Energy Advocate

Environment America; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance for

401(k) with employer match

Parental leave

Time off and commuter benefit

Student loan assistance

Training & advancement opportunities

Job summary

Environment California is seeking a Clean Energy Advocate to build support and advocate for our state and communities to be powered by renewable energy. The role involves working with our State Director and the national clean energy program team to push for 100% renewable energy, grow rooftop solar and storage, and expand clean energy across California.

The position emphasizes coalition-building, organizing events, media outreach, policy advocacy, and fundraising, with travel to Oakland,

Qualifications

• Advocate or organizer with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience.
• Passionate about saving the natural world and the cause beyond self.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Able to bring people together with diverse views.
• Strategic thinker with problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Build powerful coalitions across organizations and constituencies.
• Organize webinars, community events and public meetings; recruit volunteers.
• Earn traditional and social media attention; write op-eds and grow a following.
• Advocate to decision-makers through lobbying, hearings and written materials.
• Help shape program priorities through policy development and research.
• Fundraise by writing grants and engaging foundations and donors.
• Grow the team by recruiting candidates and mentoring interns.

Skills

Advocacy & organizing

Communication & public speaking

Coalition building

Fundraising & grant proposals

Job description

Environment California is seeking a Clean Energy Advocate to build support and advocate for our state and communities across the state to be powered by renewable energy.

California is the 4th largest economy in the world and has been at the cutting edge of clean energy and climate action for decades. As an important leader, we need to keep lighting the way and showing the support for and benefits from clean energy - for our health and our environment.

As our Clean Energy Advocate, you’ll work with our State Director and the national clean energy program team at Environment America to:

• Support policies on the Road to 100% renewable energy.
• Keep rooftop solar and storage growing.
• Get solar on canals, along highways and over parking lots across the state.
• Defend California’s offshore wind progress.
• Tap into the heat of the earth with geothermal energy.

Key Responsibilities

Our Clean Energy Advocate will lead our efforts to get more clean energy in California. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to a broad range of organizations and affected constituency groups across the political spectrum to build and demonstrate support for our campaign goals, including unlikely allies who might agree with us on one issue, even if we disagree on other issues.
• Organize events and recruit volunteers: Organize webinars, community events and public meetings. Recruit organizations and members of the public to attend and participate.
• Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize media events and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaign.
• Advocate: Build relationships with key players in the state, the region and at the federal level. Present a compelling case to decision-makers for strong policy action to advance clean energy through lobbying, testifying at hearings, and producing powerful written materials.
• Help shape program priorities: Participate in policy development, research and messaging to determine our priorities and policy positions for clean energy in California.
• Fundraise: Write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and raise money from individual donors to bring more resources to our campaigns.
• Grow our team: Identify and recruit strong candidates to join our staff. Hire and manage interns to maximize the impact of your campaigns. Potential to oversee staff.

Qualifications

You are:

• An advocate or organizer with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience.
• Passionate about saving the natural world. It’s not about you, it’s about the cause.
• An effective communicator with excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• A connector and good listener with a track record of bringing people together around a common goal; open-minded and interested in working with people who you might disagree with on some issues.
• Creative and effective at solving complex problems; a strategic thinker who can take advantage of new opportunities.
• Well-organized and goal-oriented; capable of holding yourself accountable to a plan and also nimble enough to adapt as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Able to travel regularly and be motivated to work when needed, which may sometimes be in the evenings and on weekends.

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for someone with 2-5 years of relevant experience is $41,750-$46,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. Environment California offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location

This position can be based in Oakland, Sacramento or Los Angeles, California.

Why work with Environment California?

Check out 10 reasons: https://environmentcalifornia.org/why-work-with-us/

About Environment California

Environment California is part of Environment America. Environment America has one mission: to protect the natural world.

We advocate ideas and actions to guide our country onto a greener, healthier path. Our network of 30 state environmental groups promotes clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members put grassroots support behind our research, public education, advocacy and litigation.

Nothing is more important to our future than facing this fact: Infinite economic growth on a finite planet is neither wise nor possible. We must shift from deplete to preserve, from disposable to sustainable, from "never enough" to "enough." Together, our staff, members and other supporters are committed to winning changes that allow nature to thrive and our children to live healthier, more enriching lives.

Our Mission and Values

Environment California and Environment America are part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change. Visit https://environmentcalifornia.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.

Environment California is an equal opportunity employer and will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.