Senior Director, Global Toxics & Critical Minerals

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is seeking a dynamic leader to drive the successful implementation of the planetGOLD global program. This position will oversee the strategic direction and financial management of the project, ensuring alignment with funder requirements.

About the role

This role will provide strategic and operational leadership for NRDC’s planetGOLD global project, accountable for outcomes, risk management, and delivery. The position will also support the development of strategies on responsible critical minerals production and reduce plastics pollution globally.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the planetGOLD global project, accountable for outcomes, risk management, and delivery.
• Oversee all activities to ensure that the planetGOLD global project meets the needs of the program participants and stakeholders.
• Set direction and oversee knowledge management, assessment, and communications activities.
• Support the community of practice within the planetGOLD programme.
• Develop and carry out strategies on responsible critical minerals production in artisanal and small-scale mining.
• Work in concert with other departments at NRDC to advocate for reducing plastics pollution globally.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters or above) in relevant discipline (e.g., public health, environmental health policy).
• At least 10 years of experience working on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) issues.
• At least 10 years of experience working on international chemicals management policy and advocacy.
• Career-level professional knowledge relevant to Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM).
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical information for diverse audiences.
• Proven people-management skills, including coaching and developing staff, setting clear goals and expectations, delegating effectively, providing timely feedback, addressing performance issues, and fostering an inclusive, collaborative team culture.
• Extensive experience and network of contacts within the global ASM community.
• Familiarity with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and its ASGM-related requirements.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives and projects.
• Strong project management and financial stewardship skills, including developing and executing workplans, managing cross-functional teams of staff/consultants, and overseeing a budget of approximately US$6,000,000.
• Professional fluency in French or Spanish is preferred.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven people-management skills.
• Extensive experience and network of contacts within the global ASM community.
• Familiarity with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and its ASGM-related requirements.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives and projects.
• Strong project management and financial stewardship skills.
• Professional fluency in French or Spanish is preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.