The People and Ecosystems program at WRI is seeking a Senior Associate to work on the development of water quality trading programs, performance-based incentives, and other policies that improve water quality and address eutrophication. The successful candidate will have a broad understanding of environmental market-based approaches, water quality trading, U.S. agricultural policy, and related issues. Among other activities, the Senior Associate will lead an effort to convene Chesapeake Bay stakeholders with the aim of developing a process to harmonize trading programs in the Chesapeake Bay. The Senior Associate will also work to expand market-based water quality policies to regions beyond the Chesapeake Bay and to develop new areas of work related to agricultural conservation policies and ecosystem services in the United States and abroad. The Senior Associate will work as part of a team of WRI staff dedicated to promoting performance-based initiatives to improve water quality and other ecosystem services.

Responsibilities

• Engage policy-makers and other stakeholders in a process to reach agreement on the design of intrastate and inter-state water quality trading programs in the Chesapeake Bay region.
• Building on the lessons learned in the Chesapeake Bay, develop a strategy for scaling up market-based water quality policies in the United States and beyond.
• Lead outreach and communications for the project.
• Lead fundraising efforts, including building and maintaining relationships with new and potential funders, drafting proposals, and leading grant management and reporting.
• Manage the project, including budgeting, contracts, staff supervision, and attaining project goals.

Qualifications

• Successful track record working with stakeholder processes at the state, federal, or local levels; and demonstrated ability to assert initiative and leadership when appropriate.
• Proven influence skills in the environmental policy arena.
• A strong, proven orientation to deliver real-world results.
• Masters or equivalent in resource/environmental economics, natural resources or some another relevant field, as well as 5-8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated policy expertise related to land-use, water, and agriculture.
• Understanding of and demonstrated interest in market-based approaches to achieve environmental goals such as water quality trading and payments for ecosystem services.
• Ideally, have an understanding of agricultural conservation and the political landscape of states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent demonstrated research, writing and oral communication skills.