Legislative Director
Climate Cabinet is “Moneyball” for Climate Change. We identify under-the-radar elected positions that have an outsized climate impact. Then, we help candidates for these positions run, win, and legislate. We win climate majorities and deliver bold, equitable climate solutions in key state and local governments.
State and local policymakers are key to tackling climate change. They are responsible for achieving 75% of our Paris climate goals – and ensuring Biden’s climate investments are implemented in communities across America. Our opposition has known for decades that no amount of federal work can negate the key role of coordinated state-level political and legislative infrastructure for winning their priorities. And unfortunately, we’re outgunned.
When we win elections and help climate champions in office pass bold policy, we get big things done. We need more climate allies in seats of power. That’s why Climate Cabinet exists.
We’re hiring a Legislative Director to drive growth and execution of the legislative program, including the statehouse lobbyist network. This person will lead strategic planning, build the program for impact and scale, drive policy leadership and cross-state sharing, communicate impact, and proactively position Climate Cabinet on the national landscape. They will harness Climate Cabinet’s legislative and political power to pass and defend bold climate policy in state legislatures across the U.S. This is a management position and leadership position that will report to organizational leadership.
Are you…?
A tested program leader– skilled at setting program strategy, building teams, and communicating a shared vision?
Obsessed with state-led climate and energy policy and politics– experienced in climate and energy policy work at the national scale?
A cross-cutting thinker and narrative-weaver – with the ability to synthesize large amounts of information (ie. policy trends, political trends, coalition dynamics) to draw patterns, ask questions, and identify gaps, threats and opportunities?
Willing to take risks, driven by impact– testing strategies no one has tried before, learning and iterating, driven by outcomes to solve climate and build a better society?
An intersectional thinker committed to justice – committed to equity and building a climate movement that centers and makes life better for vulnerable populations?
Key Responsibilities:
Robust strategic planning to build the program for impact and position for growth
Driving smart program growth: we expect this program to double or triple in size by 2026 based on your leadership, in coordination with the fundraising team and organizational leadership.
Articulating a clear shared understanding of where the program is going, with short term and long term goals and growth plans for each state and nationwide.
Building and executing a program that meets funding deliverables, while positioning for continued ambition, learning/iteration, commitment to impact, and increasing political power for climate.
Ensuring program deliverables are met and growth is achieved.
Building the team
Managing, upskilling, and delegating work to state leads and other program staff.
Identifying team needs (ie. staffing, expertise, professional development, etc.) and managing staff workloads, and ensuring accountability to goals.
Positioning state leads to build their personal and organizational brand in each respective state, setting them up for political power, legislative power, and media and fundraising capacity.
Drive legislative strategy, cross-state sharing, and policy priorities
Ensuring our team stays at the cutting edge of emerging policy trends, opportunities threats – and deepens policy expertise
Driving legislative strategy in priority states to translate political power into bold climate wins – in the short, medium, and long terms
Setting legislative priorities and defining organizational stance on current climate, energy, and environmental justice policy issues. This includes creating frameworks and guidelines for rapid response decisions, and ensuring equity in policy design and language supported by Climate Cabinet.
Creating narratives and communicating program impact
Tracking and synthesizing legislative program impact and on-the-ground stories across states – and translating these into communications and fundraising-ready narratives.
Working with organizational and cross-program leadership to communicate impact and narratives at all times.
Proactively positioning Climate Cabinet on the national landscape
Building ongoing relationships with partners across the U.S. to identify needs for deeper support or partnership, position for cross-state sharing & preparedness for rapid response.
Building the brand of Climate Cabinet nationwide and in priority states.
Coordinating with other program directors and organizational leadership to help each other and the overall organization/impact grow.
Location: Remote – anywhere in the U.S. Preference for the following states: Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, North Carolina, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Virginia. Some travel required.
Compensation
Salary: $100,000 or commensurate with experience
Medical, dental and vision insurance fully covered.
Accepting applications on a rolling basis until March 31, 2024.
If you have trouble with this form, email info@climatecabinet.org. Use the subject line: “Job Application – Legislative Director.”
_You should apply! _We encourage applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ folks, working class people, and members of other marginalized communities. Furthermore, if you don’t meet all of the exact job qualifications listed but feel called to the work — please apply. There are many ways to have developed the expertise necessary to excel in this position.
Who we are: We are a dynamic, passionate startup team of experienced climate activists, organizers, campaigners, utility researchers, software engineers, policy experts, and lobbyists. Our Moneyball approach speaks for itself. For example: In 2022, Climate Cabinet’s hard-side electoral program helped climate champions win majorities in Michigan and Minnesota – unlocking bold climate leadership across the Midwest, and leveraging those wins to pass 100% clean electricity standards. And last spring, CCA was the only climate organization to support Yemi Mobolade’s historic campaign for Mayor of Colorado Springs, putting a climate champ at the helm of a conservative stronghold with a fossil fuel-dependent public electric utility.
Read about us in Forbes, 30 under 30, NBC, and Grist; or listen on My Climate Journey and A Matter of Degrees.
Not the right position for you?We have other job openings here.