Senior Manager, Strategic Communications (Litigation)

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.

About the role

The Senior Manager, Strategic Communications: Litigation develops comprehensive communication strategies that advance organizational goals and enhance public engagement for the work led by NRDC’s litigation team across climate, nature, and environmental health sectors. Serving as the primary communications partner to NRDC’s litigation team, this role translates complex legal strategies and developments into clear, accessible narratives that expand public engagement, elevate NRDC’s thought leadership, and drive supporter and policymaker action.

The Senior Manager collaborates closely with media, digital advocacy and fundraising, content, creative, and analytics teams to plan, launch, and assess the effectiveness of integrated, multichannel communications across earned, owned, and paid platforms, using performance insights to refine strategy and maximize reach, engagement, and impact among key audiences. This is a limited term 2-year position based in any of NRDC's US offices (New York, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Monica). This position is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute clear, compelling, and measurable multichannel communication plans for NRDC’s litigation work and cases, expanding reach beyond core supporters and reinforcing durable narratives in collaboration with litigation, programmatic, governmental affairs, and communications teams.
• Create and update messaging and talking points for NRDC’s litigation work and specific cases, ensuring messaging is consistent, accessible, and aligned with NRDC’s brand and mission.
• Coordinate communications team’s response to major legal developments, including court rulings, regulatory actions, and litigation filings.
• Provide regular updates on litigation projects/cases to the communications team.
• Manage the intake and execution of incoming communications and marketing requests from litigation, establishing clear timelines, workflows, and expectations.
• Establish and maintain a litigation communications calendar and set short- and long-term priorities aligned with organizational goals.
• Maintain expertise in relevant priority litigation narratives along with audience trends in alignment with policy issues in the U.S.
• Identify and develop storytelling opportunities (e.g., case studies, attorney and client profiles, human-centered narratives) that demonstrate the real-world impact of NRDC’s litigation.
• Collaborate with Editorial and Content teams to develop written and visual assets that resonate with target audiences, create compelling storytelling, and drive relevance, engagement, and action for the organization.
• Support the Digital Advocacy and Fundraising team in developing appropriate materials and tactics to promote key messages with NRDC supporters when needed.
• Collaborate with Earned and Social Media teams to amplify key institutional priorities, litigation cases, and initiatives.
• Champion a data-driven approach to evaluate communications performance and apply insights to refine future strategies, partnering with the Director of Analytics.
• Utilize storytelling, thought leadership, and strategic messaging to influence and shift public narratives on climate change, nature, and environmental health, highlighting the benefits and importance of environmental protection and climate action for health, societal values, and the economy.
• Investigate litigation cases to identify and develop content (e.g., profile pieces, case studies, human-led stories) that highlight the impact of NRDC’s litigation work and profile clients and attorneys.
• Create and manage a story bank from current and past litigation cases to enable the communications team to quickly and efficiently develop content across NRDC’s brand channels.
• Provide guidance to communications colleagues on law and litigation matters and procedures; advise litigation colleagues on communications best practices and processes.
• Educate and advise litigation colleagues on the evolving media, digital, and communications landscape, including emerging platforms, audience dynamics, risks, and opportunities that may affect litigation strategy and public engagement.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in journalism, communications, law, advocacy, or a related field.
• 4 or more years of relevant experience leading communications campaigns and coordinating communications teams, with 7 years total experience in communications, journalism, law, advocacy, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience developing and rolling out communications campaigns relating to U.S. state and/or federal law/litigation cases on climate, environmental health, nature, or similar issue areas.
• Law/litigation communications experience preferred (e.g., a communications role in a law firm or legal communications role for a nonprofit organization).
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is desirable.

Skills

• Strong collaborator with an inclusive mindset that leads with confidence and inspires confidence among colleagues at all levels.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams.
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical communications and marketing initiatives, with the nuances needed to navigate a broad range of litigation perspectives.
• Ability to speak and write in a clear and understandable manner for internal/external relations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proven experience managing priorities and working effectively across multiple internal stakeholders.
• Experience developing and implementing multichannel communications plans.
• Expertise in advocacy communications, with a deep understanding of audience segmentation, engagement tactics, and optimization.
• Strong analytical skills and experience leveraging data insights to drive decision-making and improve communications campaign outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail, proofreading, and accuracy.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.
• Skilled in guiding, mentoring, and fostering growth in colleagues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiarity with project management tools like Asana.
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. offices, communities, and courts approximately 10%.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles.

Physical Demands

• Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary.
• Frequently attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers.
• Occasionally attend events and activities in the office or offsite.

Work is primarily performed in the office. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations. Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

Pay

Salary range is $100,000 to $115,000, based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer.

Schedule

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.