Senior Government Relations Associate

Climate Leadership Council; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work environment

Generous benefits package

Free on-site fitness center

On-site bike storage

Mentorship from leadership

Job summary

The Climate Leadership Council in Washington, DC is seeking a Senior Government Relations Associate to represent the Council and the Cleaner Economy Coalition with congressional offices and the administration on climate and policy issues.

You will conduct Hill meetings, register as a federal lobbyist, build bipartisan relationships, and work with policy and communications teams to align outreach and research. The role combines advocacy, analysis, and coordination in a hybrid setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2–3 years of Capitol Hill, trade association, or equivalent government relations experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization in meetings with congressional staff.
• Knowledge of energy, climate, trade, or manufacturing policy preferred.
• Strong research, communication skills, attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute advocacy strategy with leadership and targets.
• Independently conduct meetings with congressional offices and staff.
• Build bipartisan relationships with members of Congress and staff.
• Register and operate as a federal lobbyist and comply with reporting.
• Track legislative developments and prepare readouts.
• Coordinate with policy, research, and communications teams to align messaging.
• Provide admin support and prepare briefing materials.
• Perform special projects as requested.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Public speaking

Relationship building

Research

Written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Organizational Summary: The Climate Leadership Council (CLC) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to develop and promote market-based policies that advance U.S. competitiveness, security, and economic opportunity as the central strategy for lowering global emissions. Along with CLC, the position also works with the Cleaner Economy Coalition (CEC), an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for an early-career professional ready to step into a government relations role, building relationships with a growing portfolio of congressional offices and helping carry the Council’s work to Capitol Hill and the administration. The Council offers:

• Flexible hybrid work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free on-site fitness center
• Fantastic location, very close to Metro; on-site bike storage room
• Mentorship from a seasoned government relations leader and close collaboration with all departments across the organization

Position Overview: As a member of the Council’s government relations team, the Senior Government Relations Associate represents the Council and CEC with congressional offices and the administration on some of the most consequential questions in climate and economic policy today: how the U.S. secures critical mineral supply chains, how trade policy can reward cleaner American production, and how the country meets surging electricity demand from AI and data centers. Working at the direction of the Senior Director, Government Relations, the Senior Associate conducts Hill meetings independently, registers as a federal lobbyist, and builds bipartisan relationships with an assigned portfolio of offices. Day to day, the Senior Associate tracks and anticipates legislative and regulatory developments; attends hearings, markups, and coalition meetings and delivers timely readouts; helps plan Hill briefings and convenings; and works hand in hand with colleagues in policy and research and communications and public affairs, so that what the Council learns on the Hill and what it produces in research and messaging continually strengthen one another. The role also includes administrative and logistical coordination for the government relations team.

Responsibilities Include:

• Work with the Senior Director, Government Relations and Council leadership to develop and execute the Council’s and CEC’s advocacy strategy, including identifying and tracking priority committees, regulatory proceedings, and relationship targets.
• Independently conduct meetings with congressional offices and committee staff as assigned, representing the Council’s and CEC’s positions and owning preparation and follow-up.
• Build and maintain bipartisan relationships with members of Congress, personal office and committee staff, and administration officials, with ownership of an assigned portfolio of offices that grows over time.
• Register and serve as a federal lobbyist and comply with all related lobbying disclosure and reporting requirements.
• Track, analyze, and anticipate legislative and regulatory developments relevant to Council priorities. Attend hearings, markups, coalition meetings, working groups, and industry convenings, and deliver timely written and verbal readouts that capture key takeaways, implications for the Council’s priorities, and recommended follow-up.
• Partner closely with the policy and research and communications and public affairs teams to keep messaging aligned, share intelligence from the Hill and the administration, and plan and execute Hill briefings and convenings.
• Provide rapid response and ad hoc support, including briefing memos, policy summaries, legislative updates, and political and corporate backgrounders for senior staff and external audiences; monitor and distribute relevant news clips.
• Develop and maintain tracking systems for priority policies, outreach to congressional and administration offices, and the positions of elected officials on specified issues.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for the government relations team, including scheduling Hill, internal, and external meetings; preparing agendas and briefing materials; tracking action items; coordinating with other departments; and drafting correspondence.
• Perform special projects as requested by the Senior Director, Government Relations and/or Council leadership team.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2–3 years of experience on Capitol Hill, at a trade association, or in a comparable government relations role; Hill experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization or member office in meetings with congressional staff; existing relationships with congressional offices a plus.
• Knowledge of energy, climate, trade, or manufacturing policy preferred.
• Strong research skills and political acumen; excellent verbal and written communication skills, superior attention to detail, and ability to present in a group setting.
• Ability to multi-task, meet pressing deadlines, anticipate needs, and adjust in a fast-paced environment.
• The successful candidate will be highly ambitious, focused on positive outcomes, eager to work collaboratively while remaining resilient in a challenging political arena, and operate with impeccable integrity.

Location: This position is based in the Council’s downtown Washington, DC office. The Council currently operates on a hybrid schedule (three days a week in the office), subject to the organization’s telework policy.

Compensation: Competitive salary range based on experience: $75,000–90,000; full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 403(b), etc.

The Climate Leadership Council is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse and inclusive working environment. The Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status and other such factors in accordance with U.S. state and federal laws.