Climate and Energy Justice Policy Associate - Full-time

Acadia Center is hiring a full-time Climate and Energy Justice Policy Associate to lead climate and clean energy advocacy efforts. The role involves community engagement, policy coordination, and outreach focusing on equitable climate solutions. Responsibilities include developing outreach strategies, preparing policy materials, and representing Acadia Center in various forums. Candidates should have a strong interest in energy and climate issues, particularly in environmental justice and community engagement.
Acadia Center is seeking an energetic climate and clean energy advocacy professional to coordinate and advance Acadia Center’s climate, clean energy and energy justice policy and outreach efforts with attention to community and stakeholder engagement.
Position

For 25 years, Acadia Center has been developing and advocating for climate solutions at the state, community and regional levels that benefit and are accessible to all residents and communities. With the successful enactment of aggressive climate and clean energy goals, community-based voices are essential to implementing climate and clean energy goals in ways that ensure equitable community benefits and directly aid those communities that have suffered the most from a fossil fuel economy.

The Climate and Energy Justice Policy Associate will strengthen Acadia Center’s efforts in a wide array of forums, including legislative, government agency, community-based, and public engagement and with numerous partner organizations and coalitions. The position will have a central role coordinating and connecting Acadia Center’s policy work with communities and community-based organizations across the region, with a focus on specific program needs in Connecticut and other priority locations. Current policy priorities include climate and clean energy decarbonization pathways and implementation, improving the quality of housing, phasing out fossil fuels, improving planning in the grid, and addressing energy burdens from all fuels.

The Climate and Energy Justice Policy Associate will develop and conduct community outreach plans and strategies, prepare externally focused policy and educational materials, participate in drafting materials for legislative and regulatory policy reforms, and translate energy system issues into relevant outreach materials. The position will represent Acadia Center in coalitions and networks, before selected state agencies and boards and potentially before legislative bodies. The work will include identifying ways Acadia Center’s data and analytic capacity can support community-oriented goals. Work with coalitions and media are also important aspects of the position. The position will likely include work on regional (multi-state) initiatives as well, allowing for a focus on climate and energy justice topics across the northeast region. Acadia Center employs a team approach to its work and the position will interact with program staff including advocates and policy researchers and provide critical content and coordination with communications and development staff. The position will initially coordinate closely with the president, Senior Director of Climate and Clean Energy Programs and will report to the Director, State Implementation.

Requirements
• A strong interest in energy and climate issues and ambition and urgency to address the climate crisis in a manner that will spur economic, consumer, public health and environmental justice benefits.
• Experience in environmental justice issues and outreach to EJ communities and voices
• Interest and skills in communicating the importance of energy and climate issues to consumer, public health, community and affordability
• Excitement connecting with decision makers, communities, public speaking, writing, and media
• Interest in advancing work in regulatory and legislative actions
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communications skills
• Enthusiasm to engage with a diverse array of organizations, communities and represent the organization in a professional and respectful manner
• Experience in environmental, energy issues and energy justice is highly valued
• Comfort using data to inform our advocacy
• Organized and able to prioritize multiple projects and seek direction when needed
• Familiarity with and presence in Connecticut is strongly preferred
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) familiarity expected

Benefits

This position is available as a full-time, exempt, salaried role. However, Acadia Center is open to considering part-time or flexible schedules, as well as the possibility of a 1099/contractor arrangement. Acadia Center has a remote work policy that may be subject to revision, and the role requires the ability to travel.

For an Associate-level hire, the compensation range is $60,000–$80,000, depending on factors such as education, relevant work experience, field knowledge, and skillset. Benefits for salaried employees include healthcare, dental, retirement, disability, and PTO. A Connecticut location is preferred.