Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America’s largest conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters nationwide. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. In an effort to achieve our mission, we are committed to the integration of equity and justice in our programs and policies.

The Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization Program is committed to unraveling systems of oppression to achieve healthy, sustainable, and just communities by addressing environmental injustices that have overburdened lower wealth, communities of color, and Indigenous people by using our resources, cultivating strong partnerships, and prioritizing on-the-ground solutions that communities find value in. To support our ability to connect frontline and fence-line communities with decision-makers on a national and international scale, we seek to hire an Associate Vice President, Public Health and Economic Justice Policy to join our team in Washington, D.C. In addition to a commitment to advance racial and economic justice across organization-wide policies, the Associate Vice President will play a critical role in establishing policy and advocacy priorities across the Federation that center the voices and priorities of historically marginalized communities in collaboration with the environmental justice team.

Your major areas of responsibility:

Establish Legislative and Policy Priorities Across the Organization

• Provide insights and recommendations to guide organization-wide policy stances that center Environmental Justice Principles and the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing
• Staff, lead, and consult with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council on a regular basis to ensure the insights and perspectives of council members are integrated across the Federation
• Establish policy and advocacy priorities in consultation with and specific to internal environmental justice leaders, affiliate environmental justice leaders, impacted communities, and external environmental justice partners
• Build and implement an iterative process to engage frontline and fence-line community leaders and organizations on policy advocacy with the support of the Environmental and Climate Justice Policy Specialist
• Work collaboratively with affiliate organizations to advance local and state policy that advances environmental, climate, and economic justice
• Remain up-to-date on environmental, climate, and economic-related legislation to guide organize-wide posture

Build Upon Cross-Team Collaborations

• Lead efforts to develop and pilot a Natural Infrastructure Institute, in collaboration with program leads across the Federation, that brings forth natural solutions to vulnerable communities
• Apply and environmental, climate, and economic justice lens on legislation to advance the interests of historically marginalized communities that face the brunt of the climate, economic, and public health crisis
• Actively build relationships with members of Congress and policymakers on a local, state, and federal basis
• Collaborate with the National Wildlife Federation government affairs and lobby team members, with the support of the Environmental and Climate Justice Policy Specialist, when communicating with congressional staff and members to consult, draft legislative proposals, etc.

Strengthen Environmental Justice Program and Policy Advocacy

• Supervisor the Environmental and Climate Justice Policy Specialist
• Work in collaboration with the Associate Vice President of Environmental Justice and Climate Justice and the Sr. Environmental Justice Program Manager to guide the growth and development of the environmental justice program, including strategic planning
• Regularly engage with staff and members of Congress on the Hill and government agencies to build stronger synergy between environmental justice programs and policy advocacy
• Build relationships with foundations, donors, and other institutions to support fundraising efforts
• Strengthen environmental justice communications and marketing efforts by actively building a connection between science and public health
• Help organize convenings and facilitate meetings with stakeholders to ensure frontline and fence-line community priorities and policy recommendations are amplified
• Provide public commentary and testimony when applicable
• Serve as a proxy to the Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization and represent the environmental justice team on policy discussions
• Report to the Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization and lead additional initiatives as directed