Next Wave Oceans Fellow - Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

Overview

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; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking a Next Wave Fellow to work with the Oceans Division, Nature Program team in our New York, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C. offices. We particularly encourage candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the ocean protection movement.  

Position Summary

The Next Wave Fellowship Program was created to support and uplift early career professionals of diverse backgrounds and identities with the goal of accelerating the diversification of the nature and ocean protection fields. This position opening is for a Next Wave Fellow to support NRDC’s Oceans Division and its goal of protecting the ocean from pollution, exploitation, and other harmful activities. The fellowship runs for a two-year term. The fellow will be provided the opportunity to support multiple areas of NRDC’s ocean protection advocacy, including protecting ocean wildlife, creating marine protected areas, supporting responsible offshore wind, ending oil and gas development in the ocean, and curbing illegal fishing. The fellow will be part of a cohort of Next Wave fellows at NRDC that will be provided with ongoing career advancement and professional development opportunities. 

The fellowship runs for a two-year term.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the development and implementation of high impact advocacy strategies and campaigns that advance Oceans Division priorities at both legislative and administrative levels;  
• Build and maintain effective relationships with partner NGOs and policy makers, including participating in coalition efforts;  
• Build and provide substantive expertise on range of oceans issues; 
• Conduct research and analysis to advance NRDC’s oceans advocacy; 
• Draft comment letters, reports, factsheets, blogs and other social media, and other written advocacy tools; 
• If attorney, provide legal expertise, including help identify and engage in strategic litigation, and conduct legal research and drafting; 
• Engage in advocacy that advances the Division’s ocean priorities, including engaging with social and traditional media and participating in conferences and other activities to advance program goals;  
• Work with Communications, Campaigns and other internal NRDC programs to bring their expertise to bear in advancing Oceans Division priorities. 

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s, JD, or PhD preferred. 
• Degree in environmental sciences or policy field preferred. 
• 2-5 years of work experience 
• Environmental policy or environmental sciences coursework or training.  

Skills, Abilities, & Competencies 

• If candidate is attorney - excellent legal writing and analysis skills. 
• Interest in oceans protection field. 
• Demonstrated commitment to oceans protection field. 
• Deep commitment to growing equity, justice, diversity and inclusion, including in the ocean protection field. 
• Strong writing, analytical and research abilities. 
• Data management, data visualization, GIS, or statistical analysis skills a plus. 
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, understand, and clearly translate technical materials. 
• Collaborative spirit and ability to work within a team across a diverse set of perspectives. 
• Persuasive public speaking and presentation skills. 
• Excellent inter-personal, relationship-building, and networking skills. 
• Highly organized, resourceful, and able to manage multiple tasks and projects. 
• Ability to work independently. 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values. 

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. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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 $87,000 to $96,000.

Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we ask them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence.

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.