Carbon Management Specialist

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

NRDC is seeking a Carbon Management Specialist to work with the Climate & Energy Department’s Industrial & Emerging Technologies team in any of our U.S. offices (Washington, D.C. preferred). This is a limited term 2-year position.

Position SummaryNRDC is seeking a Carbon Management Specialist to help build out NRDC’s portfolio on carbon dioxide removal (CDR). This position will play a key role in the Climate & Energy Department’s Industry Division as it 1) brings NRDC’s multi-dimensional perspective and diverse skillsets into efforts to responsibly scale up CDR, 2) shapes federal- and state-level CDR investments and policies, and 3) designs long-term policies to drive CDR demand at the scale needed to meet our climate goals. The specialist will co-lead NRDC’s CDR strategy and engagement work under the guidance of the Director of Technology and Innovation, Industrial Division and working closely with the Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy.

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

Responsibilities

• Coordinate across expert teams within NRDC that are exploring various types of CDR, such as direct air capture (DAC), enhanced rock weathering, biological removals, and more.
• Engage with mainstream environmental organizations, environmental justice organizations, and community groups to share perspectives on CDR, understand concerns, identify analysis needs, and discuss principles for environmentally and socially responsible CDR.
• Investigate technical issues of various CDR pathways, such as considering the removal capacity, durability, and scalability to help inform NRDC advocacy objectives.
• Track carbon capture technology advances and identify opportunities and challenges where federal research, development, demonstration, and deployment could be most impactful.
• Develop materials and conduct outreach to policymakers and other relevant stakeholders on the need for large-scale, responsible (i.e., highly net negative, nature-protective, community-safe) CDR.
• Track and, when appropriate, draft comments on current or proposed CDR legislation and/or public and private investments in CDR.
• Support teams working on shaping proposed CDR regulations and policies, such as in California, and represent NRDC as needed.
• Contribute technical expertise to NRDC program lawyers and policy experts on the design of federal framework legislation to require CDR over the long term.

Qualifications

Required expertise and skills

• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.
• 4-7 years of experience working in energy or climate policy, advocacy, or technology.
• At least 3 years of experience working on carbon management.
• Bachelor’s degree or greater in environmental science and policy, engineering, or science.
• Awareness of, and comfort navigating, a range of complex sensitivities related to carbon management.
• Demonstrated ability to build and work within coalitions, including those that reach beyond the traditional environmental community.
• Persuasive verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building and networking skills.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort with technical details.

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental science and policy, engineering, or science.
• Experience in federal or state government designing and/or implementing carbon management legislation or agency programs.
• Experience working with environmental justice groups or integrating environmental justice concerns into policy priorities.

NRDC 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 to the 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 is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $130,000 to $150,000.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the 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 exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state 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, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your 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 need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.