Senior Director, Climate Strategy

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Reporting to the Vice President, Climate, the Senior Director of Climate Strategy, will be responsible for leading efforts to implement Audubon’s climate program objectives through and with state and local Audubon offices and chapters. They will identify and communicate state and local climate policy opportunities across our network footprint, and work with the appropriate state and national staff to develop and implement effective strategies that lead to on the ground climate policy wins.

The Senior Director will also serve as part of Audubon’s climate team with particular focus on acceleration of transmission capacity in support of rapid deployment of renewable energy (solar, wind, and offshore) projects with a particular focus on supporting state program engagement. The Senior Director will provide leadership to the team including representing Audubon to external audiences and funders, providing technical advice to local and regional offices, and supervise a growing team of transmission advocates working at the regional level. They must have a background in state level climate and energy policy, including fluency in regulatory environments impacting projects (state, federal, FERC, RTOs, etc.) and be a strong strategic planner and manager.

In addition, the Senior Director must possess a thorough understanding of our distributed national network, building and leading internal and external coalitions, campaign execution, and demonstrated expertise in a variety of climate change mitigation and energy policy issues - including renewable energy policy, transmission energy efficiency, and industrial emissions. This role will focus on supporting the implementation of Audubon's climate priorities through our organizations state and regional network for successful execution. They will also be responsible for supporting the development of state based advocacy efforts in support of clean energy and transmission projects aligned with Audubon priorities.

This is a remote position. 

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $130,000-$140,000/year=National
• $140,000-$150,000/year=Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
• $150,000-$160,000/year=NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

• In partnership with the Vice President, Climate, lead the development and execution Audubon's strategic priorities on climate and clean energy policy, with a focus on clean energy and transmission work at the local, state and regional level.
• Represent this work with key internal and external, national and state level partners to identify coordination opportunities to build partnerships that can plan and implement climate policy intervention strategies at the state and local level.
• Represent Audubon in coalitions with other organizations focused on state and local based climate and clean energy policy.
• Liaise with National and State staff to identify, understand, prioritize and support positive policy opportunities and/or to oppose harmful policy changes.
• Work collaboratively with state based leadership to develop and support execution of state based advocacy efforts on behalf of renewable projects, local policies, and transmission proposals.
• Research, write, and edit original reports and issue briefs on climate and energy policies.
• Effective partner to the VP and Development team in support of fundraising efforts.
• Work closely with Audubon's communications team to tell the story of Audubon's state-based climate policy work effectively communicating complex policy issues to non-technical audiences.
• Use both qualitative and quantitative analysis to make the case for policy interventions.
• Promote an organizational culture and structure that fosters cooperation, communication, collaboration, respect, teamwork, and trust.
• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and justice principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our climate strategy work.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, communications, marketing or related field required; an equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• 12+ years' progressive, professional experience in government relations, advocacy, public relations, development, and/or public service, including time spent leading successful policy and grassroots campaigns and at least, 3 years in a senior level role.
• Working knowledge of climate change and clean energy policy as well as strong connections with leading experts in the field and with funders of climate change work is essential.
• Exceptional project management skills; including overseeing complex or multiple projects through to success, meeting financial goals and project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners.
• A self-starter, one who is able to work collaboratively with staff on multiple career levels.
• Proven record of building and activating diverse coalitions to successfully advance policy outcomes.
• Experience engaging with grassroots constituencies on policy matters.
• Experience working in a decentralized organization that coordinates strategies for both local and national legislative issues.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other web-based products.
• Must have a flexible approach to work, with a willingness to travel nationally as needed.

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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