IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Policy Manager, Mississippi River Delta

With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.

Overall Function
This candidate will play lead role in directing all policy aspects of campaign to secure implementation of the RESTORE Act, with oversight from the Director, Mississippi River Delta (MRD) Program and the Policy Director, Land Water and Wildlife (LWW) Program at EDF. The candidate will also play a lead role on MRD policy issues in establishing and maintaining principle relationships with legislative and executive officials and staff at both Federal and State levels, and with the press.

Key Responsibilities

• Play lead role in directing all policy aspects of campaign to secure implementation of the RESTORE Act, with oversight from the Director, Mississippi River Delta (MRD) Program and the Policy Director, Land Water and Wildlife (LWW) Program at EDF.
• Play lead role on MRD policy issues in establishing and maintaining principle relationships with legislative and executive officials and staff at both Federal and State levels, and with the press.
• Play lead role in representing EDF on MRD policy issues within the multi-NGO partnerships (MRD Campaign; Gulf Restoration Project [GRP] Campaign).
• Contribute, in concert with the Policy Director, LWW, to coordination of MRD policy with policy of other intersecting EDF Programs, including Climate, Oceans, and non-MRD LWW.
• Support Director, MRD in development of policy, communications, field and overall campaign strategy.
• Develop substantive knowledge of on-the-ground restoration and flood protection projects, and relationships with local officials and stakeholders sufficient to advocate for and represent projects in Washington.
• Serve as co-equal member of multi-NGO policy team (EDF, NAS, NWF, TNC, CRCL, LPBF), responsible from EDF perspective for increasing effectiveness of the team, ensuring that each partner is pursuing strategic plan goals as set out in WFF narrative and maximizing their impact by using tools that they promised during formation of the grant or pass through agreements.
• As long as agreed-to by steering committee members, act as policy team chairperson.
• With assistance of Director, MRD, direct and contribute to development of earned media, collateral documents, presentations, and other outreach materials.
• Develop and supervise consultant relationships and deliverables.
• When available, supervise law clerks and policy interns.
• If fundraising and budgets allow retention, supervise additional policy staff.
• Support Director's, and Senior Director of Water"s, development of fundraising proposals and reports as relates to policy activities.
• Responsible for maintaining and reporting on policy deliverables and assignments.

Qualifications
Qualifications include but are not limited to:

• Graduate degree or, equivalent professional experience, in Science, Policy, Economics, or Law, in areas related to environmental policy, environmental sciences, natural resource management or related fields.
• Minimum of 5 - 7 years of related advocacy work experience.
• Understanding of state and federal policy making and political processes.
• Demonstrable people and project management skills.
• Demonstrable analytic skills and ability to perform rigorous analysis in support of highly visible work.
• Demonstrable written and oral communication skills.
• Negotiation skills. Ability to garner consensus between disparate groups with conflicting priorities.
• Ability to recognize and build on market and strategic opportunities for progress.
• Capable of working with a variety of concerned parties, including government agencies, grassroots organizations and private firms, within strategic coalitions.
• A self-starter with the ability to think strategically and the initiative to work in a small regional office while effectively functioning as part of a larger program team.

Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.