Director of Communications and Policy

Location

Remote | United States

Job description

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) builds alliances that advance bold solutions to secure a just and resilient world for people and nature. We design and carry out programs and projects that promote smart policies, secure equitable public funding, and build strong constituencies for protecting nature, addressing the climate crisis, and advancing environmental equity and justice. Since RLF’s founding in 2000, we have partnered with philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, community groups, government, business, and academia to protect more than five million acres of land and ocean spaces, advance critical climate and environmental justice policies, and generate more than $30 billion in new public funding for conservation, equitable outdoor access, and climate initiatives.

The Director of Communications and Policy is an accomplished leader and strategist responsible for developing and advancing effective public policy, public funding, and communications initiatives in support of our programmatic and institutional goals, in service of and close collaboration with executive leadership, program directors, and staff. As a member of our Leadership Team, the Director also provides cross-program alignment and coordination with respect both to communications strategy and support, as well as to development and execution of our policy agenda at the federal, state, and local levels.

The Director oversees a communications team that supports a combination of programmatic and institutional priorities, and a California policy and government affairs team that works in service to programs to advance our priorities in Sacramento. The Director will be responsible for building additional government relations and communications staff and consultant capacity as needed.

This position is full-time, exempt, and reports to the Vice President and General Counsel. This is a remote position with regular travel to Sacramento required and other geographies where RLF engages likely.

Duties Include:

Policy

In close collaboration with executive leadership and program directors, develop and lead effective policy and public engagement campaigns to advance programmatic and institutional priorities.
Help to strategically develop, align, and employ the full range of the 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) advocacy capabilities, including lobbying and limited political advocacy where appropriate.
Collaborate with program staff to conduct or commission policy, public opinion, and other field research. Support integration of research insights and recommendations into advocacy, grantmaking, communications, and additional programmatic engagement as appropriate.
Ensure programs, policy team, and campaign partners are supported with needed policy analysis and with development and drafting of public comments and bill language.
Help to align and coordinate cross-programmatic efforts to build and maintain collaborative relationships with policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders. Help build and lead coalitions to advance program priorities.
Ensure RLF, FBF, and SAF are effectively represented in key settings, meetings, and coalitions.
Help cultivate policy and related advocacy skills among program staff.
Supervise policy and government relations staff and support their professional development.

Communications

In close collaboration with executive leadership and program directors, develop and lead effective communications strategies and support to advance RLF, FBF, and SAF priorities, including for internal institutional (including staff and board), programmatic, and external communications needs.
Coordinate crisis and rapid response communications, including media engagement, by the communications, legal, and executive teams.
Work with executive leadership, program directors, and staff to ensure RLF, FBF, and SAF are well positioned and effectively represented in communication with external audiences, including through earned media, philanthropic sector publications, self-published materials, and speaking engagements.
Advise and train program staff on effective communications strategies and tools, and where needed, assist in identification and selection of consultants to advance program goals.
Supervise communications staff and support their professional development.

Cross-cutting

Cultivate, expand, and make the best use of staff, advisors, consultants, and grantee engagement.
Assist in fundraising for RLF, FBF, and SAF through collaboration with and support for the executive, program, and development teams.
Maintain a commitment to meaningful collaboration with colleagues to understand the breadth of RLF’s work and seek opportunities for synergy across programs and/or fiscally sponsored projects.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Every team member who joins RLF is expected to embody RLF values:

Collaboration – We believe the key to achieving meaningful environmental results and a productive workplace is rooted in humanity—our ability to build effective relationships, listen deeply, respect different perspectives, and elevate new leaders.
Equity – We value the insight, energy, and innovation of inclusive decision making. Our work seeks to elevate voices and build power within underrepresented communities to help advance a just and equitable future in which leadership reflects the diversity of the world we live in.
Integrity – We are dedicated to our cause, genuine in our approach, and strive to cultivate a foundation of trust within our organization and with our partners. We believe humility and commitment to ongoing learning keeps us effective in our work.
Creativity – We embrace a thoughtful, entrepreneurial spirit, seeking innovative ways to solve problems new and old. We are willing to take risks that the times and issues require to achieve lasting results.
Excellence – We aspire to high standards of quality in everything we do—from internal operations to strategic program implementation. We are attentive to detail and persevere to deliver results on goals we share with funders, partners, and colleagues.

Qualifications

Note: These qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, so if you have 75% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply. Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work and lived experiences that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

At least 10-15 years of experience in government, public policy, campaigns, communications and/or advocacy.
Commitment to working creatively and in collaboration with diverse partners to advance impactful climate, conservation, and environmental justice policies and funding, even in challenging political environments.
Experience building and managing effective teams of staff, advisors, and consultants.
Extensive working knowledge of climate and environmental policy, processes, politics, and media, and a deep contact network in these areas. California experience is a strong plus.
Experience commissioning, interpreting, and applying public opinion research.
Demonstrated leadership in organizing and managing significant legislative, administrative, and/or political campaigns. Electoral and ballot measure experience is a strong plus.
Experience directing or participating at a significant level in public policy communications across media outlets, formats, and strategies, including paid, social, and earned media.
Exceptional composition, editing, and spoken communication skills. Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources into lucid, cohesive, and compelling written products that are attentive to tone, style, and audience. Critical eye for grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
Experience developing and tracking outcomes and metrics to understand the effectiveness of campaigns and advocacy strategies.
Capacity to manage and coordinate simultaneous projects, and to respond rapidly and appropriately to changing priorities and situations.
Sufficient technological ability to learn and consistently use RLF’s preferred information management and communication tools and adhere to confidentiality policies and procedures.
Commitment to building and supporting a positive and inclusive work environment.
Good judgment and ability to work with humor and grace under pressure.
Ability to travel.

Tagged as: Law/Policy

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