Environmental Policy Associate

Waxman Strategies, a mission-driven communications and policy consulting firm led by former Congressman Henry Waxman, is accepting applications for an Environment Policy Associate to work on cutting-edge policymaking focused on environmental health, equity, and solving the climate crisis. We’re looking for talented candidates with strong administrative, research, and writing skills who are passionate about working for progress on climate change.

Who We Are:

Former Congressman Henry Waxman, who was recognized as “one of the most accomplished legislators of his or any era” by President Obama, leads the firm’s work. Waxman Strategies uses advocacy, communications, and campaigns to shape policies, accelerate technology startups and products working in the public interest, advance causes, and build movements around the world.

In our Environment Practice, you will be working at the center of real-time policy development and implementation to protect our environment and those communities most impacted by pollution and climate change. We work with leading NGOs and clean energy technology providers to develop and implement pragmatic policy solutions on a range of important issues including electrifying our vehicles and homes, pursuing environmental justice, regulating and cleaning up toxic pollutants, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and curtailing deforestation.

More on the position:

We are looking for talented and highly organized candidates who can provide essential administrative support for our team, conduct strategic policy research, and work with stakeholders. If you want to work with a team to learn more about environmental and energy policy and related issues, and how to advocate effectively for advancing them, this could be a great match for you.

Your responsibilities will include:

Managing scheduling for practice leadership, including organizing and scheduling meetings and phone calls with diligent attention to appointments and multiple calendars;
Managing the prep for meetings, including setting up video conference logistics, communicating with participants, and preparing agendas and materials;
Participating in client meetings and meetings with Congressional and Administrative offices, taking notes and synthesizing key takeaways;
Preparing and compiling email correspondence, memos, presentations, and reports as needed;
Gathering, reviewing, and analyzing policy research to support the Environment Practice;
Tracking regulatory and legislative activity on our policy issues, which may include both federal and state-level tracking;
Engaging with NGOs, academics, Congressional staff, labor leaders, and industries who are key to advancing our goals;
Conducting background research for business development;
Coordinating internal processes and workstreams with Waxman Strategies Health and Technology practices.

What we’re looking for in you:

Required qualifications:

You have at least one year of professional work experience, ideally including a background in administrative, policy, legislative, political or nonprofit work.
You are detail-oriented and have strong organizational skills, with an eye for accuracy.
You have excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
You are adept with technology, especially Advanced Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can get up to speed with new technologies quickly.
You are a problem solver, proactive, and self-directed and have the flexibility, initiative, and willingness to learn as new challenges arise.
You have a commitment to working for a better and just world, with strong interest in environmental especially, climate and clean energy policy and other related issues.
You have a commitment to and experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds, including marginalized communities such as communities of color, low-income communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, various religious backgrounds, and more.
You have a Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred qualifications:

You have research experience in legislative and regulatory settings.
You have a background in environmental justice.
You have a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and have experience working on these initiatives.
You have an interest in working in environmental health and environmental justice.
You have skill or fluency in a language other than English.

More about our team: The firm is made up of people from various backgrounds, including federal agencies, nonprofit advocacy groups, technology companies, health agencies, and legislative offices, at a range of experience levels. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming place for people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, parents, empty-nesters, and more.

Details: This is a full-time position based in the Washington, D.C. area with an ideal start date of April 25th 2022. During the pandemic, our staff are mostly still working from home. The safety of our team is a top priority and we will resume working from our office, travel, and in-person meetings when it is safe to do so. You will report to the VP of our Environment Practice. You will also work closely with our Environment Practice’s Managing Director, who has over three decades of experience working on energy and environmental policy under seven prominent members of Congress, including Chairman Henry Waxman, as well as stints at EPA and DOE.

Compensation and benefits: The salary range for this position is $50K to $55K, depending on experience. We have a generous benefits package, including group health insurance, dental benefits, unlimited vacation time, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan.

To apply: Please submit a resume and a thoughtful cover letter which demonstrates your writing abilities and let us know how you learned of the job. Please apply as soon as possible.

Interview process: Our interview process involves a phone interview, two video interviews, a candidate exercise, and reference calls for candidates advancing in our process. We have adjusted our interview process and are holding video interviews in place of in-person interviews during the pandemic.

Our DEIJ Commitment: Waxman Strategies is a firm that cares deeply about protecting our environment, improving health access and outcomes, and advancing technology in the public interest. We conduct our work with the understanding that diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) values are central to our mission, our culture, our success and our impact.

With the knowledge of this country’s historically unjust economic and social systems in mind, our organization tries to maintain a workplace environment that embraces the diverse* backgrounds and identities of our team, partners and clients.

*Including differing race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, tribe, caste, socio-economic status, thinking, communication style, etc.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Waxman Strategies is an equal opportunity employer; we strictly prohibit discrimination against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression and any other characteristic protected by law.

Women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community and other historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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