Oceans Advocate — Washington, D.C.

Organization: Natural Resources Defense Council

Job Title: Oceans Advocate

Location: Washington, D.C.

Hours and Compensation: Full Time — no compensation info given

Application Deadline: open until filled

Posted On: 9/13/12

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. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America’s bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and many of the implementing regulations; our water enforcement cases played a major role shaping current water policy throughout the country. Today, our staff of more than 430 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy and communications experts, and others, work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Livingston, Montana and Beijing.

Description

The DC Oceans Advocate represents and advances the legislative and policy priorities of NRDC’s Oceans Program with Congress and the Administration. These priorities include promotion of sustainable fisheries, protection of valuable ocean habitats and biodiversity, improved ocean governance and addressing the ocean impacts of ocean acidification.

Responsibilities

• Play a leading role in NRDC’s ocean advocacy with Congress and the Administration; develop and implement advocacy strategies that advance NRDC’s Ocean Program priorities.
• Develop and implement strategies to defeat efforts that would derail or harm Ocean Program’s priorities.
• Act as the lead Ocean’s program liaison with NRDC’s Government Affairs program to ensure cohesion and consistency with NRDC’s government affairs work. Work with Communications, Campaigns and other internal NRDC programs to bring their expertise to bear in advancing Ocean Program priorities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with policy-makers, the media, partner NGOs and others essential to advancing the Ocean Program’s priorities with Congress and the Administration.
• Engage in advocacy activities that raise the profile of ocean activities, including maintaining an active blog, engaging with social and traditional media, and participating in conferences, seminars and other activities to advance program goals.
• Clearly and persuasively communicate the goals of the Oceans Program to members of Congress, their staffs and Administration officials as well as with the media, the public (for example, through blogs), and with NRDC supporters and donors.
• Participate and provide leadership in ocean conservation community activities around NRDC’s Ocean Program priorities.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in environmental conservation or science, policy or law
• 5-8years experience in environmental conservation and/or advocacy
• Knowledge of and experience with the federal legislative process
• Excellent persuasive verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong inter-personal, relationship-building and networking skills
• Demonstrated ability to work hard and independently
• Ability to analyze, understand and translate complex scientific, legal and policy matters for advocacy purposes

How to Apply

To apply, please visit www.nrdc.org/jobs. No phone calls or faxes please.