Nevada External Affairs Associate

About the role

The Nevada External Affairs Associate plays a key role in programs at the state and local level to affect public and/or corporate policy to further The Nature Conservancy’s mission. The Associate will support the External Affairs Director and Nevada Business Unit Strategy Directors in building and maintaining relationships with Nevada’s sovereign Indigenous Nations and state, county, and municipal governments.

Responsibilities

• Support the External Affairs Director and Nevada Business Unit Strategy Directors in building and maintaining relationships with Nevada’s sovereign Indigenous Nations and state, county, and municipal governments.
• Ongoing engagement and regular communication with Tribal Nations to build trust, support collaboration, and advance shared conservation and community priorities.
• Interface with federal and state agencies, county and municipal governments, industry representatives, tribal nations, and communities across Nevada to inform and advocate for conservation, community and climate (the 3Cs) outcomes for energy, infrastructure, and critical mineral development.
• Provide research and policy analysis in support of The Nature Conservancy’s policy and/or corporate practice priorities and track policies and decisions that directly affect conservation goals.
• Build and facilitate internal networks, coordinate meetings, agendas, and presentations.
• Provide administrative, research, and written communications support related to legislative affairs, including preparing testimonies, correspondence, reports, and other legislative communications.
• Provide services that assist in influencing the outcome of policy and/or corporate initiatives in Nevada.
• Develop strategic partnerships with relevant agencies, Tribes, conservation organizations, and industry to advance the organization’s conservation agenda.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with Tribal Nations through frequent communication, coordination, and engagement on conservation, energy, infrastructure, and community priorities.
• Coordinate strategic communications at all levels with target audiences regarding TNC’s position on climate, energy and infrastructure-related matters.
• Engage and manage consultants with expertise needed to carry out responsibilities.

Requirements

• A BA/BS degree in climate or energy policy, renewable energy management, or other relevant field.
• 3 years’ experience in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with, presenting to, and communicating with a range of different audiences about topics related to energy, infrastructure, climate, and the environment.
• Experience gathering information from multiple sources and turning it into clear reports.
• Experience working with Tribal governments, Tribal entities, or Indigenous organizations.
• Experience with legislative, planning, policy or corporate initiatives at state, local, and Tribal levels.
• Experience building networks or organizational capacity, increasing knowledge sharing, and identifying key stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Team player with strong listening, collaborative and diplomacy skills, and ability to influence without authority.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of and subject matter expertise related to energy, especially geothermal, solar and wind, and battery energy storage, including knowledge of federal, state, and local energy policies and regulatory frameworks related to energy transmission and renewable energy deployment in Nevada and the Western U.S.
• Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Experience with legislative, planning, policy, or corporate initiatives to address greenhouse gas emission reduction and renewable energy development.
• Experience building networks or organizational capacity, increasing knowledge sharing, and identifying key stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Team player with strong listening, collaborative and diplomacy skills, and ability to influence without authority.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with Tribal Nations and government officials.
• Experience with legislative, planning, policy, or corporate initiatives at state, local, and Tribal levels.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to gather and analyze information from multiple sources.
• Experience working with consultants and external partners.

Benefits

Salary Information: The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $71,200-$75,650. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.