Federal Climate Policy Director

Location: Washington, D.C. (mainly remote work— candidate must be based in Washington, D.C., and prepared for travel obligations for in-person meetings and events locally, regionally and internationally)

Type: Full-time, exempt

Reports to: Climate Policy Director

Direct reports: Not planned

Salary range: $105,000-$115,000, commensurate with experience

Pacific Environment is a nonprofit organization dedicated to confronting our most urgent environmental issues by connecting local and global movements, catalyzing policy change and inspiring action for the benefit of people and our planet. Together, we promote a healthy climate, reduce pollution and conserve biodiversity for an equitable and thriving future. Learn more ificenvironment.org .

Building on more than thirty years of policy wins for the Pacific Rim’s peoples, ecosystems and climate, Pacific Environment has been campaigning to end fossil fuel use, including to get ships off fossil fuels. Our federal strategies include securing strong regulatory frameworks and legislation to achieve zero-emission shipping on a timeline commensurate with the climate emergency; mobilizing congressional and public pressure on federal agencies and policymakers to adopt binding emissions standards and public investments;

and engaging industry and maritime workers as partners in the transition to zero-emission shipping — working with bodies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, MARAD, and the Federal Maritime Commission to align national maritime policy with a zero-emission shipping future.

Pacific Environment seeks an experienced Federal Policy Director to lead the organization’s federal government affairs strategy on maritime shipping issues. This role is the organization’s principal advocate before Congress and federal agencies — including the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), EPA and Department of Transportation — on policy priorities such as vessel emissions and fuel standards, port and vessel infrastructure investment, supply chain resilience and maritime workforce and safety standards.

The Federal Policy Director will build and maintain relationships with congressional offices and committee staff, track and analyze relevant legislation and rule makings, represent the organization in coalitions and public forums and translate technical maritime policy into actionable advocacy strategy. This is a senior externally facing role requiring deep familiarity with the federal legislative and regulatory process and credibility with maritime policy stakeholders.

• Serve as the organization’s lead representative to Congress, federal agencies and the Administration on maritime shipping policy.
• Develop and execute a federal advocacy strategy and annual policy agenda in coordination with organizational leadership.
• Track, analyze and respond to relevant legislation, appropriations and agency rule makings (e.g., Coast Guard authorization, MARAD programs, FMC actions, EPA vessel emissions standards, IMO-related federal implementation).
• Draft and deliver testimony, comment letters, position papers, one-pagers and talking points for policymakers and internal leadership.
• Build and sustain relationships with congressional members and staff, relevant committees (e.g., House T&I, Senate Commerce) and agency officials.
• Work with congressional offices to shape, draft and advance legislative proposals.
• Secure new bipartisan cosponsors for priority legislation and lead efforts to frame bill messaging for cross-party audiences.
• Carry out various advocacy tactics such as grassroots organizing, traditional and digital outreach, engaging policymakers, in-person mobilization tactics, etc.
• Represent the organization in coalitions, working groups and industry/NGO partnerships focused on maritime and shipping policy.
• Cultivate and help lead a Washington, D.C.
  
  -based clean shipping/maritime policy coalition, including environmental justice groups, labor organizations, port and maritime associations and academic partners.
• Engage with carriers, cargo owners, ports and maritime industry…