External Affairs Advisor

The Nature Conservancy•Washington, DC

1d•$108,000 - $124,000•Onsite

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 natural climate solutions goals. The Policy Advisor works with an interdisciplinary team and interacts with governments, nongovernmental organizations, and/or the corporate sector to define and promote policies that protect, restore and improve natural and working lands to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration. 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 into a practical policy agenda and work across a matrixed team of interdisciplinary experts and a varied network of government, nonprofit, and industry partners to advance that agenda. This role is responsible for developing an evidence-based, politically feasible strategy, building coalitions, shaping policy solutions, and driving adoption of priority policies at the federal and state levels. 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, forestry, and land use management.
Direct experience working with partners, government agencies and/or coalitions related to forestry or natural climate solutions.
Analytical and project management experience.
Demonstrated experience in successfully developing and implementing complex projects in an unstructured environment.
Experience developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
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.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement policy strategies to achieve natural climate solutions goals.
Work with an interdisciplinary team and interact with governments, nongovernmental organizations, and/or the corporate sector to define and promote policies that protect, restore and improve natural and working lands to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration.
Translate research findings into a practical policy agenda.
Work across a matrixed team of interdisciplinary experts and a varied network of government, nonprofit, and industry partners to advance the policy agenda.
Develop an evidence-based, politically feasible strategy.
Build coalitions.
Shape policy solutions.
Drive adoption of priority policies at the federal and state levels.