The Chesapeake Climate Action Network seeks a talented Policy Fellow to assist the Federal Director with research, policy development, and outreach. This fellowship is especially designed for students of color seeking to gain experience in the areas of climate change and environmental justice, especially students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, although qualifying candidates from any school are encouraged to apply.

 

About Us 

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the only group in the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. dedicated exclusively to building a powerful grassroots movement to fight climate change. We envision an equitable energy future where truly clean sources of power — such as solar and wind — sustain every aspect of our lives, and dirty fossil fuels are phased out. We strive to include principles of justice and equity in every policy that we advocate for, with the knowledge that racial and social justice is foundational to climate justice.

Last year, we won some huge victories, highlighted by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, we’re making sure that those legislative wins turn into real climate action. We are taking our “Inflation Reduction Act Roadshow” on a tour of the region to educate people about the opportunities and funding available through this legislation. We are mobilizing alongside the friends we made during the fight to pass that bill to stop harmful fossil fuel projects across the country, like the Willow Project. And we continue to advocate on Capitol Hill for critical legislation in the farm bill to lower methane emissions in agriculture. 

About the Position 

The Policy fellow will have the skills, passion and commitment to take on one of the biggest problems facing our planet. A successful candidate must be able to quickly learn about the climate challenges facing our region, the policies on the table to address these challenges, and the legislative process. 

What You Will Do

The primary responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: 

• Climate Change Issue Education and Advocacy 
  • Work alongside CCAN’s Federal team and our allies to promote bold climate action, including implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act
  • Contribute to lobbying materials for key policy changes with the opportunity to lobby alongside the Federal Director
  • Attend/assist in organizing key campaign mobilizations, such as rallies, webinars, or other event
• Research and content creation
  • Assist the Federal Director and policy team with issue research and the creation of materials such as factsheets, white papers, blog posts, and social media content relevant to our policy priorities
• Administrative duties and CCAN team expectations
  • Attend internal meetings to learn about and support the work CCAN does across the region on the state and local level
  • Assist the CCAN field team with grassroots organizing and outreach as it pertains to Federal policy goals
  • Work with and learn from the various departments within CCAN including communications, state policy, and field

Qualifications 

The successful candidate will display many of the following capabilities and qualities: 

• Passion to learn more about climate policy; familiarity with climate issues is a plus.
• Commitment to environmental justice and amplifying the voices of those being victimized by extreme extraction and the effects of climate change; including Indigenous Americans, Black and Latino communities, low and moderate income communities, rural communities, and struggling farm families.
• Strong dedication to justice, equity, and inclusion 
• Ability to work with social media and digital tools to convey complex ideas in accessible ways
• Ability to work independently while working effectively with a team and seeking feedback and support when needed. 
• Strong time management skills. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to be self-driven, while working effectively with a team 
• Proven ability to multitask, while prioritizing measurable results 

The Details

CCAN is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse workforce. We value bringing a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives on staff because it makes us smarter and more effective at what we do and, ultimately, we want our staff and supporters to reflect the communities we organize.

This position is based in CCAN’s Takoma Park office. There will be occasional opportunities to work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Mileage reimbursement is available for all CCAN-required travel except travel to and from the office (commute). The Federal Policy Fellow reports to the Federal Director. 

Compensation is $16.10 per hour for 20 hours per week during the summer over a period of 15 weeks. 

How to Apply

Please fill out the Google form application linked here to apply. We will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled but preference for interviews will be given to candidates who apply before March 21, 2023. You will be prompted to answer a series of short questions and asked to submit a resume and writing sample. Please contact jobs@chesapeakeclimate.org with any questions.