Employment

Staff Positions


Policy Associate, Energy and Climate Program

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1984 by Congressional leaders to provide timely, credible information for policymakers and influential stakeholders, and promote innovative environmental and energy solutions.

EESI advances policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path. We believe that energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable buildings, transportation, and land management practices can address some of the most important challenges of our time: climate change, the economy, national security, and public health. Our three-pronged approach for effecting change is based on policymaker education, coalition building, and policy development. For more information, please visit www.eesi.org.

EESI is seeking a policy associate to support and lead our work on renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change. The candidate should be able to work with a diverse range of people and to communicate ideas to a wide audience. Their role will involve liaison with individuals and organizations such as Congressional offices, federal, state and local officials, business and industry leaders, NGOs, academics, embassies, media and other constituencies; building alliances in support of key policy goals; building new audiences for our work; representing EESI at external events; project management; undertaking research and analysis; and writing reports and briefings.

This position reports to the Executive Director

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement EESI’s Energy and Climate program, whose issues include clean, sustainable energy policy, renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change.
  • Organize multiple Congressional briefings each year on relevant science, technology and policy issues.
  • Produce Climate Change News, a weekly electronic newsletter that covers legislative, business and scientific issues related to climate change.
  • Develop and write content for publications such as issue briefs, fact sheets, news articles and other policy documents and web and electronic communication.
  • Help to maintain EESI’s expertise on federal policy and ongoing developments on relevant issues.
  • Establish and maintain contacts, information sharing and serve as a liaison to Congressional offices and EESI’s many constituencies.
  • Assist with grants and other materials to solicit and secure resources to support program activities. Prepare timely grant progress reports.
  • Coordinate intern involvement in program activities.
  • Perform additional duties as required.

Desired Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required (graduate degree a plus).
  • Three or more years of directly relevant experience. Legislative experience a plus.
  • Knowledge and understanding of climate science and current energy and climate policy.
  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate complex issues to a policy oriented audience.
  • Ability to build strong networks.
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Critical thinking, research, and analytical skills; quantitative skills a plus.
  • Self-directed and demonstrated ability to manage projects independently.

Salary: commensurate with experience, qualifications and anticipated contribution. EESI offers an excellent benefits package.

Intended start date: June, 2012.

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, salary requirements and short writing sample(s) via e-mail to David Robison at jobs [at] eesi.org. EESI is an equal opportunity employer.



Richard L. Ottinger Internship Program

EESI relies on interns to provide substantive help to advance our environmental and energy policy agenda. In return, interns gain insight into the workings of Congress and the federal legislative process, knowledge of significant environmental and energy issues, and an understanding of a non-profit organization. Through EESI coalition building with other organizations, interns will witness how environmental and energy issues develop within the public policy arena. EESI internships offer invaluable career benefits and opportunities and may also be used for undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate credit. EESI recruits interns throughout the year on a rotating basis. Internship start and end dates are flexible. Internships require a commitment of 25-40 hours per week for a minimum of 10-12 weeks. Please click on the internships listed below for more information:

Dick Ottinger was among the first environmentalists in Congress and a founding member of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. During his time in Congress, Dick served as chairman of the Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee, Energy & Commerce Committee and was instrumental in adopting key energy and environmental legislation. He also was a founding staff member of the Peace Corps and is Dean Emeritus at Pace University Law School. To honor his many years of service to our organization and his environmental leadership for this nation, EESI named our internship program after Dick when he stepped down as EESI's Board Chairman in December 2010. (He continues to provide guidance to EESI as Board Chair Emeritus.) We hope that EESI interns will be inspired by Dick's story and go on to make their own contributions to sustainability.