Job Tag: Law/Policy

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is seeking a Director, Federal Affairs to lead AZA’s and AZA Action’s government affairs activities on Capitol Hill. The Director will lobby on issues impacting the AZA community and build and maintain relationships with key congressional offices, with an emphasis on the House Committee on Natural Resources; Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Committee; and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. This position is a hybrid role with AZA and AZA’s advocacy organization, AZA Action.

This position is based in our Silver Spring, MD headquarters and reports to the Senior Vice President, External Affairs. This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office or on Capitol Hill.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of AZA’s conservation and natural resources congressional outreach strategy, including lobbying congressional offices to further AZA’s policy goals
Build relationships and maintain frequent interactions with members of Congress and staff
Attend political events and Capitol Hill hearings and briefings
Grow and support the bipartisan Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus
Develop issue briefs and other documents and materials to support AZA’s congressional advocacy efforts
Support planning AZA’s Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., including the annual congressional reception
Participate in relevant policy coalitions
Help coordinate activities of the AZA Government Affairs Committee, particularly the Legislative & Policy Working Group
Attend AZA conferences and related meetings to support departmental responsibilities which may include presenting information, assisting with sessions, or coordinating activities.
Perform other duties as requested

Qualifications

Education and Experience

5+ years of congressional affairs experience, preferably on Capitol Hill, with a political campaign, and/or with a member service association
2+ years of experience leading projects, teams, or key initiatives
Bachelor’s degree required; major in political science or related field strongly preferred
Previous experience with zoos and aquariums or related organizations a plus

Skills and Abilities

Strong knowledge of the U.S. federal legislative and political processes
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with congressional offices and non-governmental organization representatives
Strong strategic, diplomatic, and organizational skills
Exceptional skills in communication, both oral and written
Ability to work both independently and as a part of a team
Ability to represent AZA, its programs, and members professionally and to serve as a voice to external audiences
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with AZA staff and Association members
Ability to travel required

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks its next Montana State Director to lead the Montana Business Unit (BU) and serve as a partner with colleagues in TNC’s Western US and Canada Division as we execute on our ambitious conservation goals.

The Montana State Director functions as the visionary leader, senior manager, and principal ambassador for a mid-size, complex BU. The Montana State Director will lead an effective and seasoned team creating durable conservation outcomes in some of Montana’s most critical grasslands, forests and sagebrush steppe regions. The Montana Chapter achieves large-scale land and water protection and management outcomes, ecologically-focused stewardship, and common-sense policy outcomes through effective partnerships with community-led organizations, private landowners, NGOs, and Tribal, Federal, State and Local agencies. The State Director is accountable for the BU’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results and maintaining organizational values. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the BU’s responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts. They support the alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies. They are responsible for collaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in their ecoregions or BU and in areas beyond their span of authority. They serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivate those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.

The Montana State Director oversees the leaders of conservation, external affairs, fundraising, and finance for the BU and partners with Division-wide leaders of marketing/communications, finance, conservation, and HR. Leadership will include approving budgets, setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals, supporting philanthropy, resources and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private, bilateral and multilateral government) to meet fundraising goals. They are responsible for a significant portion of the BU’s direct fundraising.

In addition to their responsibilities leading and managing the Montana BU, the Montana State Director serves on the Leadership Team for the Western US & Canada Division. The Division’s current priorities include cross-boundary, system-scale initiatives in Indigenous-led Conservation, major river restoration, forest, grassland and sagebrush steppe health, climate and renewable energy, and federal policy and public lands. The Montana State Director will lead fundraising efforts and deploy staff to support these Division-level initiatives. The Montana State Director plays a leadership role in local-to-global fundraising for The Nature Conservancy.

The Montana State Director reports to the Western US and Canada Division Director and works closely with the local Trustees.

What You’ll Bring:

Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 7 years of management experience or equivalent relevant combination.

Leading and managing a mid-size multi-disciplinary team with the strong ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage performance.

Direct experience working and operating in Montana state.

Experience in natural resources and/or the environment more broadly.

Strategic planning and systems thinking for large, complex initiatives.

Financial experience managing a multi-million-dollar budget.

Experience communicating with and presenting to different types of audiences, including donors, board members, employees, and outside partners.

Experience working with Indigenous tribes and sovereign nations.

Fluency in English; excellent written and oral communication skills.

Desired Qualifications:

10+ years’ experience as a proven leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area, including demonstrated experience producing results and meeting program/department goals.

Experience demonstrating general knowledge of the natural resources of Montana and the Western US, their conservation challenges, and current management approaches.

Experience in fundraising and commitment to increase program fundraising success in support of the Conservancy’s global, regional, and local priorities, especially by identifying innovative forms of fundraising, cultivating major donors, and forging relationships and results in the Montana market.

Experience building partnerships or multi-lateral agreements across business and/or government.

Experience creating and fostering an environment that allows staff to feel empowered and creating a culture of trust, fairness, and development.

Experience cultivating strong interpersonal engagement and relationships in a global, multicultural context and developing relationships to drive organizational outcomes.

Experience demonstrating skills in board development and recruitment for fundraising and influencing results.

Exposure to policy influence and development.

Navigating and leading within a global, matrixed organization.

Experience demonstrating knowledge of the tech industry, such as key organizations and navigating contacts within them.

Please note that this role includes ~40% of time traveling within the state of Montana and ~10% traveling out of state. During the initial 3-4 months, travel may be as much as 75% of total time.

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $152,000 – $180,000 for annual base salary.

Established in 1978, Arizona Land and Water Trust (Trust) is now celebrating its 47th year of operation. Arizona Land and Water Trust protects Southern Arizona’s vanishing western landscapes, its farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and the waters that sustain them. To date, the Trust has permanently protected over 71,700 acres and conserved over one million gallons of water in Southern Arizona.

This Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Land & Water Program Director is a pivotal position at the Trust which identifies, develops and completes land and water transactions in Southeastern Arizona in accordance with the Trust’s strategic plan. Specifically, the Program Director is responsible for managing individual real estate transactions, including fee title and conservation easement projects, from initial conceptualization through landowner negotiations and due diligence to final transaction closing and recordkeeping as well as supporting the Trust’s long-term stewardship, restoration and resiliency efforts. They will support the Land and Water Program team with project planning, GIS mapping, grant administration, and outreach including developing and strengthening partnerships with landowners, government agencies, conservation organizations and funding sources. These partnerships further the Trust’s mission to plan, develop and implement conservation acquisitions protecting significant land and water resources. The Land & Water Program Director also provides supervision to Program Staff as directed by the Executive Director. Like all current staff, the Program Director will support a variety of efforts, and must be highly organized, detail-oriented, flexible, and have the ability to work independently when required. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a collaborative non-profit organization.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. land use planning, natural resource management, pre‐law, real estate or related field) and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience
Experience with personnel supervision and management
Experience with, or training in, real estate transactions and real property law
Experience working with agricultural landowners
Experience with GIS mapping and organizing related databases
Understanding of basic hydrology principles with familiarity of water-resources law, policy and management in Arizona or another western state considered a plus
Experience in or familiarity with conservation preferred, alignment with the Trust’s values and mission essential.

Compensation and Employee Benefits

The Land and Water Program Director is a salaried, non-exempt, position based on a 40-hour work week. Annualized Salary $72,000 to $82,000, commensurate with skills and experience.

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave benefits. Cost-shared medical and dental benefits available, along with a 401(k) plan with employer match and an employer-paid life insurance policy.

The Vice President of Government Relations leads Defenders’ congressional advocacy and key federal Executive Branch initiatives. This role strengthens relationships with Congress, the White House, agencies, and partner organizations; directs major legislative and administrative campaigns; and shapes policy positions for decision-makers and represents those positions to the media and other environmental organizations. Responsibilities include managing advocacy strategy and resources, supervising staff, overseeing budgets, ensuring compliance with lobbying laws, and driving constituency-building efforts on priority issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Build and maintain effective relationships with Congress, the White House, administrative agencies, and other conservation/environment organizations;
Assumes lead responsibility for developing and implementing strategies to enhance Defenders’ political effectiveness and strategic positioning through methods including direct lobbying, grassroots organizing and partnerships with other environmental organizations.
Leads the process of identifying Defenders’ priority legislative and administrative advocacy objectives and the development of campaigns, strategies and the distribution of organizational resources to advance those objectives.
In coordination with others, develops strategies for communicating Defenders’ views on legislative and administrative issues to Congress, the White House, administrative agencies, and other environmental and issue-related organizations.
As a member of the leadership team, actively engages in the development and implementation of Defenders-wide strategies in support of the broader organizational culture.
Presents information regarding government relations to the Board of Directors at the request of the President & CEO, and fulfills various other senior management administrative duties including: providing input on organizational planning and strategic direction; negotiating and signing contracts when necessary; and assisting in developing agenda for Board of Directors’ meetings.
Oversees the department’s professional staff of lobbyists and grassroots outreach specialists, assist staff to advance priorities internally and externally.
Oversee the advocacy operations of Defenders’ national outreach program
Performs services for Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, including developing an annual legislative scorecard and developing grassroots lobbying initiatives.
Represents Defenders at various national environmental community coordination committees as needed.
Represents Defenders in coalitions, public meetings, hearings, press events, conferences, national and international forums, and in general communications with public officials, the media, members, the donor community and the public.
Establishes and maintains efficient and functional office and communication systems within the Government Relations department and complies with applicable administrative procedures, including timely submission of plans, budgets, time sheets, reports, check requests, leave requests, and reimbursement requests.
Assists Development Department in preparing foundation grant proposals in assigned program areas; initiates creative and long-term mechanisms for organizational growth within the Government Relations Department; promotes programs to members and donor community.
Coordinates media strategies with the Communications department and assists in identifying and pursuing national, regional and local media coverage of Defenders’ issues.
Is a committed and effective advocate for all Defenders’ programs and objectives.
Develops short- and long-range operating objectives, organizational structure, and staffing requirements.
Ensure communication of duties and responsibilities to direct reports and monitor performance. Provide regular coaching and counseling. Identify training needs. Prepare and deliver salary and performance reviews; review and approve performance and salary appraisals as necessary.
Some travel required
Performs all other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent

Experience: 15 years; 7 years supervisory; 5 years managing 2+ layers

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

SALARY: $195,000 – $210,000

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 is seeking a Campaign Manager, Environmental Health & Nature to work with the Center for Campaigns & Organizing team in our New York City, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, or Santa Monica office.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Environmental Health and Nature Campaigns Director, the Campaign Manager will develop and implement plans to advance NRDC’s environmental health and nature policy agendas.

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:

Develop and implement federal and regional campaign plans and budgets for advocacy and accountability initiatives in close collaboration with Program, Advocacy, and Communications partners and with regional and state-based teams.
Internally and externally direct and organize teams towards a winning strategy on issue campaigns.
Manage and spend assigned budgets for particular campaigns.
Typically engage in 2-3 concurrent priority issue campaigns federally and regionally.
Organize partnerships as needed with other organizations to achieve campaign objectives.
Organize campaign briefings and reports for internal and external interested parties.
Share ROI from campaign tactics, and guide subsequent decisions for both internal and external parties.
Manage campaign consultants and vendors as assigned.
Occasional out-of-state and in-DC travel (usually a few days or events a month).
Occasional late night and weekend work with short notice.

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

Minimum Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, or a related field
Minimum 4-7 years of relevant experience in electoral or issue advocacy campaigns.
Manager or director role experience in either issue or candidate campaigns.
And/or equivalent education and/or experience

The salary range is $113,000 to $124,000

PSE Healthy Energy is an independent scientific research institute that specializes in bringing science to energy policy. Our mission is to generate energy and climate solutions that protect public health and the environment. At PSE, we design our research around real-world challenges and proactively connect our audiences with actionable, evidence-based information they can trust. Our team of scientists, engineers, and public health professionals lead multidisciplinary research within our five practice areas: Clean Energy Transition, Environmental Public Health, Climate, Energy Equity, and Oil and Gas.

The Development Department drives our organization’s fundraising and partnership efforts through collaboration, strategy, and relationship building. Working closely across departments, our team leads initiatives that strengthen donor relationships, develop funding proposals, and support organizational growth. We use Salesforce CRM to manage relationships, track progress, and inform decisions with data. As we continue to expand, we’re seeking a Director of Development to help shape our fundraising strategy and enhance team coordination. The ideal candidate will be an adaptable, strategic thinker with a passion for collaboration and system building.

QUALIFICATIONS

Deep commitment to PSE’s mission and values, with a strong passion for climate, energy policy, clean energy solutions, and environmental public health
Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated progressive experience in fundraising and development, including 5+ years in a leadership or supervisory role managing teams and scaling operations
Proven track record of developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including multi-year planning, scenario forecasting, and successfully securing $5M+ annually from diverse sources (foundations, government, major donors, etc.)
Strong expertise in grant lifecycle management, proposal development, donor cultivation, stewardship, and compliance with government and funder regulations
Proven excellence in written and verbal communication, with a track record of crafting compelling proposals, reports, presentations, and donor materials that effectively convey an organization’s value proposition and impact to diverse.
Ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders, balancing relational and depth with strategic foresight to foster cross-functional collaboration, shared purpose, and effective team leadership across the organization
Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, including data management, reporting, integration, and using insights for strategic decision-making
Strong analytical, project management, and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the agility to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential
Experience building organizational infrastructure to support rapid growth, including scaling teams, implementing new systems, and redesigning processes to increase efficiency, transparency, and accountability
Demonstrated engagement with domestic and international (non‑U.S.) grantmaking and nonprofit communities
Familiarity with the climate, energy, or environmental policy sectors, with a track record of securing grants from climate- and energy-focused foundations, individual donors and government agencies
Strong proficiency in communications and branding principles, paired with hands-on experience using creative tools like Canva for developing fundraising materials
Familiarity with digital and online fundraising platforms (e.g., Classy, Donorbox, etc.) and tools for optimizing online donations

Salary: $120k – $135k

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. with staff across the country and beyond—seeks a Policy Director to help lead and manage our Energy and Environment policy program. If you are the right fit, you will report to the Vice President of Organizational Performance and Advancement. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this may be the opportunity for you!

Your typical day at R Street may include working with colleagues to shape an op-ed on electricity reliability, reviewing an analyst’s memo on transmission planning and interconnection reform, drafting public comments on a regulatory proposal, speaking with coalition partners about permitting modernization, coordinating with Communications on message alignment, and consulting with state or federal staff on policy tradeoffs. You’ll find yourself working collaboratively across the organization almost every day.

Skills and qualifications

No particular educational background is required; a proven record of achieving results is more meaningful than credentials.
Strong policy fluency in energy and environmental public policy.
People and project leadership experience, including managing projects with multiple stakeholders; management experience is a plus.
Top-notch writing and editing skills; comfort translating complex analysis for policymakers and the public.
Ability to synthesize research using methods common to the program’s work (e.g., literature review, secondary analysis, descriptive statistics, case studies; familiarity with econometric approaches is a plus).
Demonstrated ability to work productively with a wide variety of groups and individuals, including those with whom you may disagree.
Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government.
Entrepreneurial attitude, strong judgment, and a sense of humor.

The salary range for this position is $185,000–$200,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Senator Barrasso is hiring a Policy Advisor to lead his energy and environmental policy work in his personal office in Washington, D.C. The duties for this role include developing policy ideas, advancing legislation, drafting vote recommendations and policy analysis, reviewing legislative correspondence and representing the Senator before constituents and national groups. The position also involves leading the senator’s energy work in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Qualified candidates should have a solid background in energy and environmental policy, especially in the areas of FERC, EPA, electricity, nuclear, oil, gas, and coal. This is not an entry-level position. Qualified candidates should have strong knowledge of the portfolio’s issues, as well as excellent research and writing skills. A native Westerner or strong Wyoming ties are welcomed but not required.

The National Park Foundation (NPF) seeks a dynamic and strategic Manager, Government Relations, to serve as a key leader in our Washington, D.C.-based team. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Government Relations, this role is responsible for shaping and advancing NPF’s legislative and policy agenda on Capitol Hill, across federal agencies, and with diverse stakeholders. The Manager will drive initiatives that raise NPF’s profile, strengthen partnerships, and further our mission to support and protect America’s national parks.

Qualifications:

Minimum 3-4 years in government relations, legislative affairs, or advocacy, with proven success managing a federal legislative portfolio and navigating the legislative process.
Direct experience working in a legislative role on Capitol Hill is required; strong knowledge of natural resources, environmental policy, and public lands issues preferred.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to clearly inform, educate, and persuade elected officials and policy makers.
Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to lead projects independently and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and timeliness.
Collaborative spirit and willingness to work across departments to align resources and strategies.
Experience with political advocacy, grassroots organizing, or work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is a strong plus.
Passion for NPF’s mission and commitment to connecting donor impact with organizational goals.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Thorough understanding of lobbying and non-profit laws and regulations.

Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: NPF offers a highly competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 403(b) savings plan, professional development and tuition assistance, generous paid time-off program including primary caregiver leave.

The Senior Attorney engages in legal advocacy and develops and litigates cases under federal environmental and natural resources law to advance Defenders’ conservation policies to protect biological diversity. As an experienced litigator and senior member of the legal team, the Senior Attorney supervises staff attorneys, legal fellows, and law clerks and advises Defenders staff on legal questions and legislative matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop innovative litigation strategies and litigate cases to protect imperiled wildlife and habitats brought under the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, National Forest Management Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information Act, and other relevant federal and state wildlife, public lands, and natural resource statutes.
Work across disciplines using law, science, policy, and communications to engage in legal advocacy, including drafting comment letters and speaking at public hearings.
Advise Defenders staff on legal questions and legislative matters.
Supervise and mentor staff attorneys, legal fellows, and law clerks in Defenders’ Conservation Law department.
Work across departments within Defenders to generate written products to advance Defenders’ conservation work, such as comment letters, blog posts, op-eds, and presentations.
Perform all other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: JD required; appropriate state bar license(s) required

Experience: 10 years of relevant experience; 5 years supervisory experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

SALARY: $160,000 – $180,000