Senior Advocate, Climate Mobility Adaptation

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 than3 million membersand online activists with theexpertiseof 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, andexpertisetogether for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.orgNRDC is seeking aSenior Advocatetowork with theAdaptationteaminourWashington D.C., New York, or Chicagooffice.Position SummaryNRDC is seeking a Senior Advocate to lead and expand our work on climate mobility, with a particular focus on planned relocation as a climate adaptation strategy. This role will shape NRDC’s strategic vision on climate mobility, build on the organization’s established leadership on home buyouts, and connect those efforts to broader climate mobility and planned relocation initiativesinitially focused onworkinthe United Statesthough with a long-term view towards internationalconnectivity.The Senior Advocate will elevate the importance of planned relocation as a critical adaptation pathway, working directly with states, local governments, and frontline communities to develop tools, guidance, and policy support. The ideal candidate brings deep technicalexpertisein climate mobility and planned relocation, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to build strong coalitions with partner organizations working in this emerging and rapidly evolving field.Critical to this role and developing portfolio is working directly with impacted communities on the frontlines of climate impacts. The ideal candidate will also have a strongtrack recordworking directly with, in, and for frontline communitiesand provenexpertiseatcoalition-building and forming collaborative partnerships.This is a highly strategic role focused on thought leadership, coalition building, policy development, andimplementationsupport at multiple levels of governmentand across multiple stakeholder categories.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).Strategic LeadershipDevelop and lead NRDC’s climate mobility strategy, with an emphasis on planned relocation as a just andequitableadaptation response.Build on and expand NRDC’s existing climate-related home buyout work tomore fully integrate itinto broader mobility and relocation frameworks.Identifyemerging opportunities, policy gaps, and priority interventions for advancingequitableplanned relocation nationally.Policy, Research, and Tools DevelopmentDesign and develop guidance, analytical tools, decision frameworks, andimplementationresources to support state, local, and tribal governments as well as community-based organizations in planning, evaluating, and executing planned relocation processes.Produce research, briefs, and policy analysis to advance best practices, governance models, funding structures, and community-centered approaches to climate mobility.Coalition Building & External EngagementBuild and strengthen partnerships with community organizations, academic institutions, advocacy groups, and governmental entities engaged in climate mobility and planned relocation.Serve as a convener across organizations to coordinate messaging, elevate the importance of planned relocation nationally, and support alignment of practices across sectors.Represent NRDC in working groups, coalitions, conferences, and public forums on climate mobility andplannedrelocation topics.Internal Collaboration & CommunicationWork closely with cross-program teams to integrate climate mobility into broader NRDC priorities.Communicate strategy, findings, and recommendations to internal staff, leadership, funders, and partners.Advanced degree in public policy, climate adaptation,environmental science,planning, ora relatedfield,or equivalent experience.7-10+ years of experience in climate adaptation, climate mobility, disaster recovery, planned relocation, or related fields.Demonstratedexpertisein planned relocation, climate mobility frameworks, and community-centered adaptation practices.Strong understanding of federal, state, and local adaptation programsand related mechanisms (experience in implementation is a plus).Experience working in, with,and forfrontline communities.Experience building and leading coalitions or multi-stakeholder initiatives.Exceptional writing, communication, and external engagement skills.Ability to navigate complex political, social, and community dynamics with cultural competency and humility.Commitment toequitable, community-led adaptation and environmental justice principles.Proven experience managing internal processes, project teams and budget towards a joint plan and strategyTrack recordof cultivating high level relationships with political and non-profitadvocacygroups, witha well-established professional network in politics,governmentand non-profit advocacyProblem-solving skills, including the ability to proactivelyidentifyobstacles and propose solutions or recommendations to overcome themCommitment to diversity,equityand inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues and partnersCommitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principlesAbility torepresentNRDC with maturity, judgement, and professionalismNRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.Pursuant tothe San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.We offer competitive salaries,excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and iscommensuratewith skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered todeterminea final offer. For this position, the salary range is $130,000to $150,000.NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employeesare required tocome to the office 8 days per month.As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to helpcontainthe COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemptionin accordance withstate and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine.In accordance withstate or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.To apply, visitwww.nrdc.org/careersand upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload anyadditionalmaterials thatshowcaseyour abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and needassistanceapplying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.For more about NRDC, visitwww.nrdc.org.

Created: 2026-04-27