Description
About the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Our mission is to secure a safe and stable climate by accelerating the transition to a thriving, just, and resilient low-carbon economy. We are widely recognized as an influential voice on climate issues, a trusted convener, and a credible source of expertise and analysis. We work closely with international climate negotiators; federal, state, and local policymakers; executives of Fortune 500 businesses; and a wide range of other stakeholders to advance strong policy and action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. C2ES is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.
About the Regional Clean Economies Initiative: C2ES’s Regional Clean Economies Initiative elevates the perspectives of community stakeholders to inform state and federal policy needs and identify concrete next steps to bring home the economic opportunity of investing in the low-carbon transition. Through interactive group discussions, educational programming, and informative sessions—supplemented with research and analysis—this program brings together leaders of business, government, and communities to explore these opportunities and develop collaborative policy solutions. Currently, this initiative is focused on the critical battery materials supply chain in the Southeast United States, working across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Our organizational values: We are ambitious and practical, advancing effective solutions that push the boundaries of the achievable. We are open-minded and inclusive, seeking out and considering a wide range of voices, views, and approaches. We are people-focused, dedicated to improving human well-being and recognizing that respect and empathy are central to success. We are one team, working collaboratively, communicating openly, making ourselves accessible to each other, and treating one another with kindness and respect.
Requirements
The Advocacy Manager/Senior Advocacy Manager will play an important role in supporting the Regional Clean Economies initiative’s engagement with state and federal policymakers to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies while uplifting economic prosperity for communities. This position requires direct experience in state policy engagement, the ability to establish and maintain a network of relationships with state and federal policymakers on both sides of the aisle and demonstrated ability to work in a team environment. The ideal candidate will have experience working collaboratively with partners from the U.S. government, environmental, business and consumer organizations, industry, and academia. This position will report to the Director of Advocacy.
Major Responsibilities:
Note: Relative an Advocacy Manager, a Senior Advocacy Manager would be expected to contribute at a higher level across all major responsibilities, and would have additional responsibilities identified below.
- Develop and maintain a sophisticated internal understanding of the state-level political landscape within our focus region, including executive branches and state legislatures;
- Working with the Director of Advocacy and the Regional Clean Economies initiative, develop a strategy for educating and engaging state policymakers on issues relevant to our focus topics;
- Stay current on state developments relevant to the Regional Clean Economies initiative, i.e., track and maintain a calendar of key legislative session dates for all states within the target region, identify key legislators for engagement, and inform strategy development with the Director of Advocacy and Regional Clean Economies initiative;
- Establish and maintain a network of relationships with key state legislative offices, governors’ offices, and state agencies in the focus region for the Regional Clean Economies initiative;
- Build and maintain relationships with relevant advocacy groups, with a focus on state and local efforts in the target region around our focus issue;
- Coordinate federal policy advocacy relevant to the Regional Clean Economies initiative, i.e., building and maintaining relationships with federal congressional offices in the target regions and supporting planning and logistics for federal fly-ins with regional stakeholders;
- In coordination with the Director of Advocacy, support C2ES’s federal advocacy on the policy topics and regions where there is overlap;
- Keep a record of time spent on lobbying activities in a timely and routine basis for LDA and IRS reports;
- Contribute to a positive organizational culture, including by participating in regular events such as all-staff meetings and meetings of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Council, and by seeking to model the organization's values.
Additional Responsibilities for the Senior Manager Include:
- Leverage existing relationships with one or more advocacy groups operating in the region to expand ambitious support for the Regional Clean Economies initiative’s policy priorities;
- Lead the development and implementation of an engagement strategy for state policymakers;
- Lead the development and execution of events and fly-ins for key stakeholders to advance federal policy objectives;;
- Proactively identify opportunities for coordinated state and federal advocacy on policy topics and regions where there is overlap.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, environmental or energy policy, political science, or international affairs;
- At least 4-7 years of experience working on climate or energy policy at the state or local level in government, at a nonprofit organization, or with industry;
- Established relationships with state legislators or their staff in at least one of the current target states in the Southeast region (AL, GA, NC, SC, TN), and with other energy stakeholders;
- Understanding of legislative process;
- A willingness to register as a lobbyist;
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
- Self-motivated and able to work both independently and with guidance;
- Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills;
- Commitment to, knowledge of, or experience in advancing issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental/climate justice;
- Flexibility, willingness to pitch in at all levels, and a team player.
Additional Qualifications for the Senior Manager Include:
- At least 8 years of experience working on climate or energy policy at the state or local level in government, at a nonprofit organization, or with industry;
- Brings an existing network of state and federal policymakers and advocacy groups in one of the target states in the Southeast on relevant issues relating to clean energy, manufacturing, and industrial policy;
- Ability to be conversant in key issue areas that support state education and advocacy efforts;
- Experience engaging in the legislative process (e.g. experience advancing state legislation and/or engaging in the state rulemaking process).
Desired Qualifications:
- Previous experience working directly with state legislators in the Southeast region;
- In-depth knowledge of legislative processes, including the budget processes;
- In-depth knowledge of regulatory processes and the scope for executive actions;
- Experience working directly with large companies, and/or trade associations on climate and energy policy;
- Familiarity with the landscape of climate-focused NGOs and an awareness of C2ES’s unique value proposition;
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize among and efficiently manage multiple assignments and meet critical deadlines.
Status: Full-time, benefits-eligible. Overtime exempt.
Full Time – This position is based in Washington, D.C. (option for remote work from AL, GA, NC, SC, TN)
Starting Salary Range: Starting salary range is $81,000-$101,000 for an Advocacy Manager and $101,000-$126,000 for a Senior Advocacy Manager. Salary will be dependent on experience and qualifications, with the potential to be above the top end of the range in appropriate circumstances
Travel, Time & Location Requirements: C2ES operates a hybrid work environment from our main office in Washington, D.C. For staff located in the Washington, D.C. region, physical presence in the office is expected at least two to three days per week. If the applicant is hired remote, physical presence in the main office is expected at least 5 days per quarter Regular travel (<25%) will be required. Washington, DC is the preferred location. Remote candidates will be considered if they reside in one of the states listed in the posting.
To Apply: When submitting your application, please include an updated resume and cover letter
Timeline: We will receive applications until January 9th, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. Submitted applications will be reviewed after such date.
Benefits Offered:
- Health Insurance. Health Insurance. C2ES offers 80% of premiums for a specific platinum-level health insurance reference plan, the dollar value of which may be applied to any platinum-level plan offered to us on the DC Health Link marketplace. The remainder of the premiums for the plan chosen by the employee will be deducted pretax from the employee’s paycheck.
- Dental Insurance. C2ES covers 100% of the dental premiums.
- Vision Insurance: Employee covers the total cost of this plan.
- Long Term Disability and Short-Term Disability.
- DC Paid Family Leave (employes working in the DC office)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
- Group Life insurance and Voluntary Life insurance.
- Leave Time: New employees start accumulating 3 weeks' vacation per year.
- Sick time: up to 10 days per year.
- Personal Leave: Up to Two personal days per year.
- Parental Leave
- FMLA Leave
- Holidays: C2ES observes 13 holidays during the year. Additionally, the organization closes in the last week of year.
- Hybrid and flexible environment.
We will only be effective in developing and advocating for climate solutions if we have a diverse range of voices and perspectives represented within C2ES, in our work, and among our partners. C2ES is committed to creating and growing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and among the stakeholders we collaborate with and convene. By fostering this culture, we can enhance our work and amplify our impact. We encourage individuals of all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, political viewpoints, genders, sexual identities, and abilities to apply for this position. For more on C2ES’s organizational values and commitment to inclusion, visit: https://www.c2es.org/about/our-organizational-values-inclusion/
