New York Clean Energy Advocate

Position Summary:

NRDC is seeking a New York Clean Energy Advocate to join both the Eastern Region and Sustainable FERC teams on the Climate and Clean Energy Program, based in our New York office. This role requires experience working collaboratively and in a team setting with both internal and external partners, the ability to represent NRDC in the media and other public forums with credibility and enthusiasm, interest in cultivating relationships with state and local officials, the executive branch and agencies, and willingness to travel to Albany, NY and elsewhere to advance NRDC’s policy goals.

• Play a key role in NRDC’s advocacy to advance the organization’s climate and clean energy policy priorities in New York.
• Represent the Sustainable FERC Project coalition and NRDC on New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) issues at the NYISO, FERC, and New York agencies, including drafting regulatory comments and participating in stakeholder meetings and conferences.
• Help set strategic climate and clean energy goals and priorities for New York, including with respect to the NYISO, and deploy consultants and partners to meet project timelines and objectives.
• Design and advocate for solutions to achieve NRDC’s goals for a low-carbon future, including solutions for wholesale electricity market design and performance, transmission planning, and effective integration of wholesale and retail power markets in New York.
• Strengthen, develop and nurture relationships with state decision-makers and elected officials, and build durable partnerships with a network of allies.
• Coordinate with and represent NRDC in broad coalitions of New York-based environmental stakeholders.
• Provide written and oral advocacy to further NRDC’s priorities with the New York legislature, the executive branch, the Public Service Commission, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the NYISO and state agencies.
• Serve as a key spokesperson in the press for NRDC’s climate and clean energy mission in New York, including partnering with the Communications team to respond to media requests and to develop advocacy materials to amplify NRDC’s message.
• Collaborate with a multi-faceted internal team of campaign, communications, public engagement, and policy experts to further the organization’s state and federal policy priorities, in close collaboration with other Climate and Clean Energy staff who focus on New York and the Eastern Region.
• Conduct policy research and analysis to develop and support positions.
• Be a central part of a strong and collegial team that is focused on collaboration, approaches advocacy with innovation and optimism, and is committed to using the full range of expertise within NRDC and among its partners to drive change.

• JD or Master’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• 7-12 years’ experience related to environment, climate or energy policy.
• Strong interest and experience in wholesale power markets a plus.
• Experience cultivating relationships at the governmental, regulatory, or legislative levels, as well as demonstrated success managing projects and engaging in public advocacy may substitute for policy expertise.
• Track record of success in navigating diverse coalitions, building consensus on policy issues and driving toward positive outcomes within a team, coalition, or with other external partners.
• A sense of mission and passion for public interest and environmental advocacy.
• Interest in state and federal political issues.
• Broad-based interest in climate and clean energy work, including the ability to quickly get up to speed on NRDC’s policy and campaign priorities.
• Ability to represent NRDC with maturity, judgment and professionalism.
• Ability to communicate technical power grid issues to non-technical audiences.
• Strong oral and written advocacy skills, including a willingness to represent NRDC in a variety of public forums and in the media.
• Willingness and ability to register as a state lobbyist.
• Flexibility to travel to Albany, NY, as well as to other NRDC offices and U.S. locations as needed.

NRDC is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience. Consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

To apply, please visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your resume and cover letter through our online portal. We would like you to upload any additional papers or project work that you think would showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of resumes, only qualified candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting. NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you are having technical difficulty while applying, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care by dialing 1-800-889-4422.

For further information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org.