The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Federal Outreach and Advocacy Manager to be based at its Federal Affairs Office located in Washington, D.C.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.
CBF has a staff of approximately 190 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $26 million and is supported by more than 275,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Federal Outreach and Advocacy Manager will primarily be responsible for overseeing outreach, grassroots, and engagement activities at the Federal Level and in the DC Metro Area including expanding CBF’s outreach and engagement efforts in communities in the DC Metro area that experience the negative impacts of environmental justice issues. The position will support the 1 Million Voices campaign in a variety of ways including working closely with the Making History Campaign Director and the Voices Strategy Team to implement a strategy to increase CBF’s impact at the federal level. The Federal Outreach and Advocacy Manager will organize and engage CBF constituents, other conservation leaders and organizations, and the public to take federal action in defense of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint. The Manager is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the Federal Office’s political and advocacy strategy. This position works cooperatively on CBF priority regional issues with Headquarters and state office staff and serves as a member of CBF’s internal Grassroots Team. This position will develop and implement partnerships with a broad range of environmental and non-traditional partners. This position develops and oversees legislative and grassroots outreach primarily at the Federal Level and in the DC Metro area. This position utilizes that expertise in coordination with Headquarters staff to maximize our effectiveness in working with groups and individuals to realize the goals of CBF.
Essential functions include:
1. Develop and oversee CBF’s Federal outreach efforts – with the mission to maximize opportunities for media, partnerships, and legislative contacts through restoration events, workshops, speakers’ bureau, etc. Expand CBF’s successful grassroots activities to a new level with innovative, creative organizing and engagement ideas and use of new tools.
2. Expand CBF’s outreach and engagement efforts in communities in the DC Metro area that experience the negative impacts of environmental justice issues.
3. Support the 1 Million Voices Campaign including:
a. Assist with the development and implementation of a 1 Million Voices strategic plan.
b. Along with the Making History Campaign Director, serve as point person for the work being completed by various CBF staff as it relates to the Voices Campaign.
c. Manage the tracking of day-to-day activities and metrics for the 1 Million Voices Campaign in CBF’s organization-wide database
d. Coordinate with the Making History Campaign Director to provide content and materials for Board Meetings, website marketing materials, etc. for the 1 Million Voices Campaign.
e. Coordinate regular meetings of CBF’s 1 Million Voices Strategy Team.
f. Assist the Making History Campaign Director with event planning and management as part of the 1 Million Voices Campaign.
g. Assist the Making History Campaign Director in managing the 1 Million Voices Campaign Budget.
4. With input from policy staff, develop the grassroots and advocacy strategy and action for legislative and other policy initiatives. Work closely with Headquarters staff, Making History Campaign staff and State Office staff in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to successfully increase CBFs presence at the federal level.
5. Along with State office grassroots and advocacy teams, coordinate development of advocates in key federal legislative districts and representatives.
6. Develop and maintain key contacts in Congress and the various federal agencies.
7. Take leadership in promoting and maintaining partnerships and coalitions with both conservation and other “non-traditional” interest groups.
8. Organize CBF constituents and other members of the environmental community to work on legislative and regulatory issues of importance to the Chesapeake Bay; serve as a CBF liaison with other Federal/DC Metro Area environmental organizations.
9. Train citizen leaders and constituents on environmental issues and skills and inspire them to take action.
10. Plan and execute special events and projects for the general public, including forums and regional workshops.
11. Work in coordination with communications staff to develop written and electronic materials that synthesize technical information and educate, inspire, and involve people in the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
12. Coordinate various grassroots tools such as phone banking and electronic alerts.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
A bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of three years of experience that includes a variety of grassroots organizing, volunteer leadership and training, and demonstrated insight and skills is preferred. Experience with political campaigns is not mandatory but will be viewed as a plus. Successful candidates have demonstrated abilities using strong interpersonal skills to motivate the public to take action for the environment. Supervisory and project management experience a plus.
To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website no later than May 31, 2019.
CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred retirement plan.
Please note this is a campaign-funded position that is expected to be funded for multiple years. However, as with any position that is dependent on campaign money, there is the risk of unexpected funding problems and the position can no longer be funded through the campaign. IF that should happen, CBF will review the position at that time to determine if it can then be funded from other sources of income within the organization.
CBF encourages diverse candidates to apply and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
