Water Rights Attorney Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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 at nrdc.org
NRDC is seeking a Senior Advocate to work with the Adaptation team in our Washington D.C., New York, or Chicago office.
Position Summary
NRDC 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 initiatives initially focused on work in the United States though with a long-term view towards international connectivity.
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 technical expertise in 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 strong track record working directly with, in, and for frontline communities and proven expertise at coalition-building and forming collaborative partnerships.
This is a highly strategic role focused on thought leadership, coalition building, policy development, and implementation support at multiple levels of government and 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).
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Develop and lead NRDC's climate mobility strategy, with an emphasis on planned relocation as a just and equitable adaptation response.
• Build on and expand NRDC's existing climate-related home buyout work to more fully integrate it into broader mobility and relocation frameworks.
• Identify emerging opportunities, policy gaps, and priority interventions for advancing equitable planned relocation nationally.

Policy, Research, and Tools Development

• Design and develop guidance, analytical tools, decision frameworks, and implementation resources 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 Engagement

• Build 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 and planned relocation topics.

Internal Collaboration & Communication

• Work 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.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in public policy, climate adaptation, environmental science, planning, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7-10+ years of experience in climate adaptation, climate mobility, disaster recovery, planned relocation, or related fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in planned relocation, climate mobility frameworks, and community-centered adaptation practices.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local adaptation programs and related mechanisms (experience in implementation is a plus).
• Experience working in, with, and for frontline 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 to equitable, community-led adaptation and environmental justice principles.
• Proven experience managing internal processes, project teams and budget towards a joint plan and strategy
• Track record of cultivating high level relationships with political and non-profit advocacy groups, with a well-established professional network in politics, government and non-profit advocacy
• Problem-solving skills, including the ability to proactively identify obstacles and propose solutions or recommendations to overcome them
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues and partners
• Commitment to NRDC's mission, values, and DEI principles
• Ability to represent NRDC with maturity, judgement, and professionalism

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.