Policy Specialist, Resilient Coasts and Floodplains

National Wildlife Federation•WASHINGTON, DC

14d•$70,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is seeking a Policy Specialist to join its Water and Coasts team. This role will focus on guiding and implementing federal policy strategies and campaigns related to resilient coasts and floodplains, including pre-disaster mitigation and post-disaster recovery. The specialist will represent NWF with decision-makers and partners, collaborate with government affairs staff, conduct policy research, and develop advocacy materials. Key areas of expertise will include national flood insurance, disaster policy, and coastal resilience, particularly within FEMA and NOAA. Familiarity with nature-based solutions and watershed/coastal restoration is beneficial. The role may also involve team coordination and supporting other Water & Coasts team projects. While federal policy is the primary focus, collaboration with other program areas and occasional state-specific research and outreach are expected.

Requirements

Some familiarity with flood/disaster and coastal resilience policy required.
Experience collaborating across teams to accomplish shared goals, including working with coalitions or NGO partnerships.
Experience working with or for Congress and/or conducting Congressional outreach.
Ability to manage a multitude of projects and meet deadlines.
Fast and detail-oriented learner.
Ability to communicate positions clearly both verbally and in writing.
Self Starter – Able to prioritize workflow and anticipate needs with minimal oversight. Comfortable working independently on projects when needed.
Strategic thinker – Able to see the big picture and develop an adaptive strategy to accomplish a goal, particularly in political contexts.
Five years or more of work or equivalent experience in related policy, advocacy campaigns, or another relevant field. A Master’s or other advanced degree in a relevant field can count towards experience.
Must be a U.S. citizen or have valid work authorization to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Detailed policy knowledge in the flood/disaster and coastal resilience space, including a strong familiarity with structure and function of existing FEMA and NOAA programs.
Proven track record of developing and achieving Federal policy reforms, including through Congressional action.
Experience writing detailed comment letters on technical policy issues.
Experience with fundraising, grant writing, and/or grant reporting.
Candidates located in the DC metro area are preferred.

Responsibilities

Play a leadership role in NWF’s campaign development and implementation related to resilient coasts and floodplains, including pre-disaster mitigation efforts and post-disaster recovery.
Conduct policy research and legislative tracking, advise on identification of federal policy priorities, coordinate with partner organizations, and develop relationships within key agencies including Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Serve as the primary NWF representative in several coalition spaces focused on floodplain/coastal/disaster resilience policy.
Build relationships with coalition partners, including cross-sectoral partners in the insurance and reinsurance space.
Support the government affairs team’s advocacy with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies.
Track relevant hearings and rulemakings, identify and monitor team priorities in the budget and appropriations process.
Support meetings with congressional and executive offices by identifying targets, supplying talking points, and participating in high-priority meetings.
Research, develop, and update advocacy materials.
Foster connectivity across relevant teams at the organization, providing federal policy expertise and support as needed to colleagues across programs working in the floodplain/coastal resilience space, as well those focused on wildfire and drought mitigation needs.
Provide information and support to NWF affiliates on issues in portfolio area.
Work proactively with team members to find natural points of intersection across our clean water, wetlands, river management, ecosystem restoration, and marine conservation efforts.
Lead or contribute to individual projects related to areas of focus, including reports, analyses, interviews, and strategy development.
Participate in the identification and fulfillment of team grant deliverables on a regular basis.
Contribute to the development of funding proposals and grant reporting needs.