Director of Policy & Advocacy

To apply: Please submit a (1) cover letter, (2) resume, and (3) statement describing how your values and experiences advance diversity, equity, and inclusion to kristen@climategfl.org. Applications will be reviewed on April 24th, 2024 and first round interviews will begin the week of April 29th, 2024. 

Company Overview: 

The Climate Solutions Accelerator is an inclusive, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and facilitating a large-scale climate mobilization in the nine-county Genesee-Finger Lakes Region. Our mission is to create a healthier, more equitable, and regenerative community by catalyzing local efforts to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and address the effects of climate change. 

The Accelerator is working to achieve systemic change via two main pathways:

1. Convening and unifying a diverse range of partner organizations to facilitate action and nurture leadership development within organizations. 
2. Organizing and empowering concerned citizens to facilitate individual action, nurture the development of effective community leaders, and build the power of our local climate movement.

All of our work is infused with an equity lens and prioritizes climate solutions that both accelerate emissions reductions and promote health, safety, and economic prosperity for all members of our community. 

Job title: Director of Policy & Advocacy

Reports to: Kristen Van Hooreweghe, Senior Director of Programs 

Hours: Full-time (38 hrs/week), flexible scheduling with some evenings and weekends 

Salary: $66,340 annually

Benefits: 

• Option to work remotely (except when your physical presence is required for meetings and events) or at our physical office;
• Paid time off (PTO), plus 11 paid holidays, two flex holidays, two paid volunteer days, and an annual office closure during the third week of July;
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance;
• Health Savings Account (optional)
• 401k plan with employer match;
• Monthly tech reimbursement;
• Professional development funds.

Position Overview: We are seeking a dynamic and inclusive leader to become our Director of Policy & Advocacy. This person will spearhead the Accelerator’s efforts to meaningfully influence climate policy, primarily at the state and local levels. If you are a committed social change agent who would like to demonstrate your passion through engagement with government officials, allied organizations, and citizen advocates to advance effective, equitable climate policy, we invite you to apply. You will work with smart, dedicated, and strategically savvy colleagues to collaboratively tackle the most critical issues facing our community today.

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Identify policies that will support the implementation of the Genesee-FLX Climate Action Strategy; 
• Coordinate the development and implementation of the Accelerator’s policy agenda;
• Educate, engage, and build our community’s capacity to advance the Accelerator’s policy agenda; 
• Develop tools, resources, and systems to facilitate public participation in our policy advocacy efforts, including:
• Train and organize lobby teams and legislative district liaisons;
• Study and analyze climate policy issues and distill this information into talking points, legislative briefs, action alerts, press releases, etc. 
• Create a process/format for regularly engaging lived experience experts to inform our policy work;
• Vet policy-related support/sign-on requests from other organizations;  
• Develop and publicly share criteria for evaluating the impact of our policy work;
• Participate in state-level climate policy coalitions;
• Intervene in utility rate cases and other regulatory proceedings;
• Collaborate with Accelerator staff and organizational partners to:
• Identify community concerns, needs, and priorities;
• Build strategic relationships and support for our work; 
• Evaluate progress toward achieving the goals of the Genesee-FLX Climate Action Strategy;
• Overcome barriers to progress.

Qualifications: The Director of Policy & Advocacy must be detail-oriented, skilled in motivating and working with others, and comfortable with analyzing, interpreting, and distilling complex legislative and regulatory language. A successful candidate for this position will possess effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build positive working relationships with government officials, citizen advocates, and individuals across the political spectrum. S/he/They will ideally have a solid understanding of the policymaking process in New York State and experience with community organizing and grassroots/volunteer engagement. Demonstrated commitment to climate justice is highly valued. Having a means or form of transportation that allows for travel throughout the nine-county region is a must (mileage reimbursement provided).

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to the Accelerator and we highly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to consider submitting an application for review. All relevant experience is welcome. 

The Accelerator is an equal employment opportunity employer.