Senior Legislative Associate

Southern Environmental Law Center; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Southern Environmental Law Center seeks a Senior Legislative Associate to join our Federal Affairs team in Washington, DC. The role focuses on advancing federal environmental policy, building relationships on Capitol Hill, and coordinating advocacy campaigns with colleagues across the organization.

The ideal candidate has at least 3 years of federal or state legislative experience, strong written and verbal communication skills, and a proven ability to collaborate with policymakers, coalitions,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years minimum of progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacy or political campaigns.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive relationships with policymakers, coalition partners, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience drafting advocacy, policy, or public-facing materials.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to develop and advance legislative and advocacy goals for assigned issue areas.
• Serve as a federal affairs representative on wildlife, public lands, forests, and other environmental policy issues.
• Cultivate relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, agencies, coalitions, and stakeholders.
• Develop and execute federal advocacy strategies through targeting, engagement, power mapping, and campaign planning.
• Schedule and prepare for lobbying meetings and provide resources to policymakers and staff.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Relationship building

Written communication

Verbal communication

Legislative process knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

The Southern Environmental Law Center(SELC)is seeking aSenior Legislative Associatein ourWashington, DCoffice. This individual will join ourFederal Affairsteam and report to ourFederal Legislative Director. TheSenior Legislative Associatewilldevelop an active network on Capitol Hill, contacts in the environmental and conservation community, and will be able to develop strong collaborative relationships with colleagues at SELC.This is an excellent opportunity to joina highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation.
The ideal candidate willpossessa minimum of 3 yearsof progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacyorpolitical campaigns. They have the skills and experience to support SELC’s federal efforts on multiple issues with directsupervision.
SELC has a hybrid work model that offers employees flexibility to workremotely up totwo days per week.This is a full-time, exemptposition.Theanticipatedstart date for this position is flexible, with the ideal candidate able to begin anytime between now and early January.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Federal Legislative Director, attorneys, communications professionals,advocacy,and policy staff to develop and advance legislative and advocacy goals for assigned issue areas.
• Serve as a primary federal affairs representative and subject matter resource on wildlife, public lands, forests, and other assigned environmental policy issues.
• Cultivate,maintain, and strengthen relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, administrative agencies, coalition partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop and execute federal advocacy strategies through legislative targeting, stakeholder engagement, power mapping, and issue-based campaign planning.
• Schedule, prepare for,participatein, and follow up on lobbying meetings, providingadditionalinformation and resources to policymakers and staff as needed.
• Research legislative, regulatory, and policy developments and assess regional, state, and district-specific impacts to inform advocacy efforts and organizational decision-making.
• Draft and review advocacy materials, including talking points, fact sheets, letters, testimony, press releases, coalition communications, and other externally facing documents.
• Monitor congressional hearings, briefings, and legislative activity; prepare summaries, analyses, and memoranda for attorneys and internal stakeholders.
• Facilitate the exchange of information between the federal affairs team and staff across the organization, ensuring alignment on priorities, strategy, and emerging issues.
• Represent the organization in coalitions, working groups, and external partnerships, collaborating with peer organizations to advance shared advocacyobjectives.
• Help guide coalition strategies and activities to support organizational goals while fostering productive relationships within the environmental and conservation community.
• Participate in team meetings, retreats, and cross-functional initiatives, contributing to a collaborative and supportive organizational culture.
• Maintain awareness of political, legislative, energy, environmental, and conservation trends, ensure compliance with lobbying reporting requirements, and support fundraising and communications initiatives as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years minimumof progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacy or political campaigns.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process.
• Proven ability to build andmaintainproductive relationships with policymakers, coalition partners, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience drafting advocacy, policy, or public-facing materials.
  

Desired Qualifications:

• Connection to the people and places of the South.
• A genuineinterest in and commitment to helping SELC create and fosteran equitableand inclusive workplace thatwelcomes people from acrossthe rich racial and cultural diversity of our region.

About SELC:

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a longtrack record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of250, including more than 160 legal and policy experts and advocates. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, SELC has offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, DC.
At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe inan equitableand inclusive workplace that welcomes people from across the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region and values diverse perspectives. We approach our work with the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves tohigh standardswith an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic, and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful results. We believe in these values and in the power of SELC. We hope you consider joining us. Learn more at https://www.selc.org/.

SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent benefits package.The starting salary range for this position is $88,000–$97,350whichincludesa10%locationpremiumforthe Washington, DCmetroarea.Actual placement within the range will depend on factors such as relevant experience, education, skills, and internal equity considerations.For more details about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page .
SELC is a PSLF( Public Service Loan Forgiveness )eligible employer.
All employeesare required toresidein our region. SELCwill providerelocationreimbursementup to a specific dollar amountfor thoserelocatingat least 50 miles from their current primary residence.

To Apply:

To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants mustsubmita cover letter,resume, and professional references.Pleasenotethatall attachments must be submitted in PDF format.Theinitialdeadline for receipt of complete applications isSunday, October 4 that 11:59 pm ET.

SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment.We are eager to welcome new team members who share this commitment. Qualifiedindividualsof all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.