Job Description

Climate change is already harming Americans’ health in many ways. We are experiencing more illness and deaths from heat waves, extreme weather events, water, food, and insect borne diseases, wildfires, and increased air pollution. Without immediate and concerted action, these harms will become much worse. While everyone’s health is threatened, those who are most vulnerable include children and seniors, pregnant women, individuals with certain chronic illnesses, and people living in communities already disadvantaged by poverty, racial discrimination, and environmental injustice.

To address this problem the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health (Consortium) organizes, empowers, amplifies, and mobilizes the voices of doctors and other health professionals to advocate for equitable and effective health-focused climate solutions. Since the Consortium launched in 2016, our membership has grown rapidly to 42 national medical societies representing over 700,000 physicians—more than 70% of U.S. doctors. We also have 67 partner organizations representing millions of health professionals across the spectrum of healthcare and public health, including the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society—each with a strong grassroots membership.

Since 2017, we have incubated or helped strengthen 20 Climate and Health State Network Affiliates, adding three or four new states each year.  We currently have four State Network Affiliates in development and are seeking to develop at least two more by 2024. These state groups educate the public and policymakers in their respective states, and advocate for state and local policies that support healthy people and a sustainable future.

We are currently seeking a Director of Policy who would lead the Consortium’s policy priorities in climate and health. This includes determining strategic priorities in concert with Consortium leadership, and analyzing and effectively communicating these priorities to membership and partners.

Responsibilities:

• Track the federal policy landscape (executive, legislative, judicial branches) on provisions related to climate change and health and maintain awareness of the significant developments on the state policy landscape.
• Provide regular briefings, summaries, and alerts to the Consortium staff and all components (steering committee and policy leads representing the member societies, Board of Advisors, state affiliates, Fellows, etc.) and stakeholders on the developing policy landscape.
• Develop policy positions, statements, and briefs for the Consortium based on the policy landscape and Consortium policy principles, especially the Call to Action on Climate, Health, and Equity: A Policy Action Agenda launched in 2019.
• Provide policy expertise and facilitate training for state affiliates and other membership on state and federal policy.
• Participate in planning webinars, meetings, convenings on policy topics.
• Attend regular weekly meetings of the Consortium policy allies, especially meetings of the Healthy Air Partners group of the American Lung Association, and the Climate Action Campaign, and share relevant information with Consortium team and components
• Monitor and collect information on the progress of policy activities and prepare interim reports for strategic planning and adherence to program metrics
• Serve as chair for the subcommittee on Policy for the Steering Committee and Advisory Committee
• Develop and manage relationships with policy staff at other organizations and within Congress and the Administration.

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 2-3 years relevant work experience, Master’s degree plus 1 years relevant work experience, or 5 years relevant work experience in the field of environmental or climate policy or public health policy. Experience working with medical/health professionals is a plus.

How to Apply

• This position could be carried out remotely though a local hire is preferred. Travel to Washington, DC to meet with the team 1-2 times per year will be expected.
• The Director of Policy position will be a contracted position paid at an hourly wage commensurate with experience.
• Send a CV, a resume, a writing sample, and a brief cover letter to [email protected]

Job Categories: Climate Change. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: @docsforclimate on twitter. Salaries: 40,000 - 60,000.

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