World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Director, U.S. Plastics Policy & Advocacy

Location: Washington D.C.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Sr Director of Policy and Government Affairs

Position Length: Full Time, Regular

Work Authorization: This position is not eligible for employment visa or work authorization sponsorship.

Major Function

The Director serves as a lead of the Policy & Government Affairs (PGA) team’s plastics policy portfolio to deliver on U.S. government policy and advocacy strategies at the federal and state levels in support of WWF’s goal of No Plastic in Nature. The Director will work in close coordination with the Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs and the Head of the WWF Plastics Integrated Program (based on the Private Sector Engagement team) and their respective teams involved in plastics policy and advocacy. The Director leads WWF’s work on plastic and materials related policy, helping set objectives and strategies on emerging issues and new approaches, and works to advance WWF’s conservation mission through policy development and strategic advocacy with U.S. government stakeholders on plastic and material production, waste, and pollution. The Director also executes WWF’s work on this topic, convening stakeholders, developing WWF positions and guidance, and engaging in direct advocacy in support of WWF’s plastic policy objectives, including through direct lobbying activities. Coordinates closely with other members of WWF’s Policy and Government Affairs team, including staff leading the implementation of state-level plastics policy advocacy and federal lobbying consultants, as well as the Private Sector Engagement’s Plastic & Materials Science team policy, and the Media and External Affairs team. Engages with policy and government affairs experts across external partner organizations, including relevant corporate partners, and collaborates and coordinates joint policy and advocacy efforts where strategic and appropriate. The Director develops strategies for key policy initiatives and works with the Policy & Government Affairs team and WWF’s Plastics Integrated Program to implement plans, manage relevant staff, and mentor team members. Acts as a key strategic resource for WWF’s No Plastic in Nature initiative. This position will report to the Senior Director for Policy and Government Affairs.

Salary: The expected compensation range for this position is $135,900 to $195,300.

• Leads on policy development and advocacy for all topics related U.S. federal policy on plastics and plastic pollution and helps to oversee and implement state-level policy and advocacy strategies executed out of the Policy & Government Affairs (PGA) team, coordinating between policy and government affairs, private sector engagement, and relevant programmatic conservation goal teams to ensure an effective, strategic, and consistent approach.
• Working in close coordination with other PGA team members and leadership of WWF’s Plastics Integrated Program, leads on setting short- and long-term policy goals, objectives, and strategies for the unit, the department, WWF-US and the WWF Network with respect to relevant U.S. federal and state government policies and actions on plastic pollution. Leads on the PGA team’s efforts to implement against and advocate for these, including through direct lobbying of U.S. government stakeholders.
• Manages an internal policy process with relevant teams and staff to oversee, coordinate and deconflict WWF’s plastics pollution policy development and priority setting. Ensures relevant internal stakeholders are informed of, understand, and are able to contribute to the formulation of these policy positions and WWF’s work to advocate for them.
• Leads the formulation and implementation of strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of the PGA plastics initiative, including through legislative, regulatory, and other executive actions. Leads or supervises the formulation, drafting, negotiating, and advocating of WWF positions and the creation of informed policy content, including legislative or regulatory language, budget justifications, letters and position papers, testimonies, public comments, and other relevant activities including direct lobbying, in order to meet policy objectives.
• Develops and maintains relationships with Members of Congress and their staff, federal agency officials, and other members of the Executive Branch, as well as other relevant external stakeholders, including other NGOs, industry, academia, and state lawmakers, in order to influence US federal and state government policy and achieve established policy objectives.
• In coordination with the Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs and other members of the PGA team, serves as a liaison for WWF with congressional members and staff, administration officials, and counterparts from other non-governmental organizations. This includes representing, convening, influencing and negotiating on behalf of WWF, as appropriate, at external events, including stakeholder and coalition meetings, briefings, press conferences, and other policy fora, including staff and senior level Hill and agency meetings. In all of these engagements, positions WWF as a trusted partner and expert on packaging and material science sustainability issues.
• In coordination the Private Sector Engagement team, leverages corporate partners to engage policymakers.
• Assists department leadership with preparation of workplans and budgets for the PGA plastics initiative.
• Manages interns, program associates or other staff as assigned
• Performs other duties and takes on other responsibilities as assigned, according to team and organizational needs.

Key Competencies

1. Interpersonal communication skills: Communicates clearly, effectively, and accurately with internal and external audiences, including government stakeholders in Congress and the Administration. Adapts communication style to the appropriate audience and understands the value of different communication and behavioral styles to build rapport and fosters positive relationships and collaboration. Translates technical information into clear and actionable policy recommendations for government stakeholders.
2. Leadership and Advocacy: Skillfully and effectively advocates for policy positions and recommendations with external audiences, including with government stakeholders and as part of collaborative efforts with NGO partners. Demonstrates the ability to lead the development and implementation of successful advocacy strategies that achieve priority policy objectives, working effectively as part of a team and in coalition. Demonstrates a strong ability to influence, persuade, and negotiate effectively in order to advance WWF’s policy priorities with government and organizational partners.
3. Initiative/Drive: Proactive in designing and implementing strategic plans to advance team and organizational goals and personal workplans, while maintaining broad awareness of emerging opportunities to deliver on WWF’s policy priorities, as well as emerging challenges. Independently motivated and demonstrates initiative and creativity in designing and implementing strategic plans to achieve PGA team priorities and deliver on personal workplans. Committed to WWF’s mission and delivering on team and individual goals.
4. Collaboration and Inclusion: Fosters a culture of collaboration, internally within the PGA team, among teams contributing to the WWF Plastics Initiative, and across the organization more broadly, as well as externally with organizational and coalition partners and government stakeholders. Builds strong relationships and leverages these to advance WWF policy priorities and enhance WWF’s overall reputation and influence with strategic partners on a range of issues. Is an committed team player and defaults to inclusion, transparency, and collaboration within and across teams.
5. Time management and accountability/follow through: Establishes and re-evaluates time-bound goals and workplans proactively, communicating to management and teammates regularly on their progress. Adaptively manages time and workload in an organized way to advance multiple workstreams and tasks simultaneously while prioritizing outreach, engagement, and relationship management with government stakeholders. Takes ownership of the work and delivering results in a way that builds credibility and trust among both internal colleagues and external partners.

Required Skills and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in government or government affairs, environmental policy development and advocacy, material science policy and packaging sustainability, or other relevant focus. Or a graduate degree in a relevant field with at least 8 years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of current best practices for policy and legislation for circularity preferred. Familiarity with solid waste management challenges is a plus.
• Significant experience working for or advocating with U.S. federal agencies and/or Congress preferred.
• Excellent project management skills required and a proven ability to manage teams’ functions and staff growth and development to expand beyond deliverables.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and well-developed systems thinking, interpretive, and critical thinking skills.
• Proactive problem-solving and ability to build consensus and strengthen collaboration both internally and among diverse stakeholders.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to present technical topics to non-experts strongly preferred.
• Ability to work well with both senior- and mid-level Government officials, as well as WWF staff based both in the U.S. and internationally.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Fluency in English is required; international experience and additional language skills are a plus.
• Ability to conduct national and international travel.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #25018
• Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.