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  

The Senior Advocate – Southwest Power Pool will lead the advocacy of NRDC’s Sustainable FERC Project (Project) at the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). This person will be responsible for advancing reforms in transmission planning, resource adequacy, and wholesale markets to expand clean energy deployment and maximize the reliability and affordability of energy in the SPP region.    

This role requires experience with technical regulatory matters relating to transmission systems and/or energy markets, the ability to collaborate in a team setting with internal and external partners, interest in cultivating relationships with SPP staff, state regulators and other stakeholders, and willingness to travel to SPP’s offices in Arkansas and Colorado, and elsewhere.   

This is a limited term 2 year position based out of any of NRDC's U.S. based offices (New York, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Monica).

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:  

• Conceive and advocate for the changes to SPP’s regional and interregional transmission, resource adequacy, wholesale markets, and interconnection rules and plans necessary to advance the Project’s and NRDC’s clean energy transition goals.  Work to persuade key stakeholders and decision-makers to adopt NRDC’s preferred grid policies.  
• Develop and implement SPP stakeholder-focused strategies necessary to advance goals and outcomes.    
• Periodically reassess existing desired outcomes and identify new outcomes and strategies to achieve NRDC’s goals on complex grid issues.   
• Represent the Project coalition and NRDC at SPP and in other forums. This advocacy includes participating in stakeholder meetings and conferences, including making verbal comments, drafting stakeholder and FERC comments, and other activities necessary to accomplish the Project’s advocacy goals.   
• Collaborate with a coalition of partners – including coordination leading regular meetings/calls, tracking of SPP issues, and organizing periodic strategic planning, as well as working to build agreement within the coalition on complex problems.     
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, especially SPP staff, state government officials, consumer advocates, and industry partners.   
• Coordinate with the Project’s staff and with other teams at NRDC to develop complementary solutions and to align goals, strategies, and messages.     
• Monitor relevant developments in other regional transmission organizations.   
• Manage expert consultants as necessary to advance the Project’s advocacy objectives.    
• Communicate the Project’s message to a wider audience, including media and state and federal policymakers, in a manner that translates complex and arcane grid rules into simple and understandable terms.    

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:   

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 years experience in a relevant field.   
• Experience with electricity regulation, especially wholesale power markets and transmission planning. 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies   

• Proficiency in understanding and communicating complex concepts.    
• Interest in cultivating relationships with partner organizations to advance the Project’s and NRDC’s goals.   
• Experience navigating diverse stakeholders, building consensus on policy issues, and driving toward positive outcomes within a team, in a coalition, and with other external partners. 
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to grasp and translate technical power grid issues into plain English.   
• Oral advocacy skills and experience; and comfort speaking in varied settings, including with media.   
• Ability to work collaboratively across diverse stakeholders and cross-functional teams towards shared outcomes. 
• A sense of mission and passion for public interest and environmental advocacy.   
• Ability to travel nationally including conferences, and/or meetings convened by SPP and related entities, approximately 20% annually.  
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

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  

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

Work is sometimes performed 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. 

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.