The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is one of the nation's most effective environmental action organizations. We use law, science and the support of 2.4 million members and online activists to protect human health as well as the planet's wildlife and wild places. Our staff of close to 500 lawyers, scientists and policy experts work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing. NRDC’s Food and Agriculture Program is committed to making healthy, sustainably produced food accessible to all of us. We currently focus on curbing overuse of antibiotics in the livestock industry, reducing food waste, challenging unsafe pesticide use and promoting organics, advancing sustainable soil-friendly farming systems, promoting a more plant-based diet, and improving school food. Our team uses litigation, policy change, collaboration with business leaders, consumer campaigns and public outreach to make change.
NRDC seeks a Sustainable Food Policy Advocate to join the Food and Agriculture Program. The primary focus of this position will be to work with NRDC’s multi-disciplinary team to end the misuse of livestock antibiotics – a practice that now contributes to rising rates of antibiotic resistance and threatens the future efficacy of these life-saving medicines for people. Depending on project need and skills and interests of the candidate, the position may also support other Food and Agriculture Program initiatives.
- Work with our team to develop and improve strategies for winning policy change and shifting corporate practices.
- Advocate for local, state and federal policy reform, including direct lobbying, providing testimony, watchdogging agency actions, and authoring written comments.
- Provide outreach to major food companies, expand NRDC’s network of business leaders and advocate for corporate commitments to change purchasing or production practices.
- Expand NRDC’s coalition of opinion leaders, technical experts, public interest organizations, business leaders and producers; help NRDC increase the geographic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity within its networks.
- Provide research, analysis, blogs, reports, and social media content in support the Food and Agriculture Program’s initiatives.
- Serve as a spokesperson for NRDC.
- Five or more years of experience as an advocate advancing related campaigns.
- Demonstrated ability for strategic campaigning and advocacy.
- An advanced degree in a related science or law is strongly preferred.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills are essential.
- Expert familiarity with one or more Food and Agriculture Program issues listed above.
- Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.