The Position
The Niskanen Center seeks a government affairs professional to lead outreach for our growing team. The Climate and Energy team produces original policy research and advocacy to reduce the cost of deploying clean energy, promote market-based policies that drive decarbonization, and build coalitions to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. To advance our vision, the team crafts and supports bipartisan, pragmatic reforms across both the legislative and executive branches.
To support this work, the government affairs manager collaborates with our policy and communication staff to advance and promote the team’s research and policy proposals with Congress, the Administration and Executive Branch Agencies, key stakeholders, and coalitional allies. Applicants should have experience working across ideological lines and enthusiasm for advancing an economy that fosters innovation, supports growth, maintains energy resilience, and addresses climate challenges through pragmatic, market-driven solutions. The position reports to the Director of Climate and Energy and to the Director of Government Affairs as a member of the Government Affairs Team. This position does not require prior lobbying registration, but it may involve registering in the future.
Key Responsibilities
- Policy Support
- Design and lead a government affairs strategy to advance the Climate and Energy goals of the Niskanen Center
- Monitor and analyze federal and state legislative proposals, administrative policies, and regulatory changes to ascertain any impact on Niskanen climate and energy priorities.
- Identify areas of interest for policy development that align with Niskanen climate and energy priorities.
- Communications
- Produce explainers and memos for Congressional staff use based on reports and commentaries from the team’s policy experts.
- Share research findings with legislative staffers, advocacy organizations, and journalists.
- Draft briefing and educational materials, testimony, statements, questions for the record, speeches, and talking points.
- Outreach and Engagement
- In collaboration with the Niskanen Government Affairs Team, develop, implement, and track strategies to advance Niskanen climate and energy strategic priorities with Congress, the Administration and Executive Branch Agencies, and key stakeholders. This will include activities ranging from direct engagement with policymakers to coalition building and management.
- Maintain and grow relationships, partnerships, and coalitions, with policy and advocacy organizations, policy experts, and other partners and stakeholders.
- Represent Niskanen in coalitions, community events, and public forums.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 4-7 years of experience navigating federal government processes and structures, working with the federal legislative branch, or equivalent experience on a government affairs team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to respond to multiple demands in a complex, fast-paced, and rapidly changing policy environment.
- Experience translating complex issues into key takeaways for diverse audiences.
- High degree of integrity, ability to build trust, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others.
- Ability to understand team needs and proactively offer solutions.
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