Director, RTO Advocacy

The Natural Resources Defense Council is seeking a Director of RTO Advocacy to lead the Sustainable FERC Project team in advocating for a zero-carbon power grid. This senior role involves managing a team, developing policy initiatives, and engaging with Regional Transmission Organization leaders. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the power sector, while promoting diversity and inclusion in advocacy efforts.
About the position

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a prominent non-profit environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the planet's wildlife and wild places while ensuring the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. Founded in 1970, NRDC has played a pivotal role in shaping America's environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act. With a team of over 700 professionals, including lawyers, scientists, economists, and policy advocates, NRDC operates from multiple offices across the United States and internationally. The Director of RTO Advocacy will be a senior leader within the Sustainable FERC Project team, focusing on advocating for the transition of the nation's power grid to zero-carbon renewable energy resources. This role involves managing a team, developing and directing policy initiatives, and engaging with Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) leaders and stakeholders. The Director will be responsible for creating comprehensive advocacy strategies, aligning RTO goals with NRDC's broader climate and clean energy objectives, and fostering collaboration among various internal and external partners. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of the power sector, and the ability to communicate complex regulatory subjects effectively. In this position, the Director will also play a crucial role in integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into management decisions and advocacy efforts, serving as a role model for values-based leadership. The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment, embrace problem-solving, and be dedicated to achieving the organization's goals for policy reforms in regional transmission planning organizations.

Responsibilities
• Manage the Sustainable FERC Project's team responsible for advocacy in the RTOs and other grid planning regions.
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• Lead the development of near-term and long-term goals for each grid planning region, along with annual objectives and desired results for each of the RTOs and grid regions where the Project advocates.
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• In collaboration with NRDC staff and Project partner organizations, develop comprehensive advocacy strategies for RTO policy reforms including both stakeholder and non-stakeholder strategies.
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• Develop budgets to advance and achieve goals.
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• Coordinate with the Project's FERC and federal advocacy teams to ensure alignment of goals, strategies, and messages.
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• Collaborate closely with other NRDC departments and programs to share and obtain the support and resources needed to advance the Project's priority RTO goals.
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• Align RTO goals as much as possible to advance NRDC's other national and state climate and clean energy goals, and work with other NRDC departments and programs to identify goals and implement strategies necessary to do so.
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• Work closely with Project coalition partners and others to advance shared goals.
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• Maintain and enhance the Project's RTO partner coordination function, including but not limited to periodic convenings and planning sessions and other activities necessary to strengthen the coalition.
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• Working with NRDC's communications team, serve as key external voice of NRDC on regional climate and energy issues.
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• Provide regular individual coaching, feedback, and development while fostering team cohesion.
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• Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into management decisions and advocacy, and act as a role model of values-based leadership.

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience). Graduate degree preferred.
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• 7+ years of work experience.
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• 3 years of experience managing employees.
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• Experience working in the power sector.
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• Strong written and oral advocacy skills, coupled with the flexibility, diplomacy, organizational and communication skills necessary for successful collaboration.
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• Ability to represent the Project in the media and other public forums with credibility and enthusiasm.
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• Interest in cultivating relationships with partner organizations to advance the Project's and NRDC's policy goals.
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• Commitment to NRDC's mission, values, and DEI principles.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience in environmental policy advocacy.
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• Familiarity with regulatory processes related to energy and power sectors.
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• Proven track record of successful project management and team leadership.

Benefits
• Competitive salaries
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• Excellent benefits
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• Supportive working environment
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• Hybrid work model with flexibility
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• Internal equity review for salary offers