External Affairs Advisor, Natural Climate Solutions

The Nature Conservancy•Washington, DC

2d•$108,000 - $124,000•Remote

About The Position

The Policy Advisor, Natural Climate Solutions plays a key role in the development and implementation of policy strategies to achieve the Conservancy’s goals for advancing natural climate solutions, or protecting, restoring and improving natural and working lands to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration. TNC’s own research shows that reforestation and improving forest management has the potential to remove a significant portion of U.S. emissions. Ongoing research enhances our understanding of forestry practices that maximize emissions reductions and pinpoints the geographies and types of lands where these opportunities exist. The Policy Advisor works with an interdisciplinary team to translate this research into a policy agenda and interacts with governments, nongovernmental organizations, and/or the corporate sector to advance that policy agenda. This nature-based solutions policy agenda provides a vital contribution to broader climate mitigation and land conservation strategies. The Policy Advisor, Natural Climate Solutions must reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Nature Conservancy’s Natural Climate Solutions strategy for North America is at a pivotal moment. Emerging science, evolving markets, and shifting political dynamics are creating new opportunities and challenges to advance forest restoration and climate-smart forest management. We are rebuilding our policy strategy and seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial leader who thrives at the intersection of science and policy. The Policy Advisor for Natural Climate Solutions will translate research findings on climate smart forestry practices into a practical policy agenda. They will advance that agenda by working across a matrixed team of interdisciplinary experts and building partnerships across a diverse network of government, nonprofit, and industry representatives active in the forestry sector and forestry policy. This role is responsible for developing an evidence-based, politically feasible strategy aimed at reducing carbon emissions, building coalitions, shaping policy solutions, and driving adoption of priority policies at the federal and state levels. It requires a degree of familiarity of political dynamics in Washington and state capitals as well as a deeper understanding of how policy implementation can shape actual forestry practices of different types of forest owners or managers and in different regions. This is an exciting opportunity to work with leading experts on natural climate solutions and help define the future policy efforts of our team!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in political science, climate, natural resource management or environmental policy or related field and 5 years of experience in policy analysis and government relations, or equivalent combination of education/experience.
Knowledge of public and private programs and incentives, including carbon markets, related to carbon sequestration on natural and working lands, climate smart forestry, and/or land use management.
Direct experience working with partners, government agencies and/or coalitions related to forestry or natural climate solutions (i.e., protecting, restoring and improving natural and working lands to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration).
Analytical and project management experience.
Demonstrated experience in successfully developing and implementing complex projects in an unstructured environment.
Demonstrated relationship building skills.
Experience negotiating complex high profile or sensitive agreements.
Proven written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
Must reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with political dynamics in Washington and state capitals.
Deeper understanding of how policy implementation can shape actual forestry practices of different types of forest owners or managers and in different regions.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement policy strategies to achieve the Conservancy’s goals for advancing natural climate solutions.
Translate research into a policy agenda.
Interact with governments, nongovernmental organizations, and/or the corporate sector to advance the policy agenda.
Develop an evidence-based, politically feasible strategy aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Build coalitions, shape policy solutions, and drive adoption of priority policies at the federal and state levels.
Develop, direct, and manage multiple projects and implement strategic program goals.