Director of External Relations

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing clean, affordable and reliable energy policies rooted in conservative principles. We work to promote solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen America’s energy security and drive economic growth. We lead initiatives that include policy research, public outreach campaigns and partnerships that drive innovation across all-of-the-above energy solutions, including renewables, nuclear, natural gas, carbon capture and other advanced technologies.

The Director of External Relations is a strategic and execution-focused role that requires exceptional project management skills and a partner-development mindset, providing cross-departmental leadership for CRES’s national Policymaker Site Visit & Field Tour Program, as well as project management for a new organizational initiative. This role plays a central part in coordinating multi-state field programming, high-level convenings and cross-sector engagement efforts that strengthen center-right clean energy leadership.

This position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is proactive, collaborative and passionate about clean energy and conservative policy solutions.

This is a non-supervisory role based in Washington, DC.

Policymaker Site Visit & Field Tour Program

• Develop and manage project plans, timelines and budgets for district site visits.
• Manage travel and on-site logistics, ensuring collaboration among internal teams, field support and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure timely and successful project delivery.
• Maintain planning timelines, documentation and trackers, and support weekly coordination structures to keep execution on track.
• Prepare reports and presentations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Conduct post-visit follow-up, including cross-team debriefs and stakeholder updates.
• Support and contribute to process improvements.

Priority Initiative Leadership

• Day-to-day project management of new initiative, with anticipated launch in early 2026, managing project plans, timelines and budgets.
• Ensure alignment and visibility across CRES teams and key external partners.
• Build and strengthen connections with CRES among investors, industry leaders and external partners to advance the initiative’s goals.
• Maintain planning timelines, documentation and trackers, and supporting weekly and biweekly coordination structures to keep execution on track.
• Prepare reports and presentations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Conduct post-visit follow-up, including cross-team debriefs and stakeholder updates.
• Support and contribute to process improvements.

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement

• Strengthen partnerships across the clean energy, policy, investor and corporate communities.
• Support coalition engagement and cross-team initiatives aligned with CRES’s mission and priorities.
• Engage policymakers, industry actors and community partners connected to external relations programming.
• Represent CRES at briefings, convenings and partner meetings, ensuring consistent professionalism and organizational alignment.
• Identify opportunities to elevate CRES’s presence among stakeholders and deepen engagement with targeted audiences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Political and policy alignment with CRES and its mission.
• Exceptional project and workflow management skills, with the ability to lead complex, multi-workstream initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate cross-departmental projects and work effectively with diverse internal and external partners.
• Proven ability to support or execute field-based, multi-site or multi-stakeholder programming.
• Strong financial acumen, including the ability to understand program budgeting, expense tracking and basic forecasting.
• High degree of professionalism, resourcefulness and attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities and…