The salary range for this position is $90,000 – $100,000.

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 the Biden-Harris administration 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 Manager to steer our coalition’s engagement with the federal government and external partners as we approach the next major inflection point in U.S. climate leadership. Next year’s inauguration of a new presidential term and swearing-in of the 119th Congress will present new opportunities and challenges for Alliance members as they continue advancing ambitious climate policy and making progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement. This position will be responsible for driving the development of a new, two-year federal policy agenda and strategy — in close partnership with member states and Secretariat sector leads — and executing on that strategy to further raise federal ambition and maximize the impact of state climate action. This role will also supervise a Federal & External Affairs Associate and coordinate across teams to support the Secretariat’s engagement with a broad range of federal and external partners, including non-profits, think tanks, and advocates in the climate community. The Federal & External Affairs Manager reports to the Managing Director and is part of the Energy and Climate team at the United Nations Foundation, which houses the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat.

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

Essential Functions

​​Drive the development of the Alliance’s federal agenda and serve as primary advisor to members and staff on federal climate action.

• ​Lead the creation of an ambitious and achievable federal policy agenda to guide the Alliance’s engagement with the federal government and Congress over the next two years.
• ​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.
• ​Where possible, cultivate strong and collaborative state-federal partnerships with the White House and federal agencies to support advancement of governors’ climate goals.
• ​Advise Alliance members, leadership, and staff on relevant congressional action and opportunities for engagement as appropriate.

​Manage the Alliance’s relationships with the federal government and coalition partners.

• ​Act as a liaison with partner climate organizations, representing the Alliance and serving as a primary point of contact for cross-sectoral and federally focused partners and coalitions.

• ​Act as liaison with the White House and relevant federal agencies, along with congressional leadership offices and committees as appropriate.

• ​To maximize the impact of meetings or major federal dialogues with the administration, develop strategies, workplans and briefing documents to prepare for effective, results-driven engagement.

• ​With the Policy Director, convene discussions among Secretariat staff with federal policy portfolios to ensure coordination across sectors, overcome barriers to action, and support the development of whole-of-government approaches to our federal work.

• ​Support the Secretariat’s Executive Director, Managing Director, Policy Director, and policy sector leads in communicating regularly and maintaining relationships with key partners across the federal government.

​Oversee major functions of the Alliance’s federal and external affairs work.

• ​Supervise a Federal & External Affairs Associate.
• ​Direct the modernization of an improved external partners database that can be used internally to keep track of key relationships and, with support from the Federal and External Affairs Associate, ensure that the database is regularly updated.
• ​Lead federal components of the Alliance’s annual strategic work-planning process, partnering collaboratively with Secretariat colleagues to ensure alignment across teams and workstreams.
• ​In partnership with the Communications Team, oversee the development and execution of rollout plans for Alliance announcements, newsletters, press releases and events, maximizing the impact of key moments with relevant partners.

• ​Steer the curation of invitation lists for special events, working closely with the Leadership Team to expand our reach with interested partners and create new opportunities for both informal networking and formal partner engagement.

​Serve on the Policy Team and directly manage at least one policy priority area.

• ​Manage engagement with relevant working group(s). Complete sector-specific annual work plan(s).
• ​Conduct research, analyze key sector trends, and draft chapters of the Alliance’s annual report that outline progress toward our climate goals.
• ​Contribute to products that help Alliance states improve the quantification of opportunities, measure progress toward policy goals, and quantify the co-benefits of action.
• Conduct research, analysis, and draft material for Alliance products across other sectors as needed.

​Perform other duties as assigned.​

Selection Criteria

• ​​​Bachelor’s degree with substantial relevant work experience required.
• ​5-7 years’ experience working with climate and clean energy organizations, with past experience working inside state governments or with governors’ offices preferred.
• ​Demonstrated strong research, analytical, writing, presentation, and briefing skills.
• ​Familiarity with U.S. climate and energy policy, with deep knowledge of the federal and congressional policy landscape. Capitol Hill experience strongly preferred.
• ​Familiarity with relevant U.S. energy and climate-related datasets.
• ​Critical thinker who can generate products tailored to different audiences without requiring frequent direction.
• ​Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to tailor one’s style and content to meet a variety of circumstances.
• ​Aptitude for effectively evaluating policy challenges and opportunities and developing policy agendas that are strategic, ambitious, and achievable.
• ​As part of a small and busy team, key skills include:
• ​Self-motivated with strong ability to find solutions in the face of challenges.
• ​Maximum flexibility in accepting and professionally executing a range of tasks.
• ​Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• ​Ability to diplomatically engage diverse counterparts and use personal discretion in working with sensitive information.
• ​Ability to work under pressure and handle stress.​​

Our Values

The Secretariat’s core values represent our team’s highest priorities and driving forces. These values are the heart of how we go about doing our work in support of each other and our member governors and states, serving as cultural cornerstones and exemplified by all members of our team.

• Purpose: We are aligned by a common purpose to confront the climate crisis and its impacts through the power of state government. We connect our daily work to the Alliance’s mission and, in pursuit of our shared goals, always act in the best interest of our governors and states.
• Excellence: We have high standards in the work we do to support Alliance governors and states. We are focused, data-driven, and attentive to the smallest of details while never losing sight of the big picture.
• Empathy: We value kindness and treat others with dignity and respect, recognizing that our actions affect one another and all those with whom we interact. We consider growth, learning, and development to be priorities.
• Inclusion: We actively work to increase diversity, advance equity, and cultivate a welcoming work environment where everyone feels valued. We are collaborators and prioritize teamwork — knowing that it will take our broader community all working together to ultimately solve the climate crisis.
• Balance: We value a positive work environment and, even in the hectic day-to-day, we make the time to build relationships, celebrate successes, and laugh. We know that balancing home and work lives is essential and encourage each other to put the health and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones first.

Benefits & Compensation

For full-time, U.S. benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:

• a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
• group term and supplemental life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• health club discounts
• commuter subsidy
• back-up care
• employee assistance program

Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.