[Hiring] Policy Director @Environmental Protection Network (EPN)

Role Description

This role reports to the Senior Director of Policy. The Policy Director leads the strategy and execution of EPN’s national policy work, setting vision and priorities in coordination with the Senior Director of Policy. It involves managing a small team, guiding volunteer engagement in federal policy efforts both present and future, and collaborating across departments to influence rulemaking and other policymaking, enhance transparency, support litigation, safeguard science, educate Congress, and amplify EPN’s impact through communications and partnerships. The position also plays a key role in building strategic alliances with NGOs and coalitions to advance environmental policy goals primarily at the federal level.

Responsibilities include:

• Program Strategy & Implementation:
  • Develop vision, priorities, and goals for the national policy work with input from the national policy team and in coordination with the Senior Director of Policy.
  • Track key metrics (comments submitted, testimony provided, amicus briefs, science advisory groups convened, products developed).
  • Track various proposed rulemakings and related national policy actions.
  • Facilitate teams of volunteers to draft comments and letters, deliver testimony, recommendations for a future EPA, support litigation, public affairs, and meet with the executive branch (including EPA, OMB, and CEQ).
  • Look for opportunities to share information with other NGOs and the media, educate Congress and tribal, state, and local governments.
• Team Management:
  • Directly manage 3-4 full-time senior policy associates and contractors.
  • Execute on all org-wide people manager responsibilities.
  • Execute weekly team 1x1 check-ins and weekly team shared space management.
  • Execute on twice-annual formal review process.
  • Ongoing coaching and professional development support.
  • Team culture activities.
• Partner with the Public Affairs Team:
  • Partner with other NGOs and coalitions, as relevant to EPN’s work.
  • Coordinate collaborative efforts, including goal-driven webinars.
  • Educate congressional member offices and key committee staff.
  • Develop/influence website and digital media content.
  • Support and help develop press releases, tip sheets (weekly), briefs, press conferences, and related.
  • Manage strategic partnerships with NGOs and others on national environmental policy issues.
  • Identify opportunities to partner with like-minded organizations on relevant environmental health issues.
  • Represent EPN and/or find and manage volunteers to represent EPN in various coalitions operating in relevant environmental federal policy areas.

Qualifications

• At least 7+ years of relevant work experience.
• Highly productive in remote working environments.
• Interest in environmental justice, US environmental and health policy, and/or the work of the EPA.
• Prior experience working closely with or at the EPA is preferred but not required.
• Experience in program management, public sector initiatives, or workforce development, preferably within environmental justice, government, or nonprofit sectors.
• Experience creating and operationalizing priorities, goals, and metrics.
• Strong cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to racial, environmental, and social justice.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, priorities, and stakeholders in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Experience with direct people management.
• Experience with project management and specifically managing work across multiple complex stakeholder groups.

Core Competencies

• Building Relationships: Cultivating trust, credibility, and mutual respect with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil servants, volunteers, NGO partners, coalition members, and congressional staff.
• Making Decisions & Demonstrating Judgement: Assessing risks, balancing stakeholder input, and making timely, strategic choices that reflect EPN’s mission and values.
• Team Management: Coaching and developing team members while driving them toward clear, measurable outcomes.
• Managing Execution: Ensuring that team and departmental goals are met through clear planning, consistent monitoring, and timely adjustments.
• Planning: Developing a clear vision, priorities, goals, and strategy in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Pay

An annual salary of $114,129 based in D.C. We will adjust the salary up or down based on locality.

Benefits

• Environmental Protection Network is a fully remote virtual environment.
• Employees are encouraged to balance a 40-hour work week with a flexible work schedule and core hours of 10 AM-3 PM ET.
• 11 paid Federal Holidays and other paid days when the office is closed.
• 3 weeks (120 hours) of paid time off (inclusive of sick, personal days, and vacation).
• Organization-wide non-meeting days on all major holidays that fall outside of the federal calendar.
• Competitive market-based salary.
• Annual tenure bonus (determined annually where funds are available).
• Performance-based bonuses where applicable.
• 401K Retirement Plan, 4% company match.
• 80% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid family.
• 100% employer-paid life (50K), opportunity to purchase additional life coverage is available for employee and spouse.
• 100% employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.
• Access to employee-paid FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits.
• Up to 6 weeks of paid leave upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Up to $500/year for professional development-related expenses.
• Ongoing access to internal professional development training.
• $150 monthly cell phone plan and home internet reimbursement.
• Up to $2,000/year for the purchase of phones, computers, headsets, software, or other equipment used consistently to carry out staff responsibilities.
• Applicable travel expenses will be reimbursed, including travel time outside of your local area.

Environmental injustices disproportionately impact the most marginalized people in society, including people of color, people from working-class backgrounds, women, and LGBTQIA+ people. Because we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.