NRDC is hiring a politically experienced outreach director to join the Campaigns & External Affairs division in the Center for Policy Advocacy department in its Washington, DC office. Reporting to the Managing Director of Campaigns & External Affairs, the National Outreach Director will develop and implement a cross-institutional strategy to increase the effectiveness of NRDC’s advocacy and support NRDC in meeting its strategic plan goals, which emphasizes deep and transformational partnerships with new organizations representing diverse constituencies, as well as building out relationships with current partners to address the climate and other environmental crises facing our communities. The ideal candidate is a dynamic individual with a proven track record of cultivating, growing and maintaining partnerships with a range of organizations and individuals, both in the traditional environmental and broader progressive fields.
- Devise and implement innovative strategies and new approaches to external partnership building, in accordance with NRDC’s Strategic Plan goals of strengthening and broadening the environmental movement.
- Build and lead a team of outreach experts responsible for developing and maintaining relationships between NRDC and partners, focusing primarily in 10 priority states.
- Lead NRDC in building and maintaining transformative relationships with national organizations and their state affiliates that represent communities of color.
- Shape and showcase NRDC’s collaborative projects with allied groups.
- Represent NRDC as a spokesperson to internal and external audiences at events, conferences, meetings, and with the media.
- Develop and maintain internal planning and project management systems supporting outreach and campaign management, including a system for organizing and tracking partners and projects.
NRDC’s Center for Policy Advocacy (CPA):
CPA’s mission is to build and leverage the institution’s political and social influence to advance NRDC’s environmental policy goals. Specifically, CPA campaign and external affairs staff are charged with:
- Systematically organizing political advocacy and public affairs strategies and tactics to achieve policy and power-building goals, organized as campaigns nationally and across the regions of the U.S.
- Proactively advancing policy priorities in government on federal, state, and local levels.
- Directing campaigns to educate the public concerning lawmakers and hold them accountable.
- Directing and organizing external relationship -building towards politically influential partnerships and alliances.
- Representing NRDC and NRDC Action Fund and guiding participation in strategic coalitions.
- 10+ years of experience in politics and advocacy.
- Proven experience in managing people, logistics, budgets, and internal processes.
- Familiarity beyond environmental allies with progressive voices, especially communities of color, women and underrepresented groups.
- Extensive experience developing and maintain meaningful relationships with diverse communities and a deep understanding of cultural, gender and socioeconomic differences.
- Ability to interact with senior leaders across NRDC as well as external partners.
- Exceptional communication skills. (Fluency in Spanish a plus.)
- Ability to represent NRDC with maturity, judgment, and professionalism.