Organization

Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.

For more information about Ceres, please visit our website (www.ceres.org).

Description & Responsibilities

The Senior Manager, State Policy position supports Ceres' policy work, with a focus on state-level climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policy in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, primarily working on policy in North Carolina and Virginia. This is a full-time position and will report to the Director, State Policy. Preference for candidates based in North Carolina or Virginia.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Leadership role in identifying policy priorities in states, developing a plan for policy engagement, and executing plan with team members
• Work with policy team to periodically refine strategy for state program work as it fits into team’s overall vision
• Track key developments related to state policy
• Continuously improve knowledge of state-level climate, energy, transportation, environmental justice and equity policies
• Develop and cultivate relationships with key state policymakers, external partners, and in-state allies (local non-profits, communications firms, lobbyists, etc.)
• Supervise 1-2 state members supporting Mid-Atlantic and Southeast state policy advocacy including project management oversight, training and evaluation duties.
• Lead outreach and dissemination of Ceres’ work in Virginia, North Carolina, and occasionally other Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, including designing and implementing workshops, webinars/conference calls, newsletters and other multi-media communications to reach companies, investors, policy makers and donors.
• Use earned media, advocacy days, national meetings, direct engagement with policymakers, and other strategies to impact state policy outcomes
• Prepare materials and prep participants for investor and business engagements with press, state lawmakers, and federal lawmakers
• Recruit investors and businesses to engage in state level and federal policy advocacy opportunities
• Support team in training new staff or providing professional development to team members.
• Coordinate with other program teams (such as Investor Programs, Communications, Development, Electric Power or Operations) as needed to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Participate in crafting fundraising proposals to support designated project or program work.
• Represent Ceres at conferences, seminars, press conferences and meetings as spokesperson for project or program work
• Support special projects of Policy Program, as necessary.

Qualifications

• Seven years or more of direct experience working environment, energy, equity and justice, and/or transportation policy issues, particularly at the state level.
• In-depth knowledge of clean transportation, electric power, and/or sustainability issues and an understanding of corporate perspectives.
• Knowledge of Mid-Atlantic and Southeast states environmental policy and political arena, with relevant experience.
• Self-starter focused on execution, with ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to make strong connections between sustainability issues and articulate the impacts and implications for corporate and investor actions.
• Demonstrated ability to bring an advocacy perspective to corporate dialogues will be viewed as beneficial.
• Prior experience managing and training staff.
• Demonstrated strong project management, business planning skills and attention to detail is required.
• Effective presentation style as well as strong speaking and written communication skills for external and internal audiences.
• Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, proven ability to demonstrate initiative and motivation.
• Successful record of organizing multiple projects, coordinating and facilitating dialogues with senior-level professionals and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work as part of a team and take a collaborative approach, and to deliver independent projects.
• Planning expertise and delivering projects on deadline and within time and resource budgets. Attention to detail is required.
• Ability to bring a positive outlook and energetic commitment to working at Ceres on a daily basis.
• Willingness to travel as needed to accomplish duties noted above.
• Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, social media, and e-mail computer applications.

The hiring salary range for this position is $81,000.00-$84,000.00.

How to Apply

We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying: www.ceres.org. Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references.

Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

Apply at: https://www.ceres.org/careers/opportunities