Senior State Strategy Associate

Senior State Strategy Associate

The American Flood Coalition (AFC) is a nonpartisan group that drives transformational adaptation to higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding. AFC comprises more than 430 elected officials, local leaders, military groups, and businesses that work together to advance resilient and equitable flood solutions at the local, state, and federal level. As the only organization that focuses on flooding and sea level rise across all levels of government, AFC is uniquely positioned to transform how communities around the country adapt to flooding and sea level rise.

Position Summary

We are seeking an intellectually curious problem-solver to analyze policy, support research, and provide strategic recommendations to a wide range of internal and external audiences. The Senior State Strategy Associate will join our Strategy team, which is responsible for developing and scaling flood resilience policies and best practices between states. This individual will bring subject matter experience in one of the following areas: planning, government funding and finance, emergency management, infrastructure policy, or water resources. By asking the right questions, helping develop policy templates, and providing input on strategic decisions, this individual will be a key player across multiple teams. 

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is passionate about designing frameworks for tackling complex problems, can juggle long- and short-term projects, and has a knack for synthesizing complicated information into clear and compelling narratives. If you want to work alongside immensely passionate and talented people who are intent on helping flood-affected communities adapt and thrive, we want to talk to you. This is a full-time position reporting to our Associate Strategy Director, and will be located in our headquarters in Washington, DC. While this position is posted as a Senior Associate role, we are open to hiring an Associate if you have fewer years of experience (see qualifications below). This role will require occasional work travel, no more than 10% of time.

Responsibilities

• State policy research and development: Develop general and tailored state policy recommendations, guidance, and templates by synthesizing insights informed by evaluations of state legislation and state agency proposals, cross-state comparisons of policy and programs, and research on technical flood topics.
• Communication and state leader engagement: Share information, support knowledge transfer, and spark dialogue on flood resilience best practices and policies. This will include planning and facilitating in-person and virtual meetings to share learnings and policy guidance with senior state leaders, including Chief Resilience Officers, Directors of Departments of Water Resources, and other similar roles. 
• Strategy recommendations: Contribute to internal strategy to advance flood resilience in key geographies and advise senior staff on key insights by breaking down strategic questions into actionable pieces.

Qualifications

Note: we are open to hiring either a Senior Associate or an Associate to fill this role. The qualifications for both are listed below.

Senior Associate

• ​​5+ years experience in policy ​research, strategy, program delivery, and/or policy analysis.
• Applied knowledge in areas such as planning, government funding and finance, emergency management, infrastructure policy, or water resources, and familiarity with state or federal-level planning standards and policy.
• Strong track record of breaking down and communicating complex issues and topics for a variety of audiences, verbally and in writing.
• A track record of effectively engaging senior stakeholders​ across in-person and remote settings.
• Demonstrated aptitude in all areas of strategy development, including project management, problem-solving, and communication​.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously​.

Associate

• ​​3+ years experience in policy ​research, strategy, program delivery, and/or policy analysis.
• Applied knowledge in areas such as planning, government funding and finance, emergency management, infrastructure policy, or water resources and familiarity with state or federal-level planning standards and policy.
• Ability to communicate complex issues in a clear, credible, and compelling manner, verbally and in writing.
• ​Ability to build collaborative cross-functional relationships and effectively engage stakeholders​ across in-person and remote settings.
• ​Strong writing and editing skills with a keen attention to detail​.​

Location

Washington, DC

Benefits

• Senior Associate base salary range: $70,000-$80,000 with an up to 10% annual bonus.
• Associate base salary range: $60,000-$70,000 with an up to 10% annual bonus.
• Generous and flexible paid time off.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k plan with 4% employer match.
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability, as well as basic life insurance and other voluntary benefits.
• Relocation assistance for new employees living outside of the D.C. metropolitan area.

We also offer

• A hybrid work schedule: DC-based staff are in-person in our downtown office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the option to work from home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• Company-sponsored outings, such as happy hours, after-work activities, a holiday party, an annual retreat, and more.
• Office closure the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• A modern office with amenities, including gym access, snacks and drinks, a smart casual dress code, and a collaborative floor plan with options to suit every work style.

We encourage you to apply for this position even if you do not meet 100% of qualifications listed here. The American Flood Coalition is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We invite applications from candidates with unique backgrounds and strive to create and maintain an environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.