Position Overview

Application Deadline: May 11, 2026

Salary: $95,000 to $110,000 annually

Education Required: Bachelor’s degree

Experience Required: Seven or more years

Description

The Policy Director at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation leads federal advocacy and government relations from Silver Spring, Maryland, advancing public investment, legislation, and coalition building in support of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and its 18-site sanctuary system.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the official non-profit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, supporting marine environments from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. Through public fundraising and partnerships, the Foundation invests in community stewardship, on-the-water conservation, education, and scientific exploration across more than 629,000 square miles of public waters.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President of External Affairs, the Director oversees a growing team of staff and consultants and works closely with the President and CEO to position the Foundation as a trusted voice on Capitol Hill.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance policy agendas and work plans that grow public investment for the National Marine Sanctuary System.
• Cultivate bipartisan sanctuary champions in Congress and galvanize coastal communities ready to expand the system.
• Research, analyze, and advocate for legislation and regulatory actions, including the National Marine Sanctuaries Act reauthorization.
• Plan and drive campaigns that connect Foundation priorities to federal, state, tribal, and local partners.
• Lead campaigns advocating for increases in sanctuary funding through the President’s Budget and federal appropriations.
• Engage the Administration and bicameral, bipartisan Member-led efforts to secure robust sanctuary appropriations.
• Maintain and grow Foundation coalition partner support for sanctuary budget priorities.
• Explore national policy mechanisms that diversify federal funding beyond base appropriations.
• Coordinate with the VP of Development on grant writing, state-level opportunities, and policy supporting sanctuary resources.
• Strengthen and grow the bipartisan House National Marine Sanctuary Caucus.
• Host regular Hill events and presence in sanctuary communities to deepen Member support.
• Support constituent engagement with Congress and the Administration to advocate for sanctuary funding.
• Build external partnerships that leverage resources for sustained policy initiatives.
• Plan and execute Take Action letter campaigns, briefings, hill days, district visits, Capitol Hill Ocean Week, and the national sanctuary fly-in.
• Support communities pursuing the growth of the National Marine Sanctuary System through expansions and new designations.
• Improve the visibility, credibility, and influence of the Foundation among key decision makers.
• Coordinate with the Communications Team on white papers, communications materials, and outreach products.
• Manage the annual budget process for the department and support mid-year reviews with the Finance Department.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on internal communications that reinforce a culture of belonging and excellence.
• Supervise project employees, consultants, and Program Operations Coordinators across partner agency locations and Foundation HQ.
• Mentor public policy team members, set SMARTIE goals, monitor progress, and conduct annual performance evaluations.
• Approve travel requests, timecards, expense reports, and time off requests.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and seven or more years of professional experience working with the Executive Branch, Congress, or related fields.
• Proven track record of strategic leadership in public policy or governance campaigns at the national or federal level.
• Strong relationships and networking experience across Congress, the Administration, academics, NGOs, private businesses, and the general public.
• Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proven organization and priority setting with high attention to detail.
• Ability to balance complex, demanding workloads and concurrent priority tasks.
• Fluency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail, Asana, and databases.
• Strong oral and written communication abilities.
• Demonstrated commitment to high professional, ethical standards and a diverse workplace.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure environment with regular attendance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience recruiting and managing a diverse, high-performing team of staff and consultants.
• Additional experience across international, regional, state, tribal, and local public policy and governance levels.
• Creative thinking on partnerships and solutions for ocean, coast, and Great Lakes conservation.
• Strong collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, businesses, academic institutions, and philanthropic funders.
• Focus in marine and Great Lakes fields and a sincere commitment to the Foundation’s mission.

Additional Notes

• Location: Silver Spring, Maryland; in-office with regular time on Capitol Hill.
• Status: Full Time, Exempt; reports to the Senior Vice President of External Affairs.
• Benefits: Medical with FSA option, dental, vision; Foundation-paid Life and Disability Insurance; 403(b) with employer contribution after one year; commuter benefits; generous leave plus 12 paid holidays and the week between December 25 and January 1.
• The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

How to Apply

Apply through the Foundation’s online portal on ADP Workforce Now. Applications received by May 11, 2026 will be preferred.

Required application materials:

• Cover letter addressing your fit for the role.
• Current resume.
• Three professional references.

Apply here: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: Policy Director application portal.