NRDC is seeking a New York Director of Government Affairs to work with the Center for Campaigns and Advocacy team in Albany.

Position Summary

The New York Director of Government Affairs serves as the primary point of contact within NRDC for all state legislative and regulatory work in the state. This position requires collegial work with NRDC staff and collaboration with other organizations to develop and lead coherent strategic advocacy by the New York environmental community. Under guidance from the Eastern Regional Government Affairs Director, the New York Director of Government Affairs leads NRDC’s Albany engagement and coordinates NRDC’s in-state federal advocacy portfolio.

 

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).  

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions: 

• Design and execute proactive and defensive legislative plans, engage on existing or emerging legislation, and lobby relevant state decisionmakers to advance NRDC’s policy objectives.  
• Develop and maintain relationships with elected officials and staff on Committees of Jurisdiction and legislative leadership.  
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, regulators, elected officials, and decisionmakers in Albany.  
• Advise on legislative and state budget strategy in consultation with NRDC policy and public affairs staff.   
• Execute and occasionally lead environmental coalitions advocating in Albany. Craft effective messages, prepare coalition letters, and help determine priorities for broader environmental community.   
• Track bills and legislative processes including hearings for all priority legislation across the institution. Attend hearings, provide testimony and integrate relevant NRDC policy experts within NRDC as needed to advance policies throughout legislative and regulatory processes. 
• Provide strategic direction to colleagues across the institution on short-, medium-, and long-term objectives needed to advance NRDC’s institutional goals. 
• Draft and review external communications explaining NRDC’s annual legislative agenda and regulatory priorities.  
• Prepare background briefings and staff trainings regarding New York legislative and regulatory processes, and development of effective advocacy strategies.   
• Hold relationships with New York federal delegation offices and engage with the Regional and Federal Affairs teams within NRDC on federal policy objectives.  
• Collaborate on occasional NRDC engagement on state and local ballot measure campaigns.   
• Coordinate and execute projects as needed with NRDC Action Fund.  

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.  

Qualifications

Requirements 

• Minimum 10 years’ directly related experience, including a minimum of five years leading legislative and/or regulatory work in Albany.  
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, or relevant field. 
• And/or equivalent education or experience.  

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Proven track record of moving legislation from policy concept through all stages of the legislative process in Albany.  
• Fluent understanding of how to navigate the legislative and executive branches of New York Government. Government Affairs experience with New York City government is preferred, but not required.  
• Extensive network of high-level relationships in New York’s government, political, NGO, and philanthropy landscape.  
• Comfort with and willingness to self-motivate and challenge oneself in a hybrid or remote work environment.  
• Willingness to work strange hours – including nights and weekends – during key junctures in the legislative session.  
• Possess the ability to prioritize and respond timely to legislators and their staff, administration officials, donors, affiliates, coalition partners, NRDC staff and the public.   
• Familiarity with managing budgets, including prioritizing and reallocating funds to make the best use of limited resources for strategic purposes.  
• Experience with public speaking on technical and non-technical topics.  
• Proven success in building strong partnerships with national leaders and organizations.  
• Experience in and deep commitment to incorporating and growing the use of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles and practices in strategic goals, work plans, team culture, and operations.  
• Familiarity with and understanding of State and Federal electoral and PAC laws preferred. 
• Experience drafting questionnaires and working candidates through endorsement processes preferred. 
• Experience managing external lobby consultants preferred. 
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices, approximately 10-15% annually 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles 

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks 

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary 

Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers 

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite  

Work is sometimes performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters. 

 

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 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 $150,000 to $170,000.  

 

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.