Reporting to the Vice President for Water Conservation, the Policy Manager is a key member of the Water conservation team in Washington, DC, and will be responsible for helping to develop and implement a robust water policy agenda to advance Audubon’s bi-partisan conservation priorities within the US Congress and federal agencies. This role will a focus on the federal appropriations process that can benefit water initiatives and other policy issues by providing critical research, analysis and strategic direction, while serving as a highly visible representative of Audubon with congressional offices and committees, federal agencies and partner organizations. The Policy Manager also works closely with the VP to develop guidance and helpful tools to distribute across Audubon’s network, including background materials for state offices, the National Audubon Government Affairs team, and other consultants and lobbyists.
- Play an essential role in developing Audubon’s appropriations priorities and other policy goals and objectives for water issues;
- Advise key internal staff on potential legislative and administrative priorities, opportunities and risks;
- Lead the development of advocacy strategies on policy and appropriations goals and objectives;
- Work closely with Audubon Government Affairs team and participate in inter-departmental campaign teams to accomplish policy priorities;
- Develop strong working relationships with members of relevant Committees of the U.S. Congress and their senior staff, and federal agencies, with a focus on those involved in the appropriations process, in order to communicate Audubon priorities as well as influence policy outcomes;
- 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;
- 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 or with a relevant federal agency, working on appropriations, federal agency budgeting, 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;
- 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.