The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the nation’s most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.4 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of nearly 500 lawyers, scientists and other professionals to fight for the planet and its people in the halls of Congress, communities across the country, and nations around the globe. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America’s bedrock environmental and natural resources protection laws, including the federal fisheries law and the Oil Pollution Act, and many of the implementing regulations; our fisheries cases played a major role shaping current fisheries policy throughout the country. Today, our staff—a force for nature—work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bozeman, Montana and Beijing.

Position Summary:

NRDC has an immediate opening for a full-time mid-level attorney or policy advocate in our Oceans Program. The selected candidate will be based in the New York office and work to strengthen ocean protection in the U.S. and abroad, with a particular focus on sustainable fisheries. Candidates should be law school or masters program graduates with 3-5 years of experience.

Responsibilities:

Advocate to improve fisheries management in the U.S. and abroad, as well as to prevent rollbacks of U.S. fisheries conservation requirements.
Generally advance policy and legal initiatives to protect living marine resources, including to preserve and restore important places and species and to further the application of ecosystem-based management tools to ocean resources.
If a lawyer, help to prepare and litigate federal court cases involving fisheries and other ocean protection issues.
Prepare comments, reports and briefing materials on legislation, policies and proposals.
Represent NRDC before federal and state agencies, commissions, legislatures and other organizations.
Engage in media and public outreach on marine issues through use of NRDC’s website, email, member and activist alerts, blogging and other new media tools, communications with reporters, and public speaking.
Work with conservation partners and with other constituencies, including fishing groups, to promote healthy oceans.

Qualifications:

JD or MA/MS.
3-5 years of relevant experience, including in environmental advocacy.
Knowledge and enthusiasm for oceans and fisheries issues.
Possess excellent writing and analytic skills.
Demonstrated interest in applying scientific knowledge to environmental problems.
Strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication abilities.
Experience working with public officials, media and members of the public in an advocacy context.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

NRDC is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience.

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website at www.nrdc.org/jobs, create a profile and upload your resume and cover letter. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting. NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you are having technical difficulty while applying, please email us at hr@nrdc.org

For further information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org