Senior Federal Energy Advocate – Washington, DC

Organization: The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Job Title: Senior Federal Energy Advocate

Location: Washington, DC

Hours and Compensation: Full time, Commensurate

Position Dates: Start ASAP

Application Deadline: Send in ASAP

Posted On: July 16th, 2012

Organization Overview

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the nation’s most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science and the support of 1.3 million members and online activists to protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.  Founded in 1970 by a group of law students and attorneys at the forefront of the environmental movement, our people helped write some of America’s bedrock environmental laws. Today, our staff of more than 300 lawyers, scientists and policy experts work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

Description

NRDC is seeking a Senior Federal Energy Advocate to lead our federal energy advocacy, to represent and help manage our energy efficiency and renewable energy teams in Washington, DC and to contribute to the organization’s strategic thinking and policy development work on energy issues more broadly. This position is within NRDC’s Energy & Transportation Program, which focuses on curbing global warming by advancing sustainable energy solutions such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner vehicles, and renewable fuels. The Senior Federal Energy Advocate will engage in advocacy to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and global warming solutions in Congress, the White House and at federal agencies.

Responsibilities and Skills

The Senior Federal Energy Advocate will be the lead clean energy staff person for NRDC’ s Energy & Transportation Team in Washington, DC. Specific responsibilities include:

• Provide a leading voice on energy policy in DC, developing and seeding expert policy ideas and analysis; building strong relationships with and connecting NRDC staff to policy-makers and a wide variety of energy stakeholders;
• Work closely with industry, NGOs, public officials and other key stakeholders to shape their policies and strategies to advance NRDC’s federal energy goals, including with other efficiency and environmental advocates, utility trade associations and consumer and labor advocates;
• Manage the NRDC energy team in the DC office and work with relevant programs to develop policy proposals, strategies and tactics and to help integrate and coordinate our work;
• Play a leading role in NRDC’s energy advocacy on the Hill; develop substantive proposals and advocacy strategies including those that can win bipartisan support and that will advance NRDC’s energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean energy and global warming reduction goals;
• Play a key role in assisting NRDC’s team on federal appliance efficiency and building code advocacy and support their efforts to strengthen appliance efficiency standards and building code efficiency levels at the Department of Energy;
• Establish strong working relationships and advocate for clean energy goals with staff and decision-makers at relevant federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, CEQ and FERC;
• Coordinate with the NRDC Action Fund (c)(4) and NRDC”s business affiliate, Environmental Entrepreneurs; and increase state-based engagement with House and Senate members on priority issues and policies.

Qualifications

This position requires a thorough understanding of energy policy and economics, including energy efficiency and renewable energy policy, and substantial experience with legislative advocacy. This position is multi-disciplinary and requires creativity and innovative thinking more than any specific background, but the following skills and experiences will be helpful to the successful candidate:

• At least ten years of relevant work experience in the energy field
• Graduate or professional degree in science, engineering, business, environmental policy, economics, law, or other relevant discipline
• Experience with legislative advocacy at the federal or state level
• Strong analytic capabilities
• A track record of excellent leadership, team-building, management and project management skills
• Excellent and persuasive written and oral advocacy skills (including public speaking).
• Ability to build and work with coalitions and to engage in complex negotiations with multiple stakeholders
• Ability to respond to opposition viewpoints while maintaining relationships with the opposed individuals and organizations
• Ability to interpret complex technical and economic analysis and communicate its meaning to non-technical audiences (including the media) as well as experts
• Self-motivation and ability to manage multiple assignments efficiently and meet deadlines with limited supervision

How to Apply