Director, Technology & Innovation

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

 

NRDC is seeking a Director, Technology & Innovation, to work with the Climate & Energy Department’s Industrial & Emerging Technologies team in our Washington, D.C. or New York offices. 

Position Summary 

NRDC is seeking a Director, Technology & Innovation, to lead the technology, innovation, and carbon management work of the Climate & Clean Energy Department’s Industry Division. The Industry Division works to 1) decarbonize heavy industry – steel, cement, and aluminum, 2) drive technology innovation through Congressional and federal agency support, and 3) reduce emissions of non-CO2 climate super pollutants through policy development and advocacy, technical analysis and research, and more.  

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions: 

 

• Manage the workflow and staff of the Division’s technology and innovation teams and work closely with our Policy Director, Industry, to influence our priorities 
• Develop public resources and transition plans for the U.S. fleet of cement plants;  
• Evaluate public investments in the steel and hydrogen industries and how those could be more effective;  
• Address technical issues surrounding hydrogen pipelines and appropriate end-uses; 
• Identify electric rate and other policy interventions that can support electrifying industrial heating;  
• Support DOE’s innovation pipeline and ensuring Congress provides sufficient funding for it;  
• Map the petrochemicals sector to develop concepts for future work;  
• Start up a workstream around carbon dioxide removal, carbon capture, and other related carbon management topics.  

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.  

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience:   

• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.  
• Bachelor’s degree or greater in engineering, STEM, or a related technical field; Master’s degree preferred.  
• 7+ years of experience in policy advocacy, STEM, or otherwise relevant field.  
• 3 years of experience managing staff and complex projects involving many moving parts.  
•  Experience supporting fundraising proposals and regularly engaging with foundations and/or major donors.  

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Strong strategic skills relevant to climate policy, advocacy, and project development.  
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, understand, and translate complex scientific, legal and policy matters for advocacy purposes.  
• Demonstrated ability to identify, and pursue, research and analysis to fill information gaps to inform and support advocacy.  
• Persuasive verbal and written communication skills.  
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building and networking skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to build and work within coalitions, including those that reach beyond the traditional environmental community.  
• Demonstrated ability to engage with industry.  
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices, approximately 10-15% annually 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles 

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

• Frequently: Perform desk-based computer t