Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Natural Resources Defense Council: Policy Advocate for Environmental Health

Policy Advocate for Environmental Health


NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is now accepting applications for a full-time Policy Advocate for Environmental Health. The Policy Advocate will work with NRDC’s Food and Health Programs, a diverse team of lawyers, policy specialists and scientists, to address public health threats from agriculture and toxics in the environment. The position will be located in San Francisco.
Applications will be considered upon receipt on a rolling basis until December 1, 2014.
About NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a non-profit national environmental advocacy organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists.  We have offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Beijing.  Our staff of over 400 includes attorneys, scientists, policy analysts and educators working to protect the environment and public health through advocacy and education.
Position Description
The Policy Advocate will join NRDC in challenging an array of environmental health threats. Topic areas may include:
  • Antibiotic resistance.   While both human and livestock use contribute to the rising problem of antibiotic resistance, approximately 80% of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are sold for producing food animals. NRDC seeks to advance to policies and market-facing initiatives to encourage antibiotic stewardship in agriculture and promote transparency and accountability.
  • Pesticide use.   While many farmers have transitioned to safer, less chemical-intensive methods, a large number continue to rely on highly toxic compounds shown to harm workers and nearby communities as well as enter the food supply.   NRDC advocates for policies to phase out the riskiest pesticides, while creating incentives for safer practices.
  • Contaminants in food and consumer products.   Thousands of food additives in commerce are untested by FDA. Many common consumer products pose risks for human health and the environment, including flame retardants, contaminants that leach from food packaging, and antimicrobials in hand soaps and toiletries.   NRDC holds regulatory agencies accountable for protecting consumers and promotes policy reform to protect public health.
We are working on multiple fronts to address these problems. In addition to litigation directly challenging failures to regulate pesticides and livestock use of antibiotics, we are working to educate and engage policymakers, business leaders, health care professionals and others about these issues. Through a multi-pronged approach we pursue regulatory reforms, spearhead progressive legislation, educate Congress and lawmakers, advocate for private-sector action by major producers and food buyers, and educate consumers.
We now seek a Policy Advocate to expand our campaign team in California. The Golden State has a long history of leading the way in environmental protections and we are working to secure policy changes at the state-level that can translate to national reforms.
Together with other NRDC advocates, scientists and lawyers, the Policy Advocate will:
  • Provide leadership in tracking and influencing related policy at the state and national level. Particular focus will be given to advancing policy goals through state law in California.
  • Draft legislation, represent NRDC before legislative committees, and coordinate efforts to pass legislation in CA legislature.
  • Pursue regulatory reforms including the preparation of comments, petitions and testimony before regulatory bodies.
  • Expand NRDC’s coalition of opinion leaders, medical experts, public interest organizations, business leaders and producers, and mobilize this coalition to advance our policy goals.
  • Provide research, analysis, blogs, written comments and testimony to educate policymakers, media representatives and consumers about this issue.
  • Serve as a spokesperson for NRDC.
Qualifications
  • Degree in law.
  • Five years or more of related work experience.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills, demonstrating an ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability for advocacy including, but not limited to, building coalitions, promoting legislation, educating policymakers and improving regulations.
  • Familiarity with the issues of sustainable agriculture, antibiotic use, microbial resistance, pesticides, food safety, and/or chemical exposures is strongly desired but not required.
This position is a challenging, entrepreneurial, and exciting opportunity for the right person.  NRDC offers competitive salaries (based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience), excellent benefits, and a dynamic work environment, and we are committed to workplace diversity. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample to: www.nrdc.org/jobs
NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact


Miriam Rotkin-Ellman
mrotkinellman@nrdc.org

http://aldf.org/resources/animal-law-events-opportunities/employment/?id=921
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