Michigan State Lead-Lobbyist and Strategist

## Role: Michigan State Lead

**Role Purpose:** Build powerful climate outcomes with Climate Cabinet staff, legislators, and coalition partners in Michigan.

**Location and Travel Expectations:** Flexible in Michigan, with the expectation to be in Lansing 40%+ of the time (roughly 2 days per week), with some weeks requiring more time in Lansing. This role requires some out‑of‑state travel for team retreats, conferences, and in‑person meetings.

**Timeframe:** Priority deadline for applications is May 22, 2026. Target start date is mid‑July.

**Salary Range:** $81,000–$95,500.

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## About Climate Cabinet

Climate Cabinet helps state and local candidates run, win, and legislate on climate change. State and local policymakers are key to tackling climate change – they drive progress regardless of who is in the White House. That’s why Climate Cabinet exists.

We are a dynamic, passionate, startup team of experienced climate experts with staff on the ground across the country and a remote‑first workplace. Our team culture prioritizes supporting each other as full people, striving for the highest standard of excellence in our work, respecting local knowledge, embracing technology and innovation, curiosity, and a continuous growth mindset.

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## Role Summary

The Michigan State Lead builds powerful climate outcomes with Climate Cabinet staff, legislators, and coalition partners in Michigan. This person strengthens Climate Cabinet’s presence in the legislature and continues to scale up our policy and political work in Michigan. This includes a heavy emphasis on coalition work, legislator relationship development, and collaboration with Climate Cabinet’s national teams.

This is a leadership, high‑agency position that reports to the Deputy Policy Director and operates within clearly defined strategic parameters set at the national level. This role works in close coordination with our national legislative and political teams to ensure cross‑state sharing and alignment with both state and national goals.

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## Key Responsibilities

With the support and direction of Climate Cabinet’s Senior Policy Director, Deputy Policy Director, and our team, you:

– Represent Climate Cabinet in the Michigan legislature by building strong lawmaker relationships and through consistent lobbying, policy education, and coalition work.
– Help shape and advance Climate Cabinet’s Michigan legislative strategy and help shape our political agenda in collaboration with Legislative team leadership, our Political Director, and the national team.
– Bring robust, specific policy and legislative expertise that helps Climate Cabinet advance, defend, and adapt priority climate policies.
– Represent Climate Cabinet in Michigan media and to funders, in close collaboration with the national team.

As Climate Cabinet’s primary in‑state representative, you will:

– Work in coalition with state‑based activists, organizations, clean energy businesses, lawmakers, and funders to advance shared priorities.
– Drive our state‑level legislative, political, and media strategies in collaboration with the national team.
– Track, evaluate, and communicate the impact of Climate Cabinet’s engagement in Michigan to national and state‑based audiences.
– Support fundraising activities as needed.
– Remain in constant communication and collaboration with our national team, track bills, facilitate cross‑state sharing, and develop storytelling approaches to help your efforts build power for climate in Michigan and nationwide.

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## Skills and Experience

This person is a high‑agency leader who can help turn bold vision into real‑world outcomes. This role is ideal for someone who can operationalize strategy, build relationships and trust, and drive progress with both urgency and care.

– Experience in Michigan lobbying, coalition spaces, and/or Michigan politics. You bring a strong understanding of the Michigan legislative and political landscape and know how to build credibility and relationships with lawmakers, advocates, coalition partners, and other key stakeholders.
– Expertise in state‑led climate and energy policy and politics. Expertise in at least one policy area relating to climate, energy, transportation, land use, environmental justice, agriculture, or resilience.
– Track record of turning strategy into outcomes while being coalition‑savvy with soft power. You don’t just talk strategy—you make it real. You’re energized by motivating others around a shared vision, you know how to step into a coalition and be helpful right away—especially in high‑pressure legislative sprints. You also know how to build trust over time, guide strategy gently when needed, and steer diverse coalitions toward effective paths in line with a greater theory of change.
– Strong communicator and connector. You’re able to communicate across audiences, adapt your message, and align people around common goals. You know when to lead with data, when to lead with a story, and when to use both.
– Mission‑driven with a growth mindset. You’re motivated by the urgency of climate action and the need for equitable, people‑centered solutions. You ask for and take feedback, are always learning, and believe iteration is part of building strategy toward impact.

**Location and Travel Expectations:** Flexible in Michigan, with the expectation to be in Lansing 40%+ of the time, or roughly 2 days per week, with some weeks requiring more time in Lansing. This role requires some out‑of‑state travel for team retreats, conferences, and in‑person meetings.

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## Compensation and Benefits

This is a Level 2 role within Climate Cabinet’s leveling framework, which defines the scope and compensation range for each role on the team.

**Salary Range:** $81,000–$95,500. Compensation is set by job area, level, and placement, anchored to national market data, reflective of organizational budget, and applied consistently across the team. Climate Cabinet does not negotiate compensation offers, though feedback on market benchmarks is welcome.

**Benefits include:**

– Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (99% of employee premiums covered; 50% of dependent medical premiums covered)
– Unlimited paid time off
– Basic life insurance and long‑term disability
– Health FSA and Dependent Care FSA
– 401(k) employer contribution
– Paid parental leave
– Computer reimbursement stipend and home office expense reimbursement
– Professional development funds

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## Application Process

We are accepting applications via Greenhouse on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of May 22, 2026. Include a resume, answers to our application questions, and a writing sample.

**Questions:**

1. Why do you want to work at Climate Cabinet and in this role? (200 words max)
2. What is holding back climate progress in Michigan and what will it take to change it? (200 words max)
3. Describe your experience lobbying—or otherwise working with—Michigan state legislators (or other elected officials if none). (200 words max)
4. This role requires significant time in Lansing. Do you live in Lansing, would you relocate, or plan to travel to the capitol when needed?
5. Describe an experience working in coalitions, or if you haven’t, how you would approach coalition work to advance Michigan state climate policy. (200 words max)

**Writing sample:** Upload a writing sample that reflects the skills and experience required for this role.

All applications submitted by the priority deadline will be reviewed, and candidates will receive updates no later than June 5, 2026. The interview process includes approximately three Zoom interviews with our People Operations lead and staff, including the Deputy Policy Director, plus reference checks. Target start date is mid‑July 2026.

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## You Should Apply!

We encourage applications from people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, women, first‑gen and low‑income people, and members of marginalized communities.

Climate Cabinet is an equal opportunity employer. Climate Cabinet believes every employee has the right to work in an environment free from unlawful discrimination. Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, Climate Cabinet provides all employees and applicants with equal opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, promotions, transfers, disciplinary action, termination, and training.

Want to learn more about Climate Cabinet? Check out our interview on Volts and climatecabinet.org.