Director of Place-Based Integrated Solutions - Now Hiring at Natural Resources Defense Council

Director of Place-Based Integrated Solutions

Job Locations

US

Job ID

2022-5034

# of Openings

1

Group

People & Communities

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

NRDC is seeking a Director of Place-Based Integrated Solutions to work with the Resilient Communities Division in the People & Communities Program in one of our US offices.

Position Summary

The Resilient Communities division of the People & Communities program focuses on building and activating partnerships, advancing holistic policies and climate solutions that provide strong health, economic and social benefits, and seeing them through investment and implementation. We aim to support historically underrepresented communities, BIPOC communities, EJ communities, and communities most impacted by climate action and inaction, specifically related to infrastructure, buildings, power, and transportation. We believe to make lasting and far-reaching progress on climate change, we must form inclusive partnerships and coalitions to drive wide-ranging and effective change, explicitly designed to benefit people in the places they work and live.

Resilient Communities' matrixed team is made up of advocacy, equity, technical, community engagement, and partnership experts who collaborate to advance equitable climate action throughout the country. It includes a Place-Based Integrated Solutions team (PBIS), an Equity, Networks & Partnerships team (ENP), and Center of Excellence (COE) teams for Transportation, Buildings, and Energy.

The PBIS team is comprised of regional teams who support NRDC's long-term regional climate and equity priorities. They collaborate with local governments, city, state and federal policy experts, local community groups, other non-profits, and national partners to create and expand the impact of climate and equity policies and programs at the city and state level.

The Director of Place Based Integrated Solutions leads the PBIS team and is part of the senior leadership team of the division. The Director provides guidance and support to the Regional Leads in developing location-based strategies to build-out and integrate climate and equity solutions (including state-state, city-city, city-state strategies). The Director manages and allocates resources across the teams in collaboration with the COE and ENP.

Responsibilities

Resilient Communities Strategy and Operations: Assist with the development and execution of the management and operations of the division, in collaboration with the Senior Director, Director of Strategy and Operations, and with other senior leaders of the division designated by the Senior Director.

Regional Strategy Development: In collaboration and coordination with the regional leads, the COEs, with the ENP team, other programs, and key departments across NRDC, guide and lead the development of place-based strategies to build-out and integrate climate and equity solutions in the domestic regions (including efforts that connect state-state, city-state, city-city, and city-state-federal initiatives)
• NRDC Coordination / Internal Strategy Alignment: Serve as a lead liaison with NRDC's Climate & Clean Energy Program and the Center for Policy Advocacy to advance joint planning and strategy alignment. Coordination collaboration across teams beyond Resilient Communities
• Advocacy Strategy Development: In collaboration with colleagues in COEs, the ENP team, other programs, and across NRDC, develop regional advocacy approaches for campaigns and communications. Guide NRDC's approach to regional connections with state and federal advocacy, and strategic partnerships to advance climate and equity goals
• Regional Work Planning: In collaboration with the Director of Strategy and Operations, the COEs and the ENP, leads the creation, execution, and measurement of the team's work plans in support of regional strategies and advocacy plans. Identify opportunities for learning, collaboration and synergies benefiting multiple regions or states or cities
• Budget: Oversees the PBIS budget, including annual budgeting and quarterly reviews, all off-cycle budget-related requests, consistent tracking of partner support and equity investments, and other innovations to better prioritize and account for resource use
• External Partner Relationships: Leverage existing relationships with key external strategic partners to accelerate and deepen climate action. Develop new relationships with additional relevant community partners as well as government decision-makers and key policy staff, coordinating closely with staff leading on community partner engagement. May serve as a voice of NRDC on regional issues
• Team Management: Serve as the direct manager to a team of regional and/or local policy advocates. Provide regular individual coaching, feedback, and development while fostering team cohesion
• NRDC Representation: May represent NRDC through active participation in coalitions, providing collaboration and guidance to maximize effectiveness and grow support for needed policies
• Perform other duties as assigned by direct manager or as part of the matrixed Resilient Communities team

Qualifications

Required
• Bachelor's degree in sustainability, environmental science, policy, public administration, or a related field or equivalent work experience; advanced degree or equivalent work experience preferred.
• At least 8 years of progressive work experience in government, non-profit and/or philanthropic settings
• At least 6 years of experience advocating for or implementing equity policies and programs
• Experience being part of large, cross-sector, multi-partner initiatives
• Demonstrated success in leading large teams, addressing and overcoming morale issues, managing team members, including managing performance, giving and receiving feedback, coaching, and developing employees
• Experience creating vibrant, thriving, inclusive internal team cultures
• Highly skilled and willing to prioritize investing in team members' growth and development
• Deep desire, passion, and expertise in bringing out the best in employees, supporting teams
• Growth mindset, orientation towards continuous improvement, openness to receiving feedback.
• Demonstrated success leading teams to achieve shared outcomes
• Experience utilizing and implementing equity frameworks or working with partners and communities to ensure equitable outcomes of policies and programs.
• Experience building productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience successfully managing budgets, including setting and implementing strategy
• Excellent writing skills, strong verbal communication, and confident public speaker
• Ability to establish efficient processes and systems
• Broad knowledge of environmental issues and environmental donors
• Detail-oriented and committed to quality output
• Willingness to travel throughout the United States, as well as to other NRDC offices as needed
• Deep understanding and demonstrated commitment to and competency in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, including contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment and experience with advancing DEI
• Commitment to NRDC's values and mission

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. For this position, the salary is $153,000 to $175,000.

Since March 2020, NRDC's offices have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You will be associated with one of our offices, but until circumstances allow us to re-open, we will continue to support NRDCers with remote working arrangements.

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your resume 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 resume 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.

Need help finding the right job?

We can recommend jobs specifically for you!

Click here to get started.