Associate, Federal & External Affairs, U.S. Climate Alliance

Salary Range: $68,000.00 - $72,000.00 commensurate with experience

Position Overview

The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors securing America’s net-zero future by advancing state-led, high-impact climate action. The Alliance Secretariat helps its members accelerate climate action by providing a broad range of technical, analytical, policy, and capacity assistance and resources. The coalition has also built strong relationships with policy makers to help create and implement an ambitious, durable national climate framework. For more information on the Alliance, please visit www.usclimatealliance.org. 

The U.S. Climate Alliance seeks a highly motivated Federal & External Affairs Associate to help manage the coalition’s engagement with the federal government and external partners as we approach the next major inflection point in U.S. climate leadership. At the Federal level,  new opportunities and challenges will arise for Alliance members as they continue making progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement. This position will be responsible for tracking federal climate action at the executive and legislative levels, advising Alliance members and Secretariat staff on major federal updates and opportunities for engagement, overseeing federal components of the Alliance’s weekly newsletter, managing relationships with federal and external partners, maintaining relevant databases and distribution lists, and working across the climate community to maximize the Alliance’s impact. This role reports to the Alliance’s Federal & External Affairs Manager.

This position is part of the Energy and Climate team at the United Nations Foundation, which houses the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat. It is based in Washington, DC (hybrid schedule) with consideration for remote work in the contiguous United States.

This position is based in Washington, DC (hybrid schedule) with consideration for remote work in the contiguous U.S. 

Essential Functions

Track and analyze developing federal climate policies.

• Track and analyze federal climate policy developments in real-time, including both executive and regulatory actions and congressional activities on Capitol Hill.
• Oversee and maintain the Alliance’s federal policy trackers that are used by Alliance members and Secretariat staff to stay up-to-date on federal policy actions and opportunities for formal or informal engagement.
• Partner with member states, Secretariat sector leads, and coalition partners to evaluate and prioritize opportunities for the Alliance to engage strategically on federal climate action to advance progress and prevent back-sliding
• Prepare briefing memos or other materials as needed for Alliance members and the Secretariat to digest complex information and evaluate federal engagement opportunities.
• Draft written updates on federal climate action to be distributed to 700+ officials across the Alliance’s states and territories through our Weekly RoundUp newsletter.   

Modernize and maintain key systems essential to the Alliance’s federal and external affairs work.

• Maintain and update databases and distribution lists used by the Alliance Secretariat to stay in regular contact with federal and external partners, including points of contact at the White House, federal agencies, non-profits, think tanks, and advocacy groups.
• Systematize intake of requests for external partner engagements across the organization to streamline decision-making, ensure our limited time is used effectively, and strengthen our role and reputation in the climate space.
• Oversee modernization of the Alliance’s federal policy trackers and external partner contacts database to be more dynamic, more user-friendly, and more easily updated for both Alliance members and Secretariat staff.
• In partnership with the Communications and Programs & Analysis Teams, support integration of the federal policy tracking system inside our new member portal.

Conduct research, create presentations, and draft written materials to support Alliance members and increase public awareness of state climate action.

• Provide regular updates to Alliance members and Secretariat staff on federal climate action with implications for state climate policy, including through staff meetings, our weekly newsletter, and biweekly meetings with Governor-Office Representatives, among other forums.
• Prepare relevant content for quarterly external newsletters.
• Create materials that support major Alliance meetings and workshops, including by working with Alliance states, consulting outside experts, and conducting desk research.
• Develop talking points for Secretariat staff members who are speaking with external audiences to ensure we are speaking with one voi