Campaign Manager/Senior Campaign Manager, State-Federal Climate Initiative @ Center for American Progress

Application Info

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Description

Reports to: Director, Energy and Environment Campaigns
Staff reporting to this position: None
Department: Energy and Environment
Position classification: Exempt, full time
Minimum compensation: $61,000/$68,000
Work site: Hybrid (on-site two days per week, Washington, D.C., office)

Summary

American Progress is seeking a highly motivated and organized professional with a strong advocacy and organizing background and an understanding of strategic communications to serve as the Campaign Manager or Senior Campaign Manager for its State-Federal Climate Initiative.

The successful candidate will be driven by American Progress’ mission to improve the lives of all Americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action, with the aim of not only changing the conversation, but changing the country. They will be part of a dynamic department that supports work across American Progress’ five crosscutting priorities:

• Strengthening health and ending the pandemic
• Building an economy for all
• Tackling climate change and environmental injustice
• Advancing racial equity and justice
• Restoring social trust in democracy

This position will work with American Progress’ State-Federal Climate Initiative as part of the Energy and Environment Campaigns team, which focuses on climate-specific communications and advocacy, and will work in coordination with American Progress’ government affairs, advocacy, and communications staff.

The State-Federal Climate Initiative seeks to elevate lessons learned from the states on climate action to the federal level, as well as to communicate relevant federal policies to state and local leaders—encouraging nationwide state and federal adoption of equitable, just, and ambitious climate action plans. The Initiative places a particular focus on analyzing the progress being made in state laws aimed to achieve 100 percent clean energy, environmental justice, and high-quality union jobs; building an equitable and just clean energy economy; and examining the coalition-building and advocacy strategies that have engaged broad and diverse constituencies in the states. Accordingly, this position will support the Initiative by encouraging bold federal action that flows from, is informed by, and supports state-level progress on climate, good jobs, and justice.

Working in close coordination with the Senior Fellow leading this project and with the Energy and Environment Campaigns team, the Campaign Manager or Senior Campaign Manager will maintain ownership of the development and implementation of the State-Federal Climate Initiative strategy. This individual will identify, drive, and maintain relationship-building, coalition engagement, and advocacy campaigns; strategize and implement targeted engagement with state and local elected officials and regulators, the administration, and community groups; develop and implement communications tactics; and independently produce high-quality expert written products, videos, briefings, and public events. The Campaign Manager or Senior Campaign Manager will also amplify state and local climate successes; communicate federal initiatives to state and local partners; and show how states can inform equitable and just nationwide policy action.

Responsibilities:

• Lead—with support from the Senior Fellow—the State-Federal Climate Initiative in the development and implementation of a strategy and work plan to achieve its objectives.
• Follow the local, state, and national political and policy conversation regarding energy and climate change and make strategic recommendations for American Progress’ engagement.
• Author products such as columns, reports, and op-eds and draft messaging guidance and talking points.
• Plan, support, and host coalition meetings, convenings, and public events with diverse partners to share ideas and identify key lessons learned on climate action from the state and local levels.
• Identify, cultivate, and foster productive working relationships with partner organizations and individuals at the national and state levels that support climate action, with a particular focus on advancing the team’s existing partnerships with environmental justice organizations and labor unions.
• Manage relationships with external vendors; secure needed approvals on contracts with vendors; instruct vendors on workstreams and deliverables; and track progress to inform future scopes of work.
• Partner with state- and local-level advocates to drive climate messaging in their states and elevate climate messaging to the federal level by arranging and leading meetings with policymakers and federal agencies.
• Represent American Progress in coalition meetings, on conference calls, and to the press.
• Conduct targeted educational outreach to the administration, members of Congress, and staff to share ideas from the states and connect state and local level partners with allies on Capitol Hill.
• Continuously track progress on grant-funded work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and qualifications:

• Relationship-building: The Campaign Manager or Senior Campaign Manager will excel at developing the connections and relationships necessary to make advocacy efforts more effective by supporting the team’s partnerships with environmental justice organizations, labor groups, national climate groups, Capitol Hill offices, state and local elected leaders, and community groups. This includes utilizing one-on-one, small, and large group meetings. This person will be a connector and a facilitator, as well as a key lynchpin of American Progress’ relationships with individuals and organizations at the state and local levels.
• Creative and nimble problem-solving: The Senior Campaign Manager will constantly search for new and creative ways to share American Progress’ products and ideas and find new levers to pull in developing and running advocacy campaigns.
• Strategic vision: This position will enjoy working strategically and casting a critical eye to opportunities for lifting up state messages; engage in conversations that further climate change policy debates and political opportunities; and know how to craft and direct messages at intended audiences.
• Ability to multitask: This position will be able to handle multiple deadlines, including turning around unexpected work quickly and professionally. In doing so, the candidate must bring a willingness to take on new challenges.
• Concise and clear writing: The ideal candidate will draft written products in multiple formats and lengths that are concise and easy to follow, driving home key policy and political narratives.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Three to five years of relevant work experience for the Campaign Manager position; at least five years of relevant work experience for the Senior Campaign Manager position.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Prior experience in candidate or issue advocacy campaigns; at least one cycle of electoral or independent campaign experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of state- and local-level politics and policymaking.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with energy or environmental issues and commitment to environmental justice principles, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to make strategic connections between external partners; facilitate sharing of ideas; and plan convenings and coalition meetings, all with minimal oversight.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and seeks direction as needed.
• Superb research and writing ability and ability to plan ahead and set priorities.
• Prior experience working with environmental justice groups and/or on environmental justice issues is preferred but not required.
• Commitment to American Progress’ mission and goals, particularly equitable and just action to tackle the climate crisis that improves peoples’ lives, especially those who have been or will be disproportionately affected toxic pollution, climate impacts, and shifting industries.

More about the State-Federal Climate Initiative:

American Progress launched the State-Federal Climate Initiative in partnership with national and state partners, policy experts, and community and advocacy organizations to lift up state and local climate successes and show how they can inform nationwide policy action. The Initiative places a particular focus on the progress being made in state laws aimed to achieve 100 percent clean energy, environmental justice, high-quality union jobs; building an equitable and just clean energy economy; and confronting corporate special interests that have held back climate progress. This work includes not only an examination of successful state and local policies, but also the coalition- building and advocacy strategies that have engaged broad and diverse constituencies and produced the most effective results.

Transformative policy change often begins in the states. Thanks to the conditions that now exist for bold federal climate action in 2023, it is critical to translate ambitious state-level climate action into nationwide action—and conversely, to show how a forward-looking federal government can continue to support strong state and local climate policy.

American Progress offers a full and competitive benefits package. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by IFPTE Local 70. The Campaign Manager position has a minimum salary of $61,000, and the Senior Campaign Manager position has a minimum salary of $68,000.

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and the levels of community spread and adjust plans as needed for in-office work. Any changes to our current hybrid work policy will be communicated at the time of hire. Updates will be posted on American Progress’ Jobs page.

How to Apply

Please click here to apply online.

Location

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Category

External

Posted

2023-01-31 00:00