Job Tag: Law/Policy

The Wyoming Wilderness Association (WWA) is a non-profit organization, led by a state-wide Governing Council, that is dedicated to the implementation of strategic campaigns to protect public wildlands in Wyoming through stewardship, advocacy and education.

Position summary

WWA is seeking a full-time Executive Director (ED), an individual with a vision to lead WWA through this consequential time in the history of conservation. They will develop and execute a strategic plan that is concise, transparent, and effective to carry out the organization’s mission to protect Wyoming’s wild, public lands from future development and to advocate for the designation of more Wilderness areas in Wyoming. The ED oversees a statewide staff and will be the main policy director of the organization: identifying and monitoring proposed plans and policies (administrative and legislative) that threaten and/or protect Wyoming’s public wildlands and advise if action is required.

Requirements

Passion for the protection and preservation of Wyoming’s wild, roadless public lands.
Thorough understanding of the issues and policy surrounding the conservation of public wildlands within Wyoming’s political climate.
Familiarity with Wyoming’s wildlands.
Come with a vision for how WWA can best promote its mission under the upcoming new administration.

Desired

Hold a master’s degree relevant to environment and natural resources or have commensurate experience.
Experience balancing a budget.
Experience working in a non-profit.
Experience with donor relations and fundraising.
Experience hiring and managing staff.
Experience working with state and federal agencies and Tribal leaders.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks its next Washington State Director to lead the Washington 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.

With 80+ staff across the state, an operating budget of approximately $18M, a 20-member volunteer board, and a strong conservation agenda in place, this role offers a unique opportunity to help shape a resilient future for Washington, the Pacific Northwest, western North America, and the globe.

The Washington State Director functions as the visionary leader, senior manager, and principal ambassador for a large, highly complex BU. The current strategic priorities the Washington State Director will lead include 1) climate mitigation and adaptation, 3) community and ecological stewardship, 4) healthy and resilient forests and rivers and 5) healthy waters for people and salmon. They are 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 Washington State Director oversees the leaders of policy/government relations, fundraising, and finance for the BU and partners with Division-wide leaders of marketing/communications, finance, conservation, and HR. Leadership may 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, principally in the major market of Seattle.

In addition to their responsibilities leading and managing the Washington BU, the Washington 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. As leader of a large BU in a major market, the Washington State Director will lead fundraising efforts and deploy staff to support these Division-level initiatives. The Washington State Director plays a leadership role in local-to-global fundraising for The Nature Conservancy.

The Washington 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 large multi-disciplinary team with the strong ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage performance.

Knowledge of and direct experience working and operating in Washington 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:

7-10 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.

General knowledge of the natural resources of Washington 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 Washington 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.

Proven 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.

Knowledge of the tech industry, such as key organizations and navigating contacts within them.

Politically savvy.

The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) and Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) are hiring a full-time regulatory analyst. The preferred candidate will have direct energy regulatory experience but those with related experience may also be considered.

Join our small, dynamic, team to support the clean energy and sustainable business community! Collectively, Michigan EIBC and IEI are the voice of the advanced energy industry in Michigan, representing more than 160 member companies to policy makers, convening thought leaders and experts, crafting legislation and regulations, educating the public, and providing networking opportunities.

Anticipated tasks include:

Development of regulatory arguments and writing of expert witness testimony
Analysis of rate design issues related to advanced energy
Participation in workgroups at the Michigan Public Service Commission
Drafting of comments to the Michigan Public Service Commission
Development of expertise in key areas of energy regulatory policy
Communication and collaboration with members of the advanced energy industry

Desired qualifications include:

Policy, technical, or educational experience in energy regulatory policy
Strong writing and research skills
Strong technical and analytical skills
Graduate-level degree (preferred) in business, political science, sustainability, clean energy, environment, or related field, or equivalent experience
Experience communicating with business leaders and balancing the multiple interests
Eagerness to step in to help with any task to support a small team
Ability to communicate professionally with business leaders and partners
Ability to balance multiple tasks at once
Strong self-motivation and ability to take initiative

Benefits: This position offers generous benefits including vacation (4 weeks paid), health and dental coverage (100% of premiums covered), flexible work hours, parental leave, retirement contribution matching, monthly cell phone and internet stipends, reimbursement for travel expenses, and reimbursement for certain office expenses. Salary will be determined based on education and experience (associate level: $60,000- $74,000; director/principal level: $75,000 – $89,000).

Location: Work from home in a virtual environment. The preferred candidate would be willing/able to attend meetings in the Lansing, Michigan area approximately once per month.

The State Director is responsible for shepherding the development and implementation of political and advocacy strategies that support EDF’s priorities in New York State. The Director will collaborate with EDF policy experts to identify opportunities to promote a clean energy transition across the state that secure critical reductions in climate- and health-harming pollution, while also spearheading policies and programs that bolster community resilience and human well-being in the face of a changing climate. The Director will work closely with EDF Political Affairs leadership to ensure that these priorities are aligned with EDF’s overarching goals for the U.S. region, including federal policy goals.

The Director will play a leading role in strategic planning, drawing upon a nuanced understanding of the state’s cultural, economic and political climate – and the landscape of aligned NGOs – to identify promising opportunities to advance EDF’s priorities in New York. In addition, the Director will oversee and bolster EDF’s existing State Affairs advocacy team and infrastructure in New York – including lobbying, grassroots & grass tops advocacy and public communications. The Director will collaborate closely with EDF’s policy experts and team members to match programmatic goals with effective campaign strategies, enabling our advocacy to respond quickly and effectively in a turbulent political environment. The Director’s responsibilities will also include identifying and capitalizing on synergies across EDF’s broad portfolio of work. Conversely, the Director is responsible for early identification and management of potential conflicts – either among EDF programs or with key external allies.

The Director will serve as an ambassador for EDF in New York State. Fluent in EDF’s priorities in the U.S. region, the Director will act as a spokesperson with the media, and a representative at significant meetings and events. Over time, drawing upon EDF’s existing institutional connections as well as their own, the Director will help cultivate long-term relationships with key stakeholders including elected leaders, regulators and other government officials, business and labor leaders, media, and peer/partner organizations across the environmental, conservation and environmental justice communities.

Finally, the Director will collaborate with colleagues at EDF Action to support state-based political activity, with the goal of reenergizing a powerful coalition that advances climate solutions as a salient concern for any elected official seeking a city, state or federal office. The Director will lead outreach and engagement efforts to help cultivate climate champions in the state’s Congressional delegation as a key component of a broader effort to generate bipartisan support to advance critical climate progress.

The position is based in New York and reports to EDF’s Senior Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region, State Affairs.

NextEra Energy is seeking an exceptional attorney to join NextEra’s state regulatory legal group, within the company’s 100 lawyer law department at the company’s headquarters in Juno Beach, located in beautiful and tropical northern Palm Beach County, Florida.
NextEra’s state regulatory legal group has a fast-paced, challenging and cutting-edge practice. In this position, the attorney would advise and represent NextEra Energy’s utilities, as well as its various generation and transmission companies in state regulatory proceedings in the United States and Canada.

We are looking for versatile, problem-solving, top-of-the-industry state electric regulatory attorney to focus on supporting NextEra’s regulated and competitive generation and transmission businesses with more than three years’ experience preferred, whose credentials should include:
• Training and experience from a top national utility-side state regulatory administrative litigation law firm, public utility commission, and/or in-house practice;
• A track record of successful hands-on representation of state public utility commission administrative litigation proceedings;
• An outstanding academic background; and
• A body of legal work demonstrating ethical, innovative, and disciplined approaches to winning regulatory legal proceedings and successfully addressing important and complex regulatory legal problems.

Typical duties and tasks would include, but not be limited, to:
• Provide state public utility commission advice regarding approvals, compliance, acquisitions and permitting for regulated utilities and competitive transmission, renewable and conventional generation projects.
• Representation, which will include the drafting of motions, discovery, and briefs, defending and cross-examining witnesses, in state public utility commission proceedings.
• Support the submitting competitive transmission bids in ISO/RTOs.
• Review and analyze proposed state legislation that impacts utilities or transmission and generation projects.

Candidates should be licensed to practice law in Florida or eligible to qualify for a Florida Authorized House Counsel certificate under Florida Supreme Court rules.

This is a fully onsite opportunity based out of our Juno Beach, FL HQ.

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a Program Assistant to join its Clean Air & Water (CAW) team working to protect New England’s environment for all people. The Program Assistant will provide administrative and case development support for the CAW team. They will work closely with the Vice President for Clean Air & Water to ensure operations of the program are running smoothly. The Assistant will also spend about 10% of their time supporting the Senior Director of Senior Fellows and Attorney Professional Development with administrative tasks. The Program Assistant will be based in Boston, MA and is expected to be in the office at least 3-4 days per week with the flexibility to do some remote work otherwise.

What you’ll do

Provide general administrative support to CAW staff, such as maintaining electronic filing, correspondence, scheduling meetings and events, maintaining calendars, taking minutes and notes, booking travel, and coordinating IT needs;
Provide general administrative support for the Senior Director of Senior Fellows and Attorney Professional Development Program including scheduling meetings, supporting events and trainings, and completing expense reports;
Conduct fact research for new case development;
Assist with and maintain financial tracking and reporting for the program, including expense and credit card reports and coordinating with Finance Department as needed;
Assist in onboarding new program staff and interns to the team;
Assist in research on laws, policies, and best practices;
Assist with legal administrative procedures such as “service of process,” including preparing and appropriately delivering mailings and filings;
Perform AI-enhanced tasks and manage AI-powered software in compliance with CLF’s AI policy;
Assist in preparation of spreadsheets, reports, memos, public comments, and presentations;
Contribute to CLF’s strategic priorities and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and organizational excellence; and
Other duties as specified.

What you’ll need

We are looking for a motivated and mature self-starter that is able to work both independently and as a productive team member with colleagues distributed across New England.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

1-3 years of professional work experience or equivalent;
Strong administrative capabilities, including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Office 365) and comfort with utilizing AI;
Ability to take initiative, solve problems, and assess priorities;
Excellent attention to detail;
Commitment to developing new skills and responsibilities;?
Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills;
Commitment to working collaboratively with colleagues and partner organizations;
Passion for CLF’s mission;
Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience;
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent nonprofit that puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We envision a peaceful, healthy, and just world where science serves people and the planet by guiding policy decisions, reducing risks, and improving lives.

The Western States Program Director is responsible for UCS’s western regional work, primarily in California, and is instrumental in assuring that work is aligned with and in support of programmatic and organizational goals. They will promote a positive work environment and foster a collaborative team spirit and leverage the collective resources of the organization.

As a member of UCS’s leadership team, the Western States Program Director is an ‘institutional citizen’ who contributes to shaping organization-wide policies and practices. In this role, the Director will source and share best practices with other UCS teams and proactively seek opportunities to scale and deepen impact in collaboration with other UCS programs, departments, and external partners.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Western State’s team, leveraging the diversity of experience and expertise of team members across areas of work.
Engage in active problem solving around relevant strategic questions, issues of substance, and matters of staff time prioritization and resource utilization.
Effectively communicate and collaborate with UCS executive and program leadership to develop and lead integrated campaign strategies and projects in annual program work plans.
Oversee the development of the annual Western States operating budget, as well as the preparation and timely completion of periodic reports that summarize program activities and plans.
Represent Western States before the UCS Board, National Advisory Board and senior management. donors.
Oversee work planning and campaigns, fostering a culture of collaboration and striking the right balance of rigorous technical analysis and the ability to be agile and responsive to changing conditions.
Maintain knowledge of climate, energy, transportation, agriculture, water, and related policy or issue initiatives and processes in Western States with a primary focus is on California, and a secondary focus on Oregon and Washington.
Advise and coordinate policy positions and political strategies in California and the western region in consultation with western states staff, UCS’s issue-based programs, and UCS leadership.
Cultivate, collaborate, and maintain strong relationships with local groups, influential stakeholders, and relevant experts, including government officials, academic researchers, NGOs, business leaders, the public health community, and other opinion leaders.
Engage in collaborative activities needed to further the UCS program and organizational goals in California and the region. Identify and, as appropriate, engage new allies, constituencies, and coalitions.
In collaboration with Comms team, help increase visibility of UCS’s work in California. Serve as a key spokesperson for UCS’s Western States work.
Collaborate with the UCS Development staff to identify and cultivate foundation and major donor support.
As a part of UCS leadership, support cross-program initiatives; deepen the organization’s efforts to be an anti-racist program; contribute to a collaborative work environment within the program and across the organization.

Qualifications and Experience

Ten-fifteen years of successful comparable and relevant experience working in the field and a similar depth of experience working in the California policy and political arenas.
Strong technical and/or policy expertise in a relevant energy or climate discipline. At a minimum, candidates must be broadly familiar with issues in these fields and able to learn the technological and policy dimensions of the work.
Experience should include policy development and academic/research experience.
Experience and enthusiasm for fundraising, especially within the foundation community, would be a distinct asset.
Inclusive leadership and management skills; a style that is goal-oriented but flexible and that respects the capabilities and independence of staff members in accomplishing organizational objectives.
Exceptional communication skills and strong interpersonal skills are required. Background in project management and budgeting is also required.
A bachelor’s degree is required; master’s degree or a Ph.D. in a relevant field would be a plus.

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

This is a full-time remote position based near UCS’s Berkeley, CA office. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary is $191,940.

Trout Unlimited (TU) seeks a dynamic and highly motivated individual with a passion for conservation and a background in water resources to join our New Mexico team. The Water Policy and Project Manager / Senior Manager will work closely with TU staff, state and federal agencies, private landowners, elected officials, and other external partners to advance state and local water priorities that benefit native species, improve water quality and stream flows, and create more resilient watersheds across New Mexico, with an emphasis on multi-benefit projects and nature-based solutions.

The ideal candidate will have a background in water resources, familiarity with New Mexico’s water challenges and legal framework, and experience managing complex projects with diverse partners. This position is designed to be flexible, allowing the candidate to identify the most promising opportunities to advance TU’s conservation mission by engaging in water policy efforts and advancing innovative projects. Priority watersheds include the Upper Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Gila River, and Canadian River Basins, as well as statewide initiatives.

Competitive candidates for this position must demonstrate knowledge of New Mexico water laws and regulations, possess strong project management skills, and excel at working with diverse stakeholders, from rural landowners to elected officials. The candidate will work closely with TU’s restoration and policy staff, acequia communities, water managers, and land management agencies. She/he will seek opportunities to advance nature-based solutions necessary to build more resilient river ecosystems and communities, while establishing TU as a leader in implementing solutions to New Mexico’s water management challenges.

This position is highly visible to TU members and a multitude of stakeholders and offers an opportunity to be creative and work on innovative ideas. Specific duties and responsibilities are described below and will be based on organizational needs and the candidate’s interests and experience.

The candidate will be based out of a home office in northern New Mexico, with travel expected throughout the region.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field preferred, master’s degree a plus.
At least three years’ experience in water and natural resource management for the manager-level position. At least seven years’ experience for the senior manager role.
Willingness and ability to master complex water policy topics, including state water law and management frameworks.
Experience with projects focused on improving irrigation systems for water conservation, fish habitat and passage improvement, and stream restoration preferred.
Familiarity with fisheries management and integrating principles of water law, hydrology, water quality, and fish habitat restoration.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse partners in a highly collaborative and inclusive manner.
Experience with grant writing and reporting, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
Self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects, while prioritizing workload.
Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Knowledge of northern New Mexico’s communities, cultures, and watersheds.
Passion for conserving wild and native trout and the waters where they are found.
Ability to solve problems and think creatively to achieve a conservation outcome.
Ability and willingness to travel; valid driver’s license and vehicle required.

Salary and Benefits

Staff and leadership at TU understand that life outside of work is important, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package. The starting salary range is $65,000 – $75,000 for a manager position, and $75,000 – $85,000 for a senior manager, depending on experience. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications and experience level, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the nation’s oldest and largest national parks nonprofit advocate, has an exciting opportunity for a Great Lakes Policy Fellow to join our Government Affairs Department. This position will report to the Senior Director, Government Affairs.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Location: Chicago, IL or Washington, DC
Grade: L
Salary: $60,000-$65,000 based upon experience and location
Work Status: Full-time; {32 hours per week; 2- year term}

Position Overview:

The National Parks Conservation Association seeks a policy fellow for a two-year term to support the Healing Our Water-Great Lakes Coalition’s advocacy. The Coalition, which is co-led by NPCA and the National Wildlife Federation, advocates for funding to restore and protect the Great Lakes and policies that address water infrastructure and affordability and defends clean water protections. With our Midwest and Government Affairs teams, NPCA is looking for someone to work for the Coalition to identify and track Great Lakes related federal legislation and congressional activities and federal agency regulatory actions. The fellow will summarize this information and provide regular policy analysis and updates to NPCA staff and Coalition members to help inform how the Coalition implements its campaigns. This person will also help create education material related to the Coalition’s priorities and work with its members to organize fly ins and other events that are designed to build bipartisan congressional support for the Coalition’s priorities. Coordinating with the Coalition’s communication and field teams, the fellow will ensure people have the information needed to be effective advocates to protect and restore the Great Lakes.

Minimum Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Education, and Traits:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in government, government affairs or related field desired.
Minimum 2-3 years’ experience with legislative and/or administrative advocacy. Congressional experience a plus.
Familiarity with federal budget and appropriations process a plus.
Strong written and verbal communications skills.
Demonstrated ability to learn complex issues and summarize them simply and clearly.
Demonstrated self-starter with ability to work collaboratively with multiple in person and remote teams to organize tasks, set priorities, and maintain schedules.
Interest in building relationships across political boundaries and a wide range of individuals and organizations.
Commitment to fostering inclusive coalitions and work environments.
Willingness to travel up to 15% within Great Lakes region and/or Washington, DC.
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite applications and web-based technologies.

The National Audubon Society has identified Southwest Florida as a national conservation priority and a centerpiece of Audubon’s hemispheric water strategy. This region is also the western extent of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem that supports seventy threatened and endangered species and is home to more than 8 million people.

Aligned with Audubon’s overall conservation goals and strategies and in coordination with the Sr. Director of Policy, the Director of Corkscrew Swamp and Sanctuary and the Director of Everglades Policy, this individual will oversee the continued strategic and measurable implementation of conservation goals in Southwest Florida that result in the organization’s increased capacity to protect priority birds and their habitats.

This position will be hybrid, partially located in Naples at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (CSS).

Compensation: $71,190 – $80,089 / year

Qualifications and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required in policy, political science, biology, or related field.

A minimum of 5 years of experience with a policy-oriented nonprofit organization, or with a relevant government agency working on water management, environmental regulations, or similar is required.

Knowledge of Florida planning and/or water statutes, rules, and regulations.

Excellent policy analysis and research skills.

Excellent communications skills with ability to write clearly and command of public speaking. Must be comfortable representing Audubon’s interests with a variety of stakeholders, including decision-makers at multiple agencies, NGO partners, and lay audiences.

Self-starter and purposeful with a demonstrated ability to work independently and in coordination with multiple team players.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications is required.

Able to travel and attend occasional external functions occurring on weekends and evenings.

A valid driver’s license.

Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.