communities and courts approximately 10%.   
• 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 accommodation 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 the 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 $100,000 to $115,000.  

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. 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. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply soon.  

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.