Director of Government Affairs for Congressional Advocacy

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Find out if this opportunity is a good fit by reading all of the information that follows below.

21 Feb 2024

Full-Time Director of Government Affairs for Congressional Advocacy

The Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is looking for a dynamic advocate who can lead our work with Congress and on Capitol Hill.

In this role, you will coordinate with the Government Affairs team at CAC, Members of Congress and their staff, and our broader coalition in support of our climate policy goals and to improve our access and influence across Capitol Hill.

This role encompasses a range of responsibilities and professional opportunities to support the climate community’s work, around the following policy and organizational goals :

• Enact ambitious policies to reduce climate pollution, improve public health, increase clean energy deployment and create equitable outcomes for all communities;
• Defend recent climate progress including the relevant pieces of the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including but not limited to;
• Defeating attempts to defund or re-write portions of IRA or IIJA;
• Winning Congressional Review Act votes that challenge climate and public health rule-makings and guidances;
• Engaging in the appropriations process to maintain core funding for Agencies, offices and programs that advance climate priorities, as well as defending against harmful policy riders;
• Supporting the nominations of pro-climate leaders to key Administrative positions.
• Engage Members of Congress in our community’s effort to drive a powerful, public narrative that celebrates recent progress while creating ambition for additional climate action;
• Broaden and deepen our relationships with Members and staff, through both direct relationship-building and by creating opportunities for the CAC CEO group, CAC staff, and our coalition partners to collaborate and work with Members;
• Develop a community plan for our work in 2025.

Who We Are

The Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a highly effective, vibrant coalition of national environmental, environmental justice, and public health groups.

The CAC serves as an important center of gravity and convening body for dozens of organizations working together to advance federal climate action.

The CAC was instrumental in passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Highlights include orchestrating hundreds of lobby meetings, thousands of field events, a multi-level, sustained communications campaign, as well as working behind the scenes and across the coalition to establish and maintain strategic direction.

The Director of Government Affairs for Congressional Advocacy is a member of the Government Affairs Team and reports to the Senior Director of Government Affairs.

The Climate Action Campaign is based in Washington D.C.

Who You Are

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with experience in federal politics, who is deeply versed in environmental / climate policy, advocacy, coalition management, and strategic thinking.

Candidates for this position should be / have :

• At least 8-10 years of experience in climate or environmental advocacy, on Capitol Hill, with the Administration, or with similar state-level or international bodies.
• A strong familiarity with climate policy; ideally this familiarity extends to the climate and justice investments enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Existing relationships with Members and staff on the Hill, experience working with Members and staff, and a strong understanding of Members’ climate priorities and interests;
• Be a demonstrated self-starter, able to carry projects from visioning and goal-setting to robust implementation to assessment and reflection.
• Experience working in coalition and an ability to foster alignment across stakeholders; demonstrated coalition leadership experience is a plus.
• A relationship-builder, able to sustain a deeply collaborative approach and work successfully with Members and offices, CAC member group staff, other partners and vendors.
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field, or equivalent related work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to foster new ideas and create and drive collaborative plans.
• Ability to adjust plans and respond to a changing, dynamic political landscape.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong desire to grow and learn.

About the Position

This position will lead CAC’s work on Capitol Hill, including establishing and implementing a plan and goals for CAC’s work on the Hill, fostering and supporting coalition advocacy, and working with the CAC’s Government Affairs team.

This position works collaboratively with other CAC departments, staff from the CAC coalition and CAC partners, consultants and vendors to advance the Campaign’s goals.

A core component of the position is to foster better alignment, communication and a sense of shared purpose between Hill advocates and field partners.

Specific responsibilities include :

• Lead CAC’s work to devise, vet and implement a shared coalition plan for Congressional advocacy, including but not limited to :
• Engaging Members to advocate for and both publicly and privately support our regulatory agenda;
• Leading Member engagement to support sound implementation of the climate and energy provisions from IRA and IIJA;
• Working with our coalition to develop and support legislation that limits climate pollution, advances clean energy, improves public health, and creates more equitable outcomes for communities;
• Opposing Congressional efforts to attack or roll back climate progress through legislation, CRAs, the appropriations process, hearings or other venues.
• Serve as a leading voice and liaison for CAC on the Hill, communicating directly with Members and their staff.
• Build and maintain relationships with key Congressional Members and their staff, including Members from our priority states, leadership offices, and climate champs.

Use relationships to create new opportunities and ideas for advocacy, for improving our climate narrative and to enhance Congressional work.

• Build and maintain external relationships with CAC coalition members, as well as partners outside the CAC coalition. Use relationships to identify opportunities to enhance advocacy work.
• Create advocacy and relationship-building opportunities for CAC CEOs, staff and our coalition.
• Help lead the 2025 planning process, including;
• Help develop a process to engage the coalition’s advocates in identifying, vetting and coalescing around proactive climate policies to support in 2025;
• Through that same process, identifying areas where we could be legislatively vulnerable in 2025, and creating and socializing a defense plan;
• Building or deepening support among Congressional allies for both proactive policies and defense needs.
• Drive improvements to the lobby loop’, which seeks to improve communication, collaboration and effectiveness between DC advocates and field partners.
• Direct CAC consultants who are assisting with Congressional advocacy.
• Relay and coordinate advocacy work with CAC communications staff and field teams, as well as vendors, consultants, partners, and the CAC steering committee.

Leverage CAC resources to support and enhance Congressional advocacy.

• Advise and support the Program Manager for Congressional Advocacy.
• Manage and track deliverables.

If you require reasonable accommodations for a disability so that you may participate in the selection process, please email [email protected].

The Fine Print

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC. Currently, CAC staff are in-person 2-3 days a week, though this may change.

The target salary for this position is $100,000 depending on experience. We offer an excellent benefits package which includes 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, and a 401k plan.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to economic and social justice and do not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

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