Job Posting: Washington Representative, Climate & Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington D.C.
The Position
Under direction of the Government Affairs Manager – plan, coordinate, and participate in advocacy and outreach efforts in support of UCS’s national climate and energy policy agenda. Provide support for campaigns aimed at achieving UCS policy goals. Advocate UCS climate and energy policy agenda with Congress, the Executive Branch, non-governmental organizations and business groups; represent UCS before media and public; participate in the development of UCS policy positions. Work with other organizations on coordinated lobbying and organizing strategies, including representing UCS at coalition meetings; help identify and cultivate a network of grasstops individuals. Collaborate with members of clean vehicles team and other UCS programs and departments as needed; supervise interns and occasional consultants.
Responsibilities
- Working under the supervision of the Government Affairs Manager, support advocacy efforts on related to UCS’s national climate and energy policy agenda. Help develop and implement campaign strategy for cross-program climate and energy policy, focusing on education and outreach to policymakers and Washington-based stakeholders. Participate in planning and strategy sessions for UCS’s cross-programmatic climate and energy agenda.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with congressional representatives, committees, and their staff, administration and agency officials, and advocates from allied organizations.
- Provide UCS input into legislation and regulation; monitor bill progress and assist in producing desired legislative and regulatory outcomes. Write and edit materials for use on the Hill. Involve UCS analysts to provide technical information on transportation, energy, climate and nuclear policy as necessary.
- Contribute to ongoing efforts to recruit individuals to influence key decisionmakers and help achieve UCS policy goals. In coordination with other program staff, develop and implement strategy to attract new voices to UCS campaigns. In accord with our annual programmatic goals and campaign efforts, undertake outreach to representatives of key constituencies such as agriculture, labor, religious groups, public health and consumer groups, and the business community as appropriate to advance UCS goals.
- Working with experts and UCS Climate and Energy program staff to respond to Hill requests for scientific information and policy design proposals on climate and energy issues, and requests for guidance from UCS members, other activists, other advocates, and the general public. Working with outreach staff, provide regular updates on the status of key legislation and policy issues through updates to UCS’ lobby caucus and for UCS publications.
- Coordinating with the relevant Washington Representatives and outreach staff, help plan and participate in lobby days and other education and outreach activities. Represent UCS at public events and conferences. Present information on UCS policy agenda to various groups, including regulators, legislative committees, civic and community organizations, etc. Write testimony, fact sheets, briefing papers, speeches, presentations, and other advocacy materials, in collaboration with other UCS staff. Participate in conference panels and briefings and represent UCS in coalition meetings.
- Help respond to press inquiries on selected climate and energy issues. Maintain effective working relationships with press representatives who cover Congress on relevant issues. Write and contribute to materials for distribution to the media. In consultation with UCS media staff, conduct interviews with media representatives; draft press releases, op-eds, and letters to the editor; blog writing.
- Maintain working knowledge of general climate policy issues and legislation, and clean energy work.
- As needed, provide input to the Outreach Committee to help coordinate grasstops activities and utilization of UCS resources and infrastructure. Serve on the internal legislative group, the Lobby Caucus. Help coordinate advocacy activities and issue campaign needs with UCS development, communications, and administrative staff.
- Contribute to foundation proposals and reports.
Compensation, Hours and Location: This is a full-time position based in UCS’s Washington, DC office. For candidates who meet all position requirements, the salary is in the high $60,000s. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment.Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org/about/jobs-ucs
To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, relevant writing sample, salary requirements, and how you learned about the position via email and include “Washington Rep” in the subject line. Email materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls please. Deadline: October 13, 2014 or until filled.
Requirements
Qualifications and experience
Position requires knowledge of effective issue campaign development, an understanding of advocacy campaigns and the legislative process, including advocacy techniques, legislative strategy, as well as familiarity with the relevant Congressional committees and the decision-making process of the executive branch of the federal government. Working knowledge of energy and climate policy is strongly preferred, as are skills in public speaking and written communication. A bachelor’s degree is required, with advanced degree in related field desirable. Training or experience in supervision and project management is also desirable. Proficiency in word processing and database software is required.
Work requires a minimum of 5 years of full-time comparable legislative or advocacy experience with additional experience in campaign planning, and an understanding of political organizing and strategy development at the federal or state level desired. A prerequisite for this position is proven advocacy and communication skills and experience working either in Congress or for NGOs working to influence governmental decision-making. Success and experience in utilizing Social Media.
At UCS, comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.
UCS is an equal opportunity employer continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.