Manager, Landscape Resilience

This position will be located in our Raleigh office (when we all return to offices) and will manage EDF’s work to advance landscape resilience through science, policy and community engagement in Eastern North Carolina. This will require someone who can help build strong coalitions, work with a wide diversity of stakeholders and develop effective  policy solutions. We are especially interested in candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Position description: With world attention on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. By focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches, we tackle urgent threats with practical solutions. We are one of the world’s largest environmental organizations, with more than two million members and a staff of approximately 700 scientists, economists, policy experts, and other professionals around the world. We operate in 22 geographies with unique projects running across four programs. You will be part of a vibrant workplace where innovation and results are a way of life.

EDF envisions a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the environmental challenges we face and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. We seek talented candidates who share our Core Values of Respect, Results, Innovation, Optimism, and Integrity, and support our Commitment to Diversity.  

EDF’s Ecosystems Program envisions a world that meets human needs for food, water, and coastal protection in ways that improve ecosystems, rather than harming them. When it comes to natural resources in this country, we have scarcity and inefficiency problems that will be exacerbated by climate change. EDF is uniquely equipped to help fix this problem by accelerating the development of systems that make conservation and efficient land and water management profitable. We believe that such will be critical to helping the nation meet one of its greatest challenges: how to support a growing population without continuing to overspend our precious natural capital.

The North Carolina Landscape Resilience project is a bold and collaborative effort to ensure resilient ecosystems and communities along the state’s coasts and rivers thrive with water and are safe, equitable and prosperous places to live, work and play. This multi-faceted project advances solutions to the many complex challenges associated with restoring working lands and natural system to create sustainable communities with improved infrastructure and robust economies. A key aspect of this work is advancing resilience thinking to help at-risk communities prepare for ongoing and projected climate impacts by advancing science, building local capacity and funding nature-based solutions.

Overall Function 

The Manager’s primary role will be to implement strategic priorities to align science, policy, funding and capacity to build landscape and community resilience across Eastern North Carolina. The Manager will build diverse coalitions and advocate for practical and technically sound policy solutions to address climate risks and build social and environmental resilience. The Manager will ensure local voices are incorporated into policies and programs by engaging directly with community leaders, agricultural stakeholders and town residents, including rural, minority and under-resourced communities. In advancing state policies and programs, the Manager will be expected to engage relevant experts to advance conservation finance, hydrologic modeling, adaptive management and other related topics.

The position will report to the Director, Landscape Resilience within EDF’s Coastal Resilience team. The Manager will work within a matrixed team and will be expected to coordinate staff and consultants from multiple EDF Teams including Coastal Resilience, Working Lands and Political Affairs.
Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and implement strategic campaigns to advance resilience through natural infrastructure and other approaches.
• Build effective coalitions at the state level including with key government agency staff, nongovernmental organizations, university researchers and business interests.
• Develop and manage collaborative local partnerships across the North Carolina Coastal Plain region with rural and minority communities, conservation and agricultural groups, local business leaders, scientists and others engaged in disaster recovery and rebuilding.
• Independently conduct research, analysis and evaluation of existing and/or proposed resilience programs and policies to identify and prioritize strategies, goals and tactics.
• Work in a collaborative nature across EDF to foster internal alignment in advancing shared goals.
• Communicate results in writing and through public presentations to diverse audiences and media outlets, including helping to shape fundraising proposals and reports.
• Help to manage consultants, interns and project finances as delegated.
• Represent EDF at external meetings and conferences with high degree of professionalism.
• Serve as a trusted source of information on landscape and community resilience.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and at least four years of experience preferred, or bachelor’s degree and at least six years of related experience.
• Demonstrated success managing a complex project and/or small teams.
• Exceptional personal organization and attention to detail.
• An ability to lead on multiple projects concurrently, both independently and collaboratively as a member of small teams in a dynamic and creative environment.
• Strong analytical skills and experience performing rigorous analysis in support of highly visible work.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to collaborate with stakeholders from diverse communities, institutions and backgrounds.
• A broad understanding of environmental and social issues required; preference given for work in rural communities, environmental justice, on coastal resilience and /or with nature-based solutions.
• Familiarity with hydrologic models or processes, ecological restoration and/or natural infrastructure projects preferred but not required.
• Regular travel will be expected within North Carolina and occasional travel outside of North Carolina anticipated when in-person meetings become safe and accepted.
• Ability to speak Spanish a plus.