Associate Director of Government Relations, Southeast Region

American Rivers • Flexible, NC

1d • $73,200 - $89,400 • Remote

About The Position

American Rivers is a national conservation organization dedicated to ensuring every river is clean and healthy for people and wildlife. They achieve this by combining evidence-based solutions with strong partnerships to protect 4.4 million miles of rivers and streams, which are vital for clean drinking water, wildlife, and community strength. The organization values the diverse perspectives and experiences of its staff, supporters, and partners, believing that these differences are critical to their effectiveness in protecting and restoring rivers and conserving clean water.

The Associate Director of Government Relations for the Southeast Region will spearhead American Rivers’ government relations and advocacy efforts in this area. The role focuses on advancing durable, bipartisan solutions for healthy rivers and contributing to the organization's conservation goals in the Southeast, with a particular emphasis on clean water policy and river restoration. This position operates at the nexus of policy, politics, and conservation, requiring the incumbent to build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders including state legislators, legislative staff, agency leadership (both political appointees and career staff), Members of Congress and their staff, federal agency leaders, and local elected officials. A key responsibility will be leading advocacy efforts in North Carolina to reform the state's water management system and establish a new regulatory framework that aligns with federal Clean Water Act obligations through an integrated watershed approach. The Associate Director will develop and implement legislative, administrative, and political strategies, collaborating with external partners and internal staff to achieve policy objectives for river restoration and conservation in the region. Additionally, the role involves supporting project and programmatic fundraising.

Requirements

• Requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in government relations, public policy, legislative affairs, political advocacy, or a related field
• Familiarity with state and federal rulemaking procedures and requirements
• Significant experience working with state legislatures and natural resource agencies, and complex policy advocacy campaigns
• Established relationships with Southeast Region policymakers, legislative offices, federal agencies, or relevant stakeholder networks

Nice To Haves

• Experience with conservation, natural resources, public lands, water, or river policy strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the federal Clean Water Act and its implementation structure in states in the Southeast
• Knowledge of Integrated Water Management and One Water policy structures and approaches
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute bipartisan legislative and government relations strategies
• Experience building coalitions and working with diverse stakeholders, including conservation organizations, local communities, Tribes, agricultural interests, builders, local governments, water utilities, outdoor recreation interests, and elected officials
• Experience leading policy campaigns that include direct advocacy, strategic communications, and partner management
• Excellent political judgment and demonstrated ability to navigate complex and politically sensitive policy issues
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear and compelling advocacy messages
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple policy campaigns and priorities in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrates commitment to equity and justice, and an ability to work with others with varying perspectives and values
• Commitment to American Rivers’ mission and to advancing healthy rivers, clean water, and resilient communities
• Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who have transferrable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the implementation of American Rivers’ government relations strategy on priorities related to the Southeast Region to deliver the results in the strategic plan
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant legislative members, executive offices, and their staff in the Southeast Region
• Initially, lead the policy development and advocacy in North Carolina for the reform of the implementation of the Clean Water Act through an Integrated Water Management structure.
• Identify opportunities to leverage state legislative campaigns to advance federal legislative goals and vice versa. Work with American Rivers staff to ensure that model state legislative successes are considered in other regions of the country where appropriate.
• Work across departments to translate conservation priorities and field expertise into government relations strategies
• Help craft campaigns, connect state and regional policy opportunities to federal legislative strategies, develop coalitions and networks capable of building political support, and shape communications strategies for advocacy campaigns
• Defend existing river protections from legislative or administrative threats
• Build strategic relationships and collaborate with conservation organizations, water interests, outdoor recreation groups, local elected officials, Tribes, and other constituencies throughout the Southeast Region.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance.
• After one year of service, American Rivers begins contributing a 3% employer contribution. There is no vesting schedule for employer contributions as employees are 100% vested upon participation.
• Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating holidays, and sick leave.
• Focus Fridays (no internal meetings)
• professional development opportunities
• a home office stipend
• sabbatical leave (every seven years)
• paid parental leave (six weeks w/ one year of service)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed