Careers and Paid Internships

Careers

Policy Director

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

Founded by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) has worked since 1984 to provide nonpartisan, science-based educational resources to policymakers and the public about environmental, energy, and climate topics.

EESI’s Policy Director will help advance environmental, energy, and climate policies and solutions that will put the United States on a cleaner, more secure, and sustainable path. As a member of the EESI management team, the Policy Director will also inform overall organizational strategy and decision-making, contribute to budget preparation, and contribute to grant reporting and grant proposal development. They will lead the design of educational resources with broad bipartisan appeal for members of Congress, their staff, and the public. Our approach requires thorough research and analysis to support fact-based information, conclusions, and policy recommendations.

The Policy Director will directly supervise policy staff and fellows and help ensure good management of policy interns. The position reports to the President.

The Policy Director will oversee and guide EESI’s efforts to:

• Develop and implement EESI’s environmental, energy and climate policy initiatives, including innovation, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.
• Plan and execute EESI‐convened Congressional briefings by researching briefing topics, identifying speakers, and coordinating event logistics.
• Communicate with Congressional staff to share EESI resources and respond to queries for information and analysis from Congressional committees and members of Congress and their staff.
• Develop and write content for publication, including web articles, fact sheets, and other policy-oriented written materials; edit and provide editorial feedback for the policy team.
• Serve as a resource for information and analysis for the media.
• Represent EESI in coalition groups and build relationships with new and existing partners to advance EESI’s understanding of key issue areas and maintain a strong network.
• Build and grow EESI’s overall knowledge base.
• Serve as part of the organization’s cross-functional management team.
• Foster a collaborative, collegial, and supportive work environment; encourage staff development, growth in capabilities, and high levels of effectiveness.
• Support organization leaders in staff and intern hiring processes.
• Collaborate with the communications team to develop and implement overall communications strategy and policy messaging.
• Play a key role in developing ideas and preparing proposals to secure the financial resources necessary to support our policy initiatives in collaboration with the development team; coordinate the policy team’s contribution to grant reporting.
• Manage the policy team budget.

At a minimum, competitive candidates will have the following qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant work experience or a graduate degree and three years of relevant work experience.
• At least two years of work experience in a state or federal legislature, or in a state or federal agency or nonprofit organization dealing with environmental, energy, and climate issues. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working in a House or Senate office or on Capitol Hill in advocacy and policy.
• Broad and extensive knowledge and understanding of environmental, energy, and climate policy (including innovation, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience) and relevant science and technology topics. Candidates with experience in national security and international climate diplomacy are encouraged to apply.
• Experience with designing nonpartisan and educational programming for policymaker audiences.
• Skilled in leading a team responsive to each team member’s needs.
• Demonstrated experience in effective management, including by incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities when considering the impacts and outcomes of decision-making.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills and an understanding of how to communicate complex issues to non-technical as well as non-policy-oriented audiences.
• Creative thinker who likes to brainstorm and to bring together information from multiple sources in planning topic coverage and approaches that best serve EESI’s decision-maker audience.
• Sophisticated critical thinking, problem-solving, and research and analysis skills; keen attention to detail.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Organized and able to advance multiple projects that take place over different time horizons.
• Relationship-oriented person who is always looking to build and sustain connections for EESI across the environmental, energy, and climate communities, including with private-sector stakeholders.
• Interest in working collaboratively with other committed professionals across teams to advance our work.
• Some flexibility to attend evening events like receptions on behalf of EESI and potential limited travel outside of the DMV to conferences.

The salary range for the position is $95,000 to $115,000.

EESI offers an excellent benefits package, including:

• Family health insurance and dental coverage
• 15 days of paid vacation (year 1) to 20 days (year 2‐5) and then 25 days
• 15 paid holidays
• Retirement plan—EESI contributes 9% of salary after one year of service (no employee match requirement)
• EESI is an eligible employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) federal program.

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and two brief climate, environmental, or energy policy-oriented or related writing samples. The application deadline is September 30, 2026.

EESI is committed to building a community of staff, board members, advisors, donors, interns, fellows, and volunteers, and partners that holds diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. This commitment strengthens the organization, improves our overall effectiveness, and helps ensure the policies we advance and programs we implement promote an equitable transition to a decarbonized, clean energy economy.

Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Paid Internships

EESI offers paid internships throughout the year.

Policy and Communications Paid Internship (Applications are closed!)

EESI’s year-round paid internship program provides three cohorts of college students each year with opportunities to contribute substantively to the advancement of critical environmental and energy policies. Interns gain insight into the workings of Congress and the federal legislative process, knowledge of significant environmental and energy issues, essential skills through our tailored professional development program, and an understanding of how a nonprofit works.

Applications are open at three points throughout the year corresponding to the spring, summer and fall semesters.

Internships require a commitment of between 26-30 hours per week during a 14-16 week semester (spring and fall) or a 10-12 week semester (summer).