Deputy Director - Environmental Markets Trade Association

Hirschler Law Firm Government Relations Practice Group, a full service government relations, association management and public relations consultancy, is seeking candidates for the position of Deputy Director for support of two environmental markets trade associations: the Ecological Restoration Business Association (“ERBA”) and the California Ecological Restoration Business Association (“CalERBA”). The Deputy Director may be based in Washington, D.C. or Richmond, V.A.

ERBA is a 501(c)6 tax-exempt trade association representing wetlands and species mitigation companies, conservation providers, marketplace investors, and related consultants and vendors. ERBA advocates for federal regulation, guidance and legislation that supports growth and investment in ecological restoration opportunities from improvements of the mitigation banking program to creation of new markets for members’ services/product. Mitigation “banks” are restored tracks of privately owned land that the landowner and investor restore and maintain in perpetuity to then sell ecological “credits” to developers offsetting negative environmental impacts or to achieve an identified public environmental goal.

CalERBA is a newly formed trade association representing the diverse ecological restoration industry in California, a leader for state and federal environmental policy. CalERBA advocates to the state legislature and directly with state resource agencies (CDFW, CNRA, SWRCB) to improve existing programs and permitting, i.e. wetland mitigation, as well as expand market opportunities.

The Deputy Director will report directly to the Executive Director/Officers/Board of ERBA and CalERBA and be responsible for assisting the Officers in the day-to-day operations of ERBA and CalERBA, including the following:

• Planning and logistics for three to four general membership meetings per association throughout the year
• Staffing Working Groups and Committees, including scheduling and administering monthly calls, minutes, etc and working with the Chairs of each Work Group and Committee on various related initiatives
• Planning and logistics for the ERBA annual policy conference and CalERBA Annual Meeting Legislative Fly-In day
• Day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting including invoicing, A/R, etc. utilizing QuickBooks
• Working with the Executive Director to develop a membership campaign outreach and process annual membership renewals and payments
• Website maintenance and marketing materials
• Research and drafting on mitigation banking/ecological restoration policy initiatives that support the private market and uphold a preference for mitigation banks’ high standards
• Research and planning relating to new ecological restoration business opportunities at the state and federal level
• Assisting the Executive Director in direct lobbying, briefing, etc of policy makers in Washington and regional allies
• Industry communications and policy outreach coordination with other peer trade associations and professional organizations
• Research, planning and PR support interacting with domestic and international NGOs
• Assisting the Executive Directors with various compliance issues including corporate and anti-trust
• Maintaining communications with the ERBA and CalERBA memberships and other stakeholders

The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to work independently, prior experience with event planning, and background/qualifications in public policy, public relations, government relations or law, preferably with an environmental focus. The ideal candidate will have earned a graduate degree in a related field. The Deputy Director’s role and responsibilities will have the potential to grow as the organizations grow.Some domestic travel will be required throughout the year.

Competitive salary, full benefits including health insurance are included in the compensation package.

The candidate will be an employee of Hirschler Law Firm but will split their time between ERBA and CalERBA duties.

Job Responsibilities: Trade Associations are dependent on membership dues and conferences for annual revenue. The Deputy Director’s primary duties will be overseeing successful and broad annual dues campaigns and marketing for the annual Policy Conference events.

Operations

• Manage calendars
• Manage deadlines and due dates
• Manage dues invoices and tracking
• Process dues payments via credit card
• Follow up on outstanding payments
• Field membership inquiries (of certain level)
• Record minutes of board, membership, and committee calls/meetings
• Manage call/meeting documents
• File minutes and meeting materials
• Assist with yearly tax preparation and monthly financial statements (experience with QuickBooks and Excel valued)

Conference

• Budget tracking
• Manage deadlines (hotel payments, print deadlines)
• Field conference inquiries
• Sell sponsorships for conferences (of certain level)
• Coordinate outreach to sponsors leading up to and during conference
• Organize exhibitor contracts, exhibitor ordering/details, exhibitor set up and tear down
• Manage registration desk and greet guests
• Prepare/organize name tags and other attendees materials
• Communications
• Daily newsletter clips
• Manage LinkedIn and website blog pages
• Draft copy for website 

Policy

• Review policy/regulatory proposals and comments
• Write policy analysis for ERBA/CalERBA staff and members
• Draft policy statements and papers
• Arrange for responses to agency notices (help recruit committee members, arrange calls, document committee notes, write drafts, manage deadlines)
• Participate in occasional meetings with federal resource agency policy makers and Congressional offices