The salary range for this position is $74,000 – $84,000

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 federal government 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 Senior Operations Associate to support the efficient and effective management of core organizational functions that are critical to achieving the Alliance’s mission. Specifically, the Senior Operations Associate will manage planning and execution of Alliance events, including in-person semiannual meetings with governors’ offices, policy learning labs, events at Climate Week NYC and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP), and hosted receptions; oversee logistics for Secretariat meetings and events; track action items and partner with staff to ensure timely follow-up; organize team-building activities; direct the Alliance’s growing internship program; and work with the Chief of Staff to implement other key special projects, such as annual strategic planning. This position is ideal for a creative and detail-oriented professional with a passion for operations management and working collaboratively with others. The position reports to the Chief of Staff 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

Lead planning and execution of major Alliance events

• Serve as operations lead on all meetings and events hosted by the Alliance to ensure their success and maximize impact. Events may include semiannual meetings of governors’ offices, national and regional learning labs, press conferences, hosted receptions, staff retreats, federal-state convenings, funder roundtables, and state capital visits.
• Develop event budgets, track spending, and ensure expenses come in within budget and invoices are paid.
• Oversee distribution of invitations and manage collection of RSVPs in close collaboration with policy, development, and communications leads, providing regular updates on registered attendees.
  • Develop event runs-of-show, ensuring day-of responsibilities are appropriately identified and covered.
  • Track the development of event materials (e.g., talking points, presentations, signage) and work closely with content leads to ensure all materials are completed on time.
• Serve as a point of contact for day-of event execution, managing event set-up and registration.
  • Manage relationships with preferred event vendors, including caterers, hotels, and venues. Review and negotiate event-related contracts and grants.
  • Liaise directly with governors’ offices and state staff regarding travel support and logistics.
• Organize event debriefs and help capture feedback to improve and strengthen future engagements.
• Track needed follow-up actions in the Alliance’s project management system and work with the Chief of Staff to assign tasks, as needed.

Direct the Alliance’s growing internship program

• Develop and implement a year-round hiring and recruitment plan for interns, covering spring, summer, and fall cycles.
• Work across departments to identify opportunities for interns to join our team and contribute to our mission while developing their own skills and professional experiences.
• Screen intern applications and recommend candidates to interview.
• Facilitate intern onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Organize professional development and learning opportunities for interns to maximize their experiences while working with the Alliance.
• Build out an alumni engagement strategy for former Alliance interns to stay involved with our team and our work.

Organize Secretariat engagements that promote team building and professional growth

• Oversee logistics for all internal meetings and events of the Secretariat, including annual staff retreats.
• Lead planning of monthly brown bags for Secretariat staff that highlight Alliance policy priority areas, departmental updates, and other topics focused on professional growth.
• Plan regular staff gatherings that promote team building and support morale, such as team games, happy hours, optional after-work events, and the holiday party.
• Organize activities recognizing team milestones, such as work anniversaries and birthdays.
• Manage other key special projects
• Partner closely with the Chief of Staff and leadership team to carry out a variety of special projects, including overseeing and executing the Alliance’s annual strategic planning process.
• Develop, track, and document important Alliances processes and policies in our dynamic employee handbook platform (Trainual) to strengthen organizational and institutional excellence.

Other duties as assigned.

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3-4 years of relevant work experience, including past experience managing projects and planning and implementing events. Previous experience negotiating contracts is a plus.
• Superior attention to detail and commitment to customer service in supporting our member governors.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience using Salesforce, Eventbrite, Zoom, and project management software (e.g., ClickUp) is preferred but not required.
• Aptitude for working effectively and collaboratively across teams and time zones.
• Organizational, political, and emotional intelligence and ability to use discretion around sensitive information.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, and work well under pressure.
• Interest in U.S. climate and clean energy policy issues and a passion for our mission.

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, 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.