Senior Manager, California State Affairs

Environmental Defense Fund; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Defense Fund is seeking a Senior Manager, California State Affairs to lead policy engagement and campaigns in California. You will coordinate across EDF programs, manage consultants, and build relationships with policymakers and stakeholders to advance EDF priorities.

The role requires self-direction, strategic planning, and strong communication skills. Ideal candidates have eight years of California environmental policy experience and a track record of working with legislators,

Qualifications

• Eight years’ experience in California environmental policy with industry, regulators, or public-interest stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; Master’s degree may substitute for up to two years of work experience.
• Experience with California legislative process and environmental issues.
• Demonstrable people and project management skills.
• Ability to represent EDF in public and with the press.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Negotiation skills to build consensus among diverse groups.
• Able to work with government agencies, coalitions and diverse partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel within-state (10–25%) and occasionally out-of-state.

Responsibilities

• Identify political and policy objectives and design state policy engagement strategies.
• Lead cross-program collaboration to implement strategies and outcomes.
• Develop and manage relationships with decision-makers to advance EDF goals.
• Oversee strategic communications with Marketing and consultants.
• Manage outreach and advocacy with EDF staff and partners.
• Lead elements of California advocacy and manage state lobbying efforts.
• Represent EDF on committees, workgroups, and coalitions.
• Supervise junior staff and interns.
• Support EDF Organizational Effectiveness and Culture goals.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Project management

Public speaking

Negotiation

Written communication

Stakeholder engagement

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Location

Candidates based in Sacramento are strongly preferred. Applicants located in the San Francisco Bay Area will also be considered, with the expectation of frequent travel to Sacramento.

Duration

This is a three-year fixed-term position with full benefits and the possibility of extension.

Program Overview

The State Affairs program of the Political Affairs department leads EDF’s efforts to achieve our policy goals through legislative, regulatory, and political engagement at the state and local levels. Our lobbyists, communicators, organizers and experts work together to achieve progress on our priority issues.

Overall Function

The Senior Manager, California State Affairs will lead the development and implementation of key aspects of EDF’s California-based work. Reporting to Senior Director, California, the Senior Manager’s responsibilities will include leading the collaborative design and implementation of effective education and policy advocacy campaigns to support EDF’smajorworkstream priorities in California. This work will entail managing consultants, coordinating among multiple EDF workstreams and experts, coordinating with partner organizations, owning relationships with key stakeholders, influential decisionmakers and/or government agencies, and representing EDF and organizational positions to external stakeholders. The Senior Manager will be a key “on the ground” presence for EDF and EDF Action in Sacramento, representing the organization and its priorities.

Flexibility and willingness to learn and develop functional subject matter expertise in the areas of climate change, clean energy, forestry, water, and/or clean transportation is required. The Senior Manager will take responsibility for tracking policy for specific subject areas and coordinating with the relevant EDF experts, external stakeholders and policymakers.

TheSeniorManagerwill manage 1-2 junior staff members,will independently guide and manage specific projects, and serve as the main point of internal and external contact for discrete projects or campaigns.Independent judgement is required to plan, prioritize, and organize workload. Ideal candidates are driven self-starters with the ability to learnnew subject matter, with demonstrated success in California government or government relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with theSenior Director, Californiato identify political and policy objectives and design and implement strategies for effective state policy engagement.
• Lead collaborative efforts across EDF programs, departments, and the national political team to implement specific strategies and outcomes to support program efforts.
• Develop and manage strategies to enhance EDF relationships and advocacy with decision-makers (e.g., governors, state and federal legislators, media) to advance EDF goals.
• Develop and manage the execution of strategic communications, in partnership with Marketing and Communications staff and consultant(s).
• Manage the development of new political constituencies and oversee implementation of outreach and advocacy strategies, including the deployment of EDF staff experts and important/influential allies.
• Lead key elements of EDF’s advocacy strategy in California, including helping to manage the state political consulting and lobbying team.
• Represent EDF on essential committees, workgroups and coalitions in support of priority policy goals.
• Manage junior staff and/or interns.
• Participate in advancing EDF Organizational Effectiveness and Culture (OEC) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years’ experience working to effect change inCalifornia, including a demonstrated history of success in state environmental policy throughengagementwith industry, regulators, elected officials and other public-interest stakeholders.
• Bachelor’sdegreeorequivalentrequired,in science, policy, economics or law in areas related to the environment. Master’s degree or equivalent may substitute for up to two years of work experience.
• Experience withCalifornialegislative process and politics, and solid understanding of the political dynamics surrounding a broad range of environmental issues and the wider political context in which they operate; understanding of state and federal policy making and political processes.
• Demonstrable people and project management skills.
• Ability to represent and speak for EDF in public and with the press.
• Demonstrable written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstratable negotiation skills with the ability to garner consensus between disparate groups with conflicting priorities.
• Capable of working with a variety of concerned parties, including government agencies, grassroots organizations and private firms, within strategic coalitions.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to travel for in-state meetings (10-25%, depending on candidate location) with occasional out-of-state travel required.

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

110,000 - 120,000 USD