NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.

NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

Position Summary

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis, protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places, and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.

The Managing Director, Campaigns leads the strategic development and implementation of cross-departmental federal and regional campaigns, focused on climate-related campaigns. Reporting to the Chief Policy Advocacy Officer, the Managing Director, Campaigns, oversees a team of regional and federal campaign staff to develop and implement advocacy tactics to influence federal and state policymakers in the NRDC priorities states and at the federal level to advance climate, environmental health and nature policy priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive strategic campaign development and execution to ensure NRDC and the NRDC Action Fund achieves their policy priorities on climate, environmental health and nature, with a significant focus on climate campaigns, at the federal and state levels.
• Effectively manage a team of 6 campaign staff, providing strategic direction, regular coaching and feedback, supporting their professional development and fostering collaboration.
• Be a thought and action partner to the staff across External Affairs and Programs in planning and executing advocacy campaigns.
• Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external partners and coalitions.
• Develop and manage a discretionary budget in close coordination with the External Affairs’ operations team; ensure direct reports are following institutional operations guidance.
• Lead and support development efforts in close collaboration with Development and institutional leadership.
• Anticipate needs for upcoming fights or key moments and identify proactive opportunities.
• Organize campaign briefings and reports for internal and external parties.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience:

• 15 or more years of experience in either electoral politics or advocacy campaigns and issue advocacy with proven cross-functional leadership ability demonstrated through senior roles held in campaigns, political committees, non-profit advocacy organizations, consulting firms, trade associations, etc.
• At least two consecutive years of work experience at a large mission-driven advocacy organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies, and Qualities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication, advocacy, and social skills.
• Experience with budgeting, management, and fundraising.
• Reputation for consistently achieving goals by mastering process and building consensus.
• A professional network across federal and state elected offices, political party committees and campaigns, major advocacy and political organizations, and donor networks.
• Ability to build relationships, effectively collaborate, and engender trust from colleagues at all levels of institutional seniority.
• Ability to handle complex and sensitive discussions and processes with diplomacy, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity.
• An adept project manager who can juggle multiple priorities and ambiguity.
• Ability to commute to and work from the NRDC office at least eight times a month and additionally as needed.
• Ability to travel for work outside of normal office operations approximately 20% annually.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.
• Ambition and growth mindset paired with methodical planning and patient discipline.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $200,000 to $230,000.