California Climate Policy Manager

Pacific Environment

Pacific Environment seeks to protect communities and wildlife of the Pacific Rim. We support community leaders to fight climate change, protect the oceans, build just societies, and move away from fossil fuels toward a green economy. Learn more at www.pacificenvironment.org.

Pacific Environment is campaigning to end fossil fuel use, including to get ships off fossil fuels. Our strategies include creating strong regulatory frameworks to achieve zero-emission shipping on a timeline commensurate with the climate emergency; pressuring corporate customers to demand zero-emission ships; and influencing ports on the Pacific West Coast and beyond to end fossil fuel build-out and ready themselves for zero-emission shipping instead.

Position

Pacific Environment seeks a California Climate Policy Associate Manager to advance our climate priorities and provide critical policy support for Pacific Environment’s campaigns on zero-emission shipping and ports in California. They will provide research, writing, and analytical support to implement the Climate Program’s legislative and campaign priorities, provide logistical support for meetings and events, and manage California policy and regulatory work streams. The successful candidate will have policy advocacy experience, specifically legislative experience, at the California or state-level, and a passion for solving the climate crisis.

This position will report to the Climate Policy Director.

Location

This position is remote and requires working West Coast time zone hours, with a strong preference for physical presence in Sacramento, California. While most work will be completed remotely, there will be travel obligations for in-person legislative and regulatory hearings, meetings and events.

In addition, the position may involve other domestic or international travel. Pacific Environment is sensitive to COVID-19 and other potential obstacles to safe travel.

Responsibilities

• Advocate before the State Legislature, at regulatory hearings, and stakeholder meetings
• Serve as Pacific Environment’s policy lead in California to advance adoption of CA’s shipping regulations by directly engaging legislators, regulatory agencies, and other government stakeholders
• Lead engagement with staff and high-level decisionmakers at relevant state agencies including CPUC, CEC and CalSTA and support engagement at CARB and Go-BIZ
• Monitor relevant bills introduced and advancing through the California legislature
• Crafting position letters, public testimony, fact sheets, and policy papers in support of PE’s policy and legislative priorities
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with coalition members, community groups, and key partners
• Represent Pacific Environment with the press, in coalitions with key allies, and in key policy forums
• Conduct research and analysis to support policy development
• Mobilize grassroots support (online and in-person) to influence decision makers to adopt PE’s policy priorities, including but not limited to petitions, direct actions, town halls, etc.
• Other tasks as determined by the Climate Policy Director

Key Qualifications

• At least 5 years of previous work experience, particularly with managing policy advocacy or environmental and social change campaigns
• Proven track record of delivering successful advocacy initiatives, bringing together several strategies (grassroots organizing, traditional and digital outreach, engaging policymakers, in-person mobilization tactics, etc.)
• Demonstrated professional experience with California legislative and regulatory landscape and process. Familiarity with state agencies and proceedings overseeing air quality and energy (e.g., CPUC, CARB, CEC, BAAQMD) is a plus
• Experience working in coalition and building organizational partnerships across issues and differences. Experience working with labor a plus.
• Experience working with communities most impacted by the climate crisis, with a particular eye for those most impacted by racial & economic injustice
• Environmental commitment is a must. Experience in maritime decarbonization or freight sector is a plus.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated critical and strategic thinking abilities and have proactive approach to problem solving
• Ability to problem-solve and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment is essential
• Possess tenacious and positive, can-do attitude
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and online platforms and research tools necessary to succeed in a remote working environment

Relevant experience for this position can take many forms, and we strongly encourage applicants from a diversity of backgrounds.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary for this role is $80,000 - $90,000.

Pacific Environment provides compensation commensurate with experience and equitable with others on our team, plus a full benefits package for staff positions. The salary range is carefully considered to account for equity, and the final offer will be based on a candidate’s qualifications. The employee will enjoy a flexible working environment with a dedicated, diverse group of colleagues.

Physical Requirements

The California Climate Policy Manager work involves remaining in a stationary position and looking at a computer for long stretches of time, communicating with co-workers electronically, and frequent travel (including overnight travel), in-person meetings, or events. The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Pacific Environment has an organization-wide policy that staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Pacific Environment is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people from communities harmed by environmental degradation and from backgrounds underrepresented in the environmental movement to apply. We welcome diversity to do our best work and believe that creating teams in which everyone can be their authentic self is key to the change we seek.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Pacific Environment. Please inform our HR team by emailing recruiting@pacificenvironment.org if you need any assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application or interview process.

Pacific Environment participates in the E-Verify Program: https://www.e-verify.gov/employees

No phone calls, please.