About American Rivers
American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 4.4 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and the strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers.

The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities – including within our organization. The life experiences, knowledge, innovation, and talent that different people bring to our work provides perspectives, experiences, and competencies which are critical to our effectiveness in protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers, and conserving clean water for people and nature.

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Government Relations, Southeast Region leads American Rivers’ government relations and advocacy work across the Southeast Region to advance durable, bipartisan solutions for healthy rivers. The Associate Director will work as a part of a collaborative team to meet American Rivers’ conservation goals in Southeast Region with a focus on clean water policy and river restoration.

Working at the intersection of policy, politics, and conservation, the Associate Director builds relationships with state legislators, legislative staff, and agency leadership both political appointees and career staff (initially focused in North Carolina), Members of Congress from across the region and their staff, federal agencies leadership as appropriate, and local elected officials to advance American Rivers’ priorities.

The Associate Director will lead the advocacy work in North Carolina to reform the water management system and develop a new regulatory scheme for the state that complies with the state’s obligations under federal Clean Water Act using an integrated watershed approach. The Director develops and executes legislative, administrative, and political strategies and tactics in collaboration with external partners and American Rivers staff across the Southeast Region to deliver the policy results needed to restore and conserve the rivers of the region. The Associate Director has responsibility for supporting project and programmatic fundraising in collaboration with other staff across the organization.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and lead the implementation of American Rivers’ government relations strategy on priorities related to the Southeast Region to deliver the results in the strategic plan
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant legislative members, executive offices, and their staff in the Southeast Region
• Initially, lead the policy development and advocacy in North Carolina for the reform of the implementation of the Clean Water Act through an Integrated Water Management structure.
• Identify opportunities to leverage state legislative campaigns to advance federal legislative goals and vice versa. Work with American Rivers staff to ensure that model state legislative successes are considered in other regions of the country where appropriate.
• Work across departments to translate conservation priorities and field expertise into government relations strategies
• Help craft campaigns, connect state and regional policy opportunities to federal legislative strategies, develop coalitions and networks capable of building political support, and shape communications strategies for advocacy campaigns
• Defend existing river protections from legislative or administrative threats
• Build strategic relationships and collaborate with conservation organizations, water interests, outdoor recreation groups, local elected officials, Tribes, and other constituencies throughout the Southeast Region.

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in government relations, public policy, legislative affairs, political advocacy, or a related field
• Familiarity with state and federal rulemaking procedures and requirements
• Significant experience working with state legislatures and natural resource agencies, and complex policy advocacy campaigns
• Established relationships with Southeast Region policymakers, legislative offices, federal agencies, or relevant stakeholder networks

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with conservation, natural resources, public lands, water, or river policy strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the federal Clean Water Act and its implementation structure in states in the Southeast
• Knowledge of Integrated Water Management and One Water policy structures and approaches
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute bipartisan legislative and government relations strategies
• Experience building coalitions and working with diverse stakeholders, including conservation organizations, local communities, Tribes, agricultural interests, builders, local governments, water utilities, outdoor recreation interests, and elected officials
• Experience leading policy campaigns that include direct advocacy, strategic communications, and partner management
• Excellent political judgment and demonstrated ability to navigate complex and politically sensitive policy issues
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear and compelling advocacy messages
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple policy campaigns and priorities in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrates commitment to equity and justice, and an ability to work with others with varying perspectives and values
• Commitment to American Rivers’ mission and to advancing healthy rivers, clean water, and resilient communities

Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who have transferrable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are encouraged to apply.