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, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, London, 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

The Senior Advocate, Adaptation will drive innovative solutions that enhance climate resilience across key themes that affect the safety and wellbeing of people and communities. This includes a focus on comprehensive risk management with a particular emphasis on insurance in the residential sector. The Senior Advocate, Adaptation will collaborate in efforts to promote comprehensive risk management at the state and local levels to address the looming homeowner insurance crisis precipitated by the growing frequency and severity of climate-influenced disasters. In this role, you will work at the intersection of policy, research, and on-the-ground implementation to shape and execute strategies that improve the long-term resilience of communities and states. Reporting to the Senior Director of Adaptation, the Senior Advocate, Adaptation will work along with other staff in NRDC’s Adaptation Division and related departments across NRDC. The Senior Advocate, Adaptation will apply their expertise to support other themes in Adaptation, including disaster resilience, climate mobility and climate resilient workers, communities and homes.

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:

• Develop and implement strategies that integrate climate risk considerations into insurance andfinancial products for homeowners
• Work with governments, private sector and financial institutions to design and promote innovative risk reduction and risk transfer mechanisms related to homeowner insurance
• Collaborate with state and local governments, community organizations and related stakeholders to enhance adaptive capacity and strengthen policies and incentives for climate adaptation using homeowner insurance as an entry point
• Identify needed changes to homeowner insurance and resilience policy and practices and develop advocacy initiatives that result in their adoption and implementation.
• Support strategies for disaster resilience, climate mobility and climate resilient workers, communities and homes
• Contribute to global and national dialogues on adaptation, advocating for inclusive and holistic approaches and represent NRDC in media interviews
• Lead the development of presentations, reports, and research materials tailored to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, policymakers and community organizations

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of work that fall within this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

• Master’s degree in Climate Policy, Environmental Science, Economics, Geography, Public Policy, or a related field
• Knowledge of the inner workings of the homeowner insurance industry and regulatory environment
• Experience with intersection of insurance mechanisms and comprehensive risk management to holistically address risks of climate change
• Knowledge of funding mechanisms for adaptation, including blended finance and public-private partnerships
• Experience working in and/or partnering with governments, private sector, and community organizations on adaptation initiatives
• Excellent communication and stakeholder and community engagement skills, with the ability to translate complex adaptation concepts into actionable strategies
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, writing/editing, and interpersonal skills
• A demonstrated understanding of the disproportionate burden of climate impacts on historically and currently marginalized communities and the root causes of climate vulnerabilities
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and NRDC’s mission

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 $130,000 to $150,000.  

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.