Senior Legislative Associate

The Southern Environmental Law Center(SELC) is seeking aSenior Legislative Associate in our Washington, DCoffice. This individual will join our Federal Affairsteam and report to our Federal Legislative Director. The Senior Legislative Associatewilldevelop an active network on Capitol Hill, contacts in the environmental and conservation community, and will be able to develop strong collaborative relationships with colleagues s is an excellent opportunity to joina highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation.
The ideal candidate willpossessa minimum of 3 yearsof progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacyor political campaigns. They have the skills and experience to support SELC’s federal efforts on multiple issues with direct supervision.
SELC has a hybrid work model that offers employees flexibility to work remotely up totwo days per week.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Theanticipatedstart date for this position is flexible, with the ideal candidate able to begin anytime between now and early January.

• Collaborate with the Federal Legislative Director, attorneys, communications professionals,advocacy,and policy staff to develop and advance legislative and advocacy goals for assigned issue areas.
• Serve as a primary federal affairs representative and subject matter resource on wildlife, public lands, forests, and other assigned environmental policy issues.
• Cultivate,maintain, and strengthen relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, administrative agencies, coalition partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop and execute federal advocacy strategies through legislative targeting, stakeholder engagement, power mapping, and issue-based campaign planning.
• Schedule, prepare for,participate in, and follow up on lobbying meetings, providingadditionalinformation and resources to policymakers and staff as needed.
• Research legislative, regulatory, and policy developments and assess regional, state, and district-specific impacts to inform advocacy efforts and organizational decision-making.
• Draft and review advocacy materials, including talking points, fact sheets, letters, testimony, press releases, coalition communications, and other externally facing documents.
• Monitor congressional hearings, briefings, and legislative activity; prepare summaries, analyses, and memoranda for attorneys and internal stakeholders.
• Facilitate the exchange of information between the federal affairs team and staff across the organization, ensuring alignment on priorities, strategy, and emerging issues.
• Represent the organization in coalitions, working groups, and external partnerships, collaborating with peer organizations to advance shared advocacy objectives.
• Help guide coalition strategies and activities to support organizational goals while fostering productive relationships within the environmental and conservation community.
• Participate in team meetings, retreats, and cross-functional initiatives, contributing to a collaborative and supportive organizational culture.
• Maintain awareness of political, legislative, energy, environmental, and conservation trends, ensure compliance with lobbying reporting requirements, and support fundraising and communications initiatives as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years minimumof progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacy or political campaigns.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process.
• Proven ability to build andmaintainproductive relationships with policymakers, coalition partners, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience drafting advocacy, policy, or public-facing materials.

• Connection to the people and places of the South.
• A genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and fosteran equitable and inclusive workplace that welcomes people from acrossthe rich racial and cultural diversity of our region.

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a longtrack record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in…