• The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a non-profit national environmental organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists. We have offices in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Santa Monica, Chicago, and Beijing. Our staff of over 300 includes attorneys, scientists, policy analysts, and educators working to protect the environment and public health through advocacy and education.
    NRDC’s new national Water Program focuses on securing safe and sufficient water for humans and ecosystems in the face of existing and emerging threats. The program involves staff in all of NRDC’s U.S. offices and fully integrates our water resources work so that it addresses water supply and water quality, surface water and groundwater, human health and ecosystem issues. The Program’s staff is organized into four teams focusing on Green Infrastructure, Water Use Efficiency, Water & Climate, and developing a new water paradigm in California. The four program teams work together to implement a portfolio of strategies that maximize efficiency and minimize waste, prevent pollution, and protect and restore the ecosystem.

    Position Summary:

    NRDC has an immediate opening for a Water Policy Analyst who will work closely with the director of the Water Efficiency Team. The position will be based in NRDC’s Santa Monica office. This person will play an important role in formulating and implementing NRDC’s efforts to advocate for improved water use efficiency and water recycling in California and nationally, and will collaborate with a team of attorneys and other staff engaged in these issues.

    Essential Functions:

    Serve as NRDC’s representative in a variety of state and federal regulatory, administrative, and collaborative forums, advocating improvements in water use efficiency and water recycling. Conduct analyses, manage databases, and research and write NRDC reports and media kits on key water efficiency topics and policies. Review and comment on water conservation programs, draft legislation, agency reports, draft rules, etc. Responsibilities include contact with regulatory agencies, the media, and legislative offices.

    The job will include:

    1. Review and analysis of current state and federal water conservation programs, and evaluation of costs and benefits of new water efficiency initiatives
    2. Legislative advocacy on water efficiency and water recycling
    3. Promoting increased integration of water and energy policy and planning
    4. Advocating at the state and national level for product standards, model building codes, and other regulations that improve water use efficiency
    5. Pursuing implementation of water efficiency and water recycling as means to reduce global warming emissions as well as to adapt to the impacts of global warming
    6. Advocating for improved agricultural water use efficiency
    7. Supervising the work of contractors and interns

    Skills & Knowledge Requirements:

    • Advanced degree in engineering, water resources, public policy, law, or a related subject
    • Minimum of 3 years work experience in the field or a related one
    • Familiarity with spreadsheets and similar tools for quantitative analysis and data management
    • Knowledge of water efficiency, conservation, and reuse
    • Strong advocacy experience on environmental issues
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills
    • Experience in building collaborations with non-traditional allies
    • Strong interpersonal skills

    NRDC offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a dynamic work environment, and we are committed to workplace diversity. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience. For further information about NRDC, please visit nrdc.org.