Federal Policy Associate

## Position Announcement: Federal Policy Associate

Chesapeake Climate Action Network seeks an ambitious, dedicated, entry-level policy analyst to support our federal advocacy campaigns.

The Federal Policy Associate will assist our federal advocacy to advance climate solutions in Congress and block the catastrophic deregulation agenda of the Trump administration. This position involves analysis of pending federal legislation, delaying destructive White House executive actions, lobbying members of Congress and their staff, and working effectively with grassroots and grass tops partners.

The Policy Associate’s advocacy will focus on federal regulation of runaway data center growth, our Make Polluters Pay campaign to hold bad actors responsible for the climate crises they cause, and building support for solar geoengineering research.

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## About Us

Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the only group in the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC dedicated exclusively to building a powerful grassroots movement to fight climate change.

We envision an equitable energy future where truly clean sources of power — solar, wind, and geothermal — sustain every aspect of our lives, efficiency is prioritized, and fossil fuels have been phased out.

We are working on bold campaigns that would result in energy policies matching the scale of the climate crisis. Since 2002, we have been pushing the envelope of what’s “politically possible” in the Chesapeake region and beyond, using every tool inside and outside the box — from organizing to lobbying to the law.

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## What You Will Do

The primary responsibilities of the position include:

– **Policy analysis** — Help shape our legislative and executive action strategy through an in-depth analysis of policy options. Provide prompt written interpretations of policy opportunities and potential threats and recommend strategies and tactics based on your analysis.

– **Direct lobbying** — Interact directly with elected officials and their staff to advance campaign objectives, manage the meeting schedule for the Federal team (including scheduling and preparing for meetings), and track outreach to and necessary follow-up from meetings with decision-makers.

– **Targeted campaigning** and coalition building — Identify campaign targets and develop strategies to establish CCAN’s presence and mobilize grassroots and grass tops support in the districts of select lawmakers.

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## Qualifications

– **Commitment to climate justice** — Commitment to the mission of fighting climate change and promoting environmental justice.
– **Strong communication skills** — Strong written and verbal communication skills.
– **Organization and detail** — Highly organized and attentive to detail.
– **Self‑motivation** — Able to track multiple ongoing tasks and deadlines, prioritizing measurable results.
– **Team collaboration** — Able to collaborate and work effectively with a team.
– **Goal tracking** — Experience setting measurable goals and tracking progress.
– **Problem‑solving** — Someone who thinks of solutions more than barriers.
– **Advocacy or organizing** experience (either paid or volunteer) is helpful but not required.

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and value lived and work experience; therefore, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You might be the perfect candidate for this or another role at CCAN.

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## The Details

The Federal Policy Associate is a full-time, salaried, overtime-exempt position. The salary range for this position is **$56,000 to $66,000**.

We provide a generous benefits package, including:

– Health insurance
– Dental and vision coverage
– Four weeks of paid vacation
– A 401(k) retirement savings account with a 4% employer match
– A three-week paid sabbatical after three years of full-time employment

Full-time positions at CCAN are hybrid; we work two days per week from our office in Takoma Park and three days from home. Due to the nature of our advocacy work, occasional evening and weekend work is expected.

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## How to Apply

Please complete the online application, where you will answer a series of short questions and submit a resume. We will accept applications until the position is filled, but we will prioritize applications received by **Friday, July 31, 2026**.

To ensure all applicants receive fair consideration, we will begin the review process after July 31. Our hiring process includes an initial phone interview, a panel interview (in-person or via Zoom), and may include a written skills test.

Our target start date for this position is **September 14**.

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## Equal Employment Opportunity

CCAN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.