Ocean Conservancy’s Government Relations team works to develop and implement policy solutions to address key ocean threats. Through strategic engagement with Congress, the Administration, partner organizations and other stakeholders, we work to educate policymakers on ocean issues and influence ocean-related legislation and policy decisions to achieve lasting change. We pride ourselves on promoting visionary policy solutions; inspiring and activating key constituencies in new and innovative ways; and working with our program teams to win real policy and legislative changes that protect and promote ocean health.

The Government Relations Senior Manager’s mission is to drive the development and advancement of Ocean Conservancy’s policy and legislative agenda. Specially, the individual in this role will serve as the lead government relations staffer responsible for developing and implementing a cross-cutting advocacy campaign and government relations strategy to achieve our Trash-Free Seas and Plastics policy objectives.  This position serves as Ocean Conservancy’s voice to government officials on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies and works with our conservation experts to develop policy goals, activate new constituencies, and win real policy and legislative changes that protect and promote ocean health.

This position is based in Washington, D.C. and the successful candidate will be expected to register as a federal lobbyist.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Act as Ocean Conservancy’s representative and voice on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies.

• Forms relationships and promotes the organization’s visibility and political reputation with Members of Congress, their staff, and the Administration on ocean conservation and funding issues.
• Lobbies policymakers, their staffs, and administration officials to persuasively present Ocean Conservancy’s policy positions and encourage action to further the organization’s policy and funding priorities.
• Responds to requests for information and advocate for the organization’s positions before Congress and federal agencies.
• Represents the organization at legislative hearings, meetings, markups and press conferences.
• Works collaboratively with outside lobbying contractors that support our advocacy work.

Drive visionary policy solutions.

• Works closely with Ocean Conservancy program staff to identify and create opportunities to advance specific policy and funding goals, and to develop and implement strategies and tactics to achieve effective policy outcomes.
• Performs policy analysis, legislative strategy development and implementation, selective stakeholder outreach, and coordination of the NGO community in support of policy objectives.
• Determines when new legislative authority is needed, draft testimony, legislation, and legislative amendments, and communicates with Congressional staff.
• Coordinates with program staff to review and draft letter, legislative, and policy endorsement recommendations to OC leadership.
• Participates in planning processes to prepare Ocean Conservancy and our programs for shifts in political power, such as election scenario planning and administration transition planning.

Lead cross-cutting communications and advocacy strategies.

• Leads creation of cross-cutting advocacy campaign plans, strategies, and tactics.
• Produces a variety of written products, such as letters, blogs, fact sheets, action alerts, and op-eds, to support advocacy and lobbying activities.
• Plans and coordinates with other organizational staff, including Digital, Communications, and the Our Ocean Network, activities in support of policy advocacy, such as stakeholder fly-ins, special events, and digital and communications campaigns.