Place- State Advocate, Environmental Health

Position: Place-Based State Advocate, Environmental Health
Overview

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.

As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world's most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America's foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt.

Ltd.).

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more

POSITION SUMMARY

NRDC's Environmental Health Department seeks a State Advocate based in Richmond, Virginia to advance state and regional environmental health priorities, with a focus on climate adaptation and drinking water. This role centers on policy development, coalition-building, and advocacy primarily in Virginia, with occasional engagement across the broader Southeastern region.

The State Advocate will be a collaborative and equity-driven leader with strong relationships across community, environmental justice, and advocacy organizations, as well as with state and local policymakers and agencies. The ideal candidate is an effective communicator who can translate complex policy issues into compelling messages for diverse audiences, and who demonstrates deep alignment with NRDC's mission, values, and commitment to equity and justice.

This is a remote position, with the expectation that the employee is based in or near Richmond, Virginia. Occasional travel within the Southeastern United States and to NRDC offices is required. The role is represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (CWA Local 32035).

This is a limited term 2 year position.

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

* Advance state-level laws and policies that protect communities from climate change and environmental health risks through a lens of equity and justice. Key focus areas include climate risk reduction, homeowner insurance reform, and water affordability.

* Assist with achieving local- and state-level goals across the Environmental Health Department's portfolio, including promoting air quality, eliminating toxic chemicals from consumer products, and fighting fossil fuel development in the Southeastern United States.

* Build and sustain partnerships with communities most affected by environmental and climate injustices, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, as well as low-income and rural communities.

* Collaborate with a wide range of allies, including environmental organizations, consumer and public-interest advocates, labor and faith communities, and state and local decision-makers and elected…