Reporting to the Vice President for Water Conservation, the Policy Analyst is a key member of the Water conservation strategies team in Washington, DC, and will be responsible for helping to develop and implement a robust policy agenda to advance Audubon’s bi-partisan conservation within the US Congress and federal agencies. This role will provide critical policy research, analysis, writing and strategic guidance while serving as a highly visible representative of Audubon with congressional offices and committees, federal agencies and partner organizations. The Analyst also works closely with the VP to provide guidance and helpful tools to distribute across Audubon’s network, including background materials for consultants and lobbyists and other relevant content for internal communications.
- Play an essential role in developing Audubon’s policy goals and objectives for water issues and advise key internal staff on potential legislative and administrative priorities, opportunities and risks;
- Lead the development and implementation of advocacy strategies on policy goals and objectives;
- Participate in inter-departmental campaign teams to accomplish policy priorities;
- Develop strong working relationships with members of the U.S. Congress and their senior staff, congressional committees, and federal agencies in order to communicate Audubon priorities as well as negotiate and influence policy outcomes;
- Monitor the legislative developments for key congressional committees – including the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and U.S. House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, Natural Resources and Agriculture – and relevant agency actions;
- Prepare high quality analysis and draft legislation, fact sheets, position papers, testimony and other materials necessary to support Audubon’s policy priorities;
- Represent Audubon with national issue-based coalitions and partner organizations, monitoring their developments and contributing to coalition-based legislative and administrative efforts;
- Identify and recruit strategic allies and collect intelligence from key players working on priority policy matters; and
- Collaboratively work with other Audubon departments, state offices and the Audubon chapter network to advance the organization’s strategic conservation priorities.
- 5-7 years progressive experience on Capitol Hill, with a policy-oriented nonprofit organization, or with a relevant federal agency working on water resources or wildlife conservation issues is required.
- Outstanding policy analysis and research skills, with the demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively manage a complex workflow.
- Excellent communications skills with ability to write clearly and command of public speaking; must be comfortable representing Audubon’s interests with a variety of stakeholders, including congressional, government, and NGO partners.
- Exceptional judgment, with the demonstrated ability to think creatively, make strategic decisions and make policy recommendations to key leaders within an organization.
- A self-starter, one with experience working in decentralized organizations and collaborating with cross-departmental teams.
- Strong interpersonal skills and desire to be part of and contribute to a team effort.
- Experience with political or legislative campaigns highly desired.
- Demonstrated interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society and political insight of the nexus between Congress and environmental issues needed.
- Tech-savviness, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, social media, advocacy tools, and other web-based applications required.