Associate, State Policy, Intermountain West

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just and resilient world.

For more information about Ceres, please visit www.ceres.org

At Ceres, we value integrity, equity, belonging, compassion, and respect. We demonstrate those values through how we communicate and collaborate with our colleagues and external partners; and embody them in our decision making and advocacy efforts to create a more just and sustainable future.

About the Policy Team

The Policy Team at Ceres works with companies through the Ceres BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy) Network and a broader coalition of companies and investors to advocate for responsible climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policies at the state and federal level. Through in-person meetings with policymakers, sign-on advocacy letters, speaking engagements, and op-ed placement, the Ceres Policy Team provides BICEP members with numerous opportunities to advocate for smart public policy and demonstrate their leadership toward building a cleaner, just and more resilient economy.

The Ceres Policy Program mainly operates in 17 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.

About You

You are passionate about climate and energy policy and bring an understanding or willingness to learn corporate perspectives. You are highly motivated and detail oriented, with an ability to plan and deliver projects both collaboratively and independently. You are a skilled communicator – with an emphasis on both verbal and written communications – and have an aptitude for considering diverse perspectives and creating shared understanding among stakeholders. You are dedicated to advocating for strong and effective state climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policies for a just and sustainable future.

About the Role

The Associate, State Policy, as a part of the Policy Team at Ceres, supports Ceres’ state-level policy strategy in the Intermountain West, with a focus on Arizona and Colorado. The Associate will play an active role in identifying policy opportunities, supporting campaign execution, and engaging companies and investors in advocacy efforts to help advance Ceres’ priorities on climate, clean energy, clean transportation, and clean buildings. This position is well-suited for a highly motivated professional seeking to build experience in state policy strategy, business engagement, and coalition-based advocacy.

This is a full-time, non-exempt, remote position reporting to the Senior Manager, State Policy, overseeing Ceres’s state-level policy engagement in the West. The Associate must be located, and work, in the state of Arizona or Colorado and will travel 10-15% for in-person meetings and events. Candidates must be flexible to work with employees in all US time zones.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Policy Research and Analysis:

• Track and analyze state policy developments, legislative activity, and regulatory proceedings in Arizona and Colorado, providing summaries and preliminary analysis to inform the Sr. Manager’s identification of opportunities to advance clean energy and climate policy priorities.
• Monitor policymaker priorities, stakeholder dynamics, and political landscapes to inform advocacy approaches, including incorporating equity into policy analysis.
• Develop memos, briefings, and background materials to inform Ceres’ state policy strategy and external engagement.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Under guidance from supervisor, represent Ceres and manage relationships with coalition partners.
• Support relationship management of Ceres Networks’ company and investor members.
• Assist with recruitment of investors and businesses to engage in state-level policy advocacy opportunities such as sign-on letters, advocacy campaigns, and events.
• Participate in policy coordination calls and respond to requests from partners and companies.
• With guidance and approval from supervisor, draft and distribute content to advocacy partners and Policy Network members.

Advocacy Support:

• Represent Ceres in coalition meetings and working groups, as needed, and track key outcomes and next steps.
• Coordinate lobbyist activities and work collaboratively with external contractors.
• Engage with policymakers and participate in lobbying and advocacy meetings.
• Make recommendations to Ceres staff on policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Support development and execution of state policy strategies, including the planning and execution of state policy events, webinars, and advocacy days that elevate business and investor voices.
• With guidance and approval from supervisor, draft formal comments, sign-on letters, blogs, social media and other content about state policy advocacy efforts.

Program Support:

• Track progress against policy goals using tools such as Salesforce and Quorum.
• Help maintain regular communication with stakeholders, ensuring timely follow-up and alignment with campaign goals.
• Provide administrative, logistical, and writing support to the policy team.
• Support state policy related conference calls, webinars, and events with businesses and investors.
• Contribute to proposals and reports to funders and partners.
• Participate in occasional travel for policy advocacy events, team retreats, conferences, or partner meetings.
• Support special projects of the Policy team, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of full-time related work experience required; government or nonprofit sector experience on policy issues preferred.
• Ability to work remotely, both independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of climate policy trends, sustainability trends and current Intermountain West policy issues preferred; interest in sustainability and climate policy issues and developing subject matter expertise in the Intermountain West a plus.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and project management abilities.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate policies, political and stakeholder landscapes.
• Demonstrated writing, editing and research skills.
• Experience working in advocacy settings with private sector entities preferred.
• Experience working with diverse constituent groups.
• Familiarity with policy research, or communications work a plus.
• Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, social media and email applications.
• Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Compensation and Benefits

The hiring salary is $50,600 – $60,150 with competitive benefits (Pay Grade 12). Ceres offers fantastic benefits including opportunities for hybrid and remote work; 80%, 82% or 85% (depending on your coverage election) employer paid health insurance and 85% employer paid dental insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous match that starts on day one; generous allowances for commuter and work from home expenses; flexible spending accounts to set aside money on a pre-tax basis for eligible expenses; 10 holidays, generous vacation, and additional paid time off including week-long summer and winter breaks, summer Fridays, and sick, personal, and parental leave.

Ceres Culture

Everyone has a role to play in the movement towards a more just and sustainable world.

At Ceres, we are committed to intentionally and carefully curating, engaging, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We endeavor to create a supportive environment that sparks innovation, fosters respect, and allows Ceres employees, in all roles at all levels, to come together equally to be fulfilled, successful, and to thrive.

Ceres is committed to inclusion and belonging. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

If you have questions related to the above statement or need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact our ADA Coordinator at ADArequest@ceres.org. Please note, this email address is for ADA inquiries only.

To Apply

We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying: www.ceres.org. Please submit a resume and cover letter through our online application. Professional references may be requested during the selection process. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as Ceres is unable to sponsor any work visa sponsorship for this position.