Job Description

Timing: Begins on or around July 15, 2024

Preferred location: Maryland, DC, Virginia

The Center for Progressive Reform is seeking a creative, resourceful, and collaborative analyst who brings advocacy, research/writing, and networking skills to help us advance our goals for climate and environmental justice. We seek candidates who have a deep commitment to inclusive and progressive environmental and economic policies that address historic and contemporary inequities.

Climate justice requires addressing racial and economic disparities and lack of access in climate policy. We’re working with activists and advocates, including those representing frontline communities, to elevate and amplify the climate concerns of overburdened and underserved groups. We seek to advance key climate justice policies at the state and federal levels — and prevent future climate policies from reinforcing existing inequities and promoting the interests of those who profit from climate change: the fossil fuel industry and its enablers.

Environmental justice means centering the needs and raising up the demands of lower-income communities and communities of color who face disproportionately greater hazards from pollution and chemical disasters. Through research and policy advocacy, we work to hold companies that violate environmental protections accountable and address regulatory and legislative gaps that disproportionately harm overburdened and underserved communities.

Areas of Focus

The Senior Policy Analyst has three core responsibilities:

● Lead research and policy advocacy in Maryland to further climate and environmental justice and to actively support the advocacy of others (coalitions, peers, frontline communities, etc.). 40%.
● Lead research and support policy advocacy as appropriate in neighboring states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania and elsewhere on strategic environmental justice initiatives). 40%.
● Actively support the climate justice team and other policy staff in research, analysis, and networking on issues relating to public utility commissions, community benefit agreements, renewable energy, and other topics. 20%.

The Senior Policy Analyst will work collaboratively with other policy analysts and communications staff and serve as a member of the climate justice team. The successful candidate will engage our network of Member Scholars drawing on their expertise and 2 supporting public messaging to advance program goals. The Senior Policy Analyst reports to the Executive Director, though this may change over time.

Specifically, the role includes the following responsibilities:

Policy Advocacy and Collaboration
● Lead policy advocacy and collaboration with climate justice peers, allies, and representatives from frontline communities in Maryland on identified program strategies
● On relevant energy, climate, and climate justice policy issues in Maryland and other identified states, contribute to advocacy efforts and strategically cultivate relationships related to legislation, rulemaking, agency programs and policies, and enforcement trends ● As appropriate, serve as an organizational spokesperson on environmental justice, energy, climate, and climate justice policy issues
● Participate and provide expertise in coalitions and networks with state and national stakeholders as appropriate to provide expertise and promote research findings

Research and Analysis
● Collaborate with research partners and key stakeholders, peer and community organizations, and other stakeholders, at times offering leadership and at times supporting, and serving as a connector between policymakers and affected communities ● At times lead and at other times, support research, data collection, and analysis with Member Scholars and other staff on identified research
● Collaborate with communications colleagues, Member Scholars, and other staff to write clear, compelling, concise, and accessible blog posts, social media content, op-eds, fact sheets, and reports for publication to a variety of audiences
● Develop and execute strategies for distributing the team’s written work widely and creatively through outreach to policymakers, advocates, academics, partners, and allies

Other responsibilities
● Contribute to fundraising efforts through donor relationships, grantwriting, and reporting
● Offer organizational leadership on identified projects and contribute to team-based solidarity
● Join weekly staff calls and monthly in-person staff meetings, actively participate in organizational activities, and contribute to an atmosphere of inquiry, collaboration, and activism
● Seek collaboration opportunities with other staff
● Actively explore developing issues and trends relevant to our goals

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Qualified candidates will possess the following:
● Demonstrated commitment to the public interest community and the Center’s mission ● Strong substantive knowledge of climate and environmental law and policy, particularly their relation to racial justice
● Significant experience working in energy or climate policy or related advocacy and coalition-building at state or national levels. Working relationships with key actors and networks in Maryland is a big plus
● Nuanced understanding of how race, class, gender, and geography intersect with public policy process and outcomes
● Demonstrated excellence in research, writing, and advocacy, including experience interpreting, synthesizing, and communicating effectively about complex matters of law and policy
● Exemplary verbal and written communication skills, with attention to detail, ability to consistently meet or beat deadlines, and demonstrated success in writing clear, concise materials that are accessible to a variety of audiences
● Practical understanding (and demonstrated commitment preferred) of how to leverage social media platforms to support advocacy efforts
● Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style, with proven experience working with overburdened and underserved communities
● Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in a team setting ● Creativity and a desire to learn, grow, and support others
● Relationships with the philanthropic community and proven success in fundraising are highly valued

Qualifications
● 5+ years of experience showing progressively increased and deepened responsibilities in the fields of public policy research and advocacy or related work
● An advanced degree in a relevant field (i.e., law, public health, public policy, etc.)

Location and Travel

This is a fully remote position. The Center operates in a virtual work environment with employees working from their home offices. A proven ability to work from home and collaborate with others remotely is essential.

Preferred location is in the Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia area, though we will consider candidates in other locations. The candidate can expect attendance at relevant Maryland and Washington, DC-based events (legislative hearings, agency hearings, coalition meetings, etc.). For staff in the MD/DC/VA area, the Center hosts monthly in-person staff meetings with others joining remotely. Other program travel will be occasional (2-4 days every two months), and the ability to travel is required.

The Center is a member of the Open Gov Hub in Washington, DC, which offers work and meeting space, as well as other resources for its members.

Schedule

Employees work 40 hours per week, normally Monday through Friday, with the flexibility to accommodate other life commitments. Employees may spend extended periods at a computer.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $90,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: The Center contributes to the cost of health and dental insurance, including employee dependents. Premiums are deducted from employee paychecks on a pre-tax basis. Full-time employees may participate in a 401(k) retirement plan with automatic 2 percent contributions 4 from the Center. The Center offers generous vacation, holiday, personal, parental, and sick leave.

How to Apply

How to Apply: To apply, please send a cover letter explaining your interest in this position, resume, brief writing sample, and, if applicable, links to your work reflecting your qualifications to [email protected]. We will consider applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. All applications will be acknowledged promptly. No phone calls, please. This job announcement can also be found at https://progressivereform.org/careers/. If you require alternative methods of application or screening, please send an email request to [email protected].

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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