The Climate Group

Senior Manager, Government Affairs, North America

Summary

Climate Group is seeking a Senior Manager, Government Affairs to lead the states and regions program at Climate Group North America. The Senior Manager is a critical leader on the North America team and will work with key staff to build programmatic opportunities for Climate Group and lead all strategic government affairs in North America. This includes leading on climate advocacy with Under2 Coalition states, provinces, cities, and regions as well as federal governments in North America. It also includes advising key programs of Climate Group with insight, analysis, and the building of strategic partnerships to deliver on those programs. 

This is an exciting senior level role to mobilize ambitious climate action targets with dynamic campaigns in states and regions across key systems with the highest emissions including, energy, built environment, transport and industry. The Senior Government Affairs Manager works as a bridge and builds political will for ambitious action by fostering key relationships and partnerships across the North America region to drive impact. 


About Climate Group

Climate Group drives climate action. Fast. Our goal is a world of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with greater prosperity for all.

We focus on systems with the highest emissions and where our networks have the greatest opportunity to drive change. We do this by building large and influential networks and holding organisations accountable, turning their commitments into action.

We share what we achieve together to show more organisations what they could do. We are an international non-profit organisation, founded in 2004, with offices in London, Amsterdam, Beijing, New Delhi and New York.

Climate Group is the Secretariat to the Under2 Coalition, which is a group of ambitious state and regional governments committed to keeping global temperature rises to well below 2°C. The coalition is made up of more than 260 governments who represent over 1.75 billion people and 50% of the global economy. In 2021, the Under2 Coalition made a collective commitment to reach net zero by 2050 as a group. 

About the role

Climate Group is seeking a Senior Manager, Government Affairs, North America to lead the states and regions program at Climate Group North America. The Senior Manager is a critical leader on the North America team and will work with key staff to build programmatic opportunities for Climate Group and lead all strategic government affairs in North America. This includes leading on climate advocacy with Under2 Coalition states, provinces, cities, and regions as well as federal governments in North America. It also includes advising key programs of Climate Group with insight, analysis, and the building of strategic partnerships to deliver on those programs. 

This is an exciting senior level role to mobilize ambitious climate action targets with dynamic campaigns in states and regions across key systems with the highest emissions including, energy, built environment, transport and industry. The Senior Government Affairs Manager works as a bridge and builds political will for ambitious action by fostering key relationships and partnerships across the North America region to drive impact. 

The successful candidate will lead and manage the States and Regions team in North America.  The role works with colleagues in the US, India, Latin America, and Europe, as well as with state and regional governments that make up the Under2 Coalition. The role also works closely with the fundraising and communications teams to build the effort in North America. The role reports to the Head of Programs, North America, and works closely with the Executive Director, North America, and the Head of Global Government Relations.

Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Formulate and implement political strategies to advance the work and climate impact of states and regions in North America.
  • ​Lead development of the annual North America government engagement strategy (including high-level relationships in federal, state, and local elected officials, expansion, and development of Under2 Coalition) 
  • ​Lead, manage and support the US-based states and regions staff in executing on their respective programmatic activities 
  • ​Develop strategic opportunities with key government partners and member states through various policy advocacy, projects, activities, and events
  • ​Engage with high level partners including federal agencies and colleagues across the State Department, White House Climate Policy Office, and more to drive greater federal, state, and international state/regional collaborations 
  • ​Work closely with Climate Diplomacy Manager to mobilize North America around key topics
  • ​Contribute to the Climate Group’s overall strategy on networks & engagement solutions, ensuring synergies and alignment across different strands of work including across the Climate Group’s Systems teams where appropriate
  • ​Work closely with North American leadership including fundraising and comms team to develop focused messaging, proposals, and partnership opportunities 
  • ​Contribute to Climate Group’s event strategy and execution for major moments such as Member Meetings, COP, Climate Week NYC, US Climate Actions week and other key events and projects as needed 
  • ​Lead the identification and development of new program proposals and projects to drive impact
  • Maintain relationships and ensuring effective transparency and coordination with non-profit and NGO peers of the Climate Group
  • ​Serve as an external champion of Climate Group’s State and Regions work, and represent Climate Group via speaking engagements, at conferences and events.  
Other responsibilities may include: 
  • Line management of additional staff as projects and programs expand 
  • Willing to take an adaptable approach and help drive forward critical projects and activities for the team wherever required

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About you

Essential: 

  • Significant and demonstrable experience working in government, campaigns and/or other political advocacy
  • ​Management experience with excellent team-building and communications skills, with proven ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders internally and externally.
  • ​A broad network of relationships in state and federal government.
  • ​Commitment to the mission of Climate Group, and our work with states and regions. 
  • ​Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail and ability to multi-task in order to meet strict timelines.
  • ​Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across a range of cultural contexts. 
  • ​Proactive and able to work independently and unsupervised to deliver tasks and achieve project objectives. 
  • ​Team player with the ability to identify where support is needed and comfortable delivering an administrative workload where necessary alongside more strategic activities. 
  • ​Innovative, flexible, creative approach and ability to prioritize actions




Location

This role may be located in New York City or Washington DC.  Regional and international travel may be required as part of the role.  We operate a hybrid working model with a combination of remote and office-based working.

Applicants must already have the right to work in the United States. 


Terms & Conditions

The permanent full-time, with a salary of $77,737 - $94,900 per annum.

In addition to the salary, the role holders will benefit from:

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan, with a salary-based employer contribution (currently 3%) commencing upon completion of the mandatory six-month service requirement;
  • Comprehensive health and dental insurance policy;
  • Commuter Benefit Program to use pre-tax dollars to pay for transit passes;
  • A monthly $55 reimbursement for cell phone; and
  • Twenty-five vacation days per year (pro-rated), plus public holidays.


How to apply

Use the ‘Apply’ button to apply for this vacancy. 

Applications for this position should come in the form of a resume (maximum of 2 pages) and cover letter. For further information on this role, please contact Louisa Plotnick, Head of US Programs, at [email protected] 

The closing date for submitting your application is June 24, 2022.

The requisite eligibility criteria, or right to work in the US are a requirement for this position and no relocation and/or sponsorship costs will be borne by Climate Group.