Marine Scientist, Offshore Wind Energy

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation’s mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. The Federation is committed to inspiring all people around our shared love of nature and wildlife by creating a welcoming and inclusive community representative of all Americans.

To advance our mission, we are seeking a Marine Scientist to join our Offshore Wind Energy team. The Offshore Wind Energy team works to support the responsible development of offshore wind energy, bolstered by science-based recommendations for all stages of siting and development. In this position, you will lead the development and application of rigorous, evidence-driven strategies to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor the potential impacts and benefits of offshore wind on marine wildlife and ecosystems. Your scientific expertise will inform policy positions and advocacy efforts that  ensure offshore wind development is compatible with wildlife conservation goals. You will report to the Offshore Wind Energy team’s Senior Policy Specialist and alongside NWF colleagues on the broader Climate & Energy and Science teams.

Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):

Subject-Matter Expertise:

• Serve as an analyst and advisor on matters relating to marine species, with a focus on understanding and addressing the potential impacts of offshore wind development on marine wildlife—particularly marine mammals, sea turtles, and the benthos—and compile recommendations for science-based strategies to avoid, minimize, and mitigate those impacts.
• Stay current on the latest scientific research, monitoring data, and technological developments related to marine species and offshore wind development, and integrate this knowledge into NWF’s recommendations, advocacy, and communications.

Coalition & Advisory Body Participation:

• Represent NWF’s science-informed positions in interactions with state and federal agencies, as well as in multi-stakeholder forums including the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative’s expert subcommittees and state technical working groups.
• Engage with offshore wind developers, consultants, and state agencies to share science-based recommendations and promote responsible project design and implementation that protects marine species.
• Contribute to the design, evaluation, and advocacy of robust monitoring and adaptive management frameworks to assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures and ensure long-term protection of marine species.
• Promote science-based approaches that support nature-positive outcomes, including strategies to achieve net benefit for marine biodiversity and the integration of nature-inclusive design principles in offshore wind development.

Contribute to Science-Based Communication Materials:

• Work with communications staff to develop materials, including fact sheets, white papers, and talking points to support NWF’s offshore wind program and provide leadership on marine species issues within the broader conservation community.
• Recognize Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as a distinct and complementary knowledge system alongside western science, particularly in understanding marine species behavior, habitat use, and ecosystem dynamics. Identify opportunities to integrate TEK into offshore wind siting and development processes—such as through insights on species presence, migration patterns, culturally significant species, and long-term ecological changes—while respecting Tribal sovereignty and knowledge-sharing protocols.
• Support education across the Federation (staff and affiliates) by sharing key scientific updates, presenting at staff and affiliate meetings, and advising colleagues across the organization on marine science as it relates to renewable energy development.
• Carry out limited administrative responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and 8 years of relevant experience in marine biology, ecology, conservation science, or a related field, with a strong understanding of marine species and ecosystems. A Master’s or other advanced degree in a relevant field can count toward experience.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and synthesize scientific rese