Pacific Environment
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Position description
Pacific Environment is a nonprofit organization dedicated to confronting our most urgent environmental issues by connecting local and global movements, catalyzing policy change, and inspiring action for the benefit of people and our planet. Together, we promote a healthy climate, reduce pollution, and conserve biodiversity for an equitable and thriving future. Learn more at www.pacificenvironment.org.
Building on more than thirty years of policy wins for the Pacific Rim’s peoples, ecosystems, and climate, Pacific Environment has been campaigning to end fossil fuel use, including to get ships off fossil fuels. Our federal strategies include securing strong regulatory frameworks and legislation to achieve zero-emission shipping on a timeline commensurate with the climate emergency; mobilizing congressional and public pressure on federal agencies and policymakers to adopt binding emissions standards and public investments; and engaging industry and maritime workers as partners in the transition to zero-emission shipping — working with bodies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, MARAD, and the Federal Maritime Commission to align national maritime policy with a zero-emission shipping future.
Position
Pacific Environment seeks an experienced Federal Policy Director to lead the organization’s federal government affairs strategy on maritime shipping issues. This role is the organization’s principal advocate before Congress and federal agencies — including the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), EPA, and Department of Transportation — on policy priorities such as vessel emissions and fuel standards, port and vessel infrastructure investment, supply chain resilience, and maritime workforce and safety standards.
The Federal Policy Director will build and maintain relationships with congressional offices and committee staff, track and analyze relevant legislation and rulemakings, represent the organization in coalitions and public forums, and translate technical maritime policy into actionable advocacy strategy. This is a senior externally facing role requiring deep familiarity with the federal legislative and regulatory process and credibility with maritime policy stakeholders.
Key responsibilities
Legislative & regulatory advocacy
- Serve as the organization’s lead representative to Congress, federal agencies, and the Administration on maritime shipping policy.
- Develop and execute a federal advocacy strategy and annual policy agenda in coordination with organizational leadership.
- Track, analyze, and respond to relevant legislation, appropriations, and agency rulemakings (e.g., Coast Guard authorization, MARAD programs, FMC actions, EPA vessel emissions standards, IMO-related federal implementation).
- Draft and deliver testimony, comment letters, position papers, one-pagers, and talking points for policymakers and internal leadership.
- Build and sustain relationships with congressional members and staff, relevant committees (e.g., House T&I, Senate Commerce), and agency officials.
- Work with congressional offices to shape, draft, and advance legislative proposals.
- Secure new bipartisan cosponsors for priority legislation and lead efforts to frame bill messaging for cross-party audiences.
- Carry out various advocacy tactics such as grassroots organizing, traditional and digital outreach, engaging policymakers, in-person mobilization tactics, etc.
Coalition & stakeholder engagement
- Represent the organization in coalitions, working groups, and industry/NGO partnerships focused on maritime and shipping policy.
- Cultivate and help lead a Washington, D.C.-based clean shipping/maritime policy coalition, including environmental justice groups, labor organizations, port and maritime associations, and academic partners.
- Engage with carriers, cargo owners, ports, and maritime industry associations to understand industry positions, identify potential allies for federal policy goals, and inform advocacy strategy.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with industry, labor and allied advocacy organizations.
- Develop and maintain target lists, relationship maps, and coordinated work plans with congressional offices, agency contacts, and coalition partners to guide advocacy priorities and divisions of labor.
- Represent the organization at hearings, briefings, conferences, and public forums, and with the press as needed.
- Support grassroots and grasstops mobilization tactics (e.g., sign-on letters, fly-ins, constituent engagement) to build pressure for federal action, in coordination with campaigns/organizing staff.
- Support ports, companies, and labor partners in identifying and pursuing federal funding opportunities that advance clean vessel deployment, port electrification, battery production, and domestic maritime supply chains.
Strategy, communications & internal coordination
- Advise senior leadership and the board on the federal policy landscape, emerging risks, and opportunities.
- Partner with communications/media teams on public messaging tied to federal policy developments.
- Coordinate with development/fundraising staff to support grant proposals and donor engagement related to federal policy work, as needed.
- Supervise consultants, contract lobbyists, or junior policy staff as applicable.
- Ensure all advocacy activity complies with applicable lobbying disclosure and 501(c)(3) rules.
- Other tasks as determined by the Climate Policy Director
Qualifications
Required
- 5–10+ years of federal government affairs, legislative, or regulatory experience, ideally including maritime, transportation, energy, or environmental policy.
- Demonstrated relationships with congressional offices, committee staff, and/or relevant federal agencies (Coast Guard, MARAD, FMC, EPA, DOT).
- Strong understanding of the federal legislative process, appropriations cycle, and administrative rulemaking.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting testimony, letters, public comments, and policy materials for non-expert audiences.
- Track record of representing an organization credibly in coalitions and with external stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently in a remote/hybrid environment while regularly meeting with congressional and agency offices in Washington, D.C.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Commitment for climate action, with a demonstrated ability to think creatively and identify innovative opportunities to advance campaign goals.
Preferred
- Prior experience on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, or in maritime/shipping industry government affairs.
- Familiarity with transportation, clean energy, maritime decarbonization, clean fuels, or vessel emissions policy.
- Existing network within maritime trade associations, port authorities, or environmental/labor coalitions.
- Experience with defensive advocacy (protecting existing law, funding, or regulatory authority from rollback), not solely proactive policy advocacy.
$105,000 – $115,000 a year
Pacific Environment offers compensation commensurate with experience and equitable with others on our team, along with a full benefits package for staff positions. The benefits include medical, dental, vision, 403b retirement planning with employer match, WFH stipend, generous PTO, sabbatical for tenured staff, and professional development reimbursements. The salary range is carefully considered to account for equity, and the final offer will be based on the candidate’s qualifications. The employee will enjoy a flexible working environment with a dedicated, diverse group of colleagues. This position has a salary range of $105,000–$115,000. Individual work experience and internal pay equity are considered when extending an offer.
Work environment & travel
This position is remote but requires the employee to be based in Washington, D.C. for regular meetings on the Hill, at agencies, and with coalition partners. Some additional domestic and international travel for conferences and events may be required.
Physical requirements
This role primarily involves sitting and working at a computer for extended periods, frequent virtual and phone communication, and regular in-person meetings, hearings, and events on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies. The ideal candidate must be able to complete the physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Application instructions
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