Manager, State Policy

About Ceres

Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.

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

Here 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 State Policy Team

The State Policy team builds investor and corporate support for smart climate, clean energy, and transportation policies in states across the country. We’ve helped pass dozens of state and regional policies that reduce pollution, increase renewable energy, improve public transit, and put states on a path toward a more just and more equitable world.

About You

You are passionate about state environmental policy and bring an understanding of 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 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

Reporting to the Senior Director, State Policy, the Manager, State Policy will support Ceres’ policy work with a focus on state-level climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policy in the Midwest United States, specifically in Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota.

This is a full-time salaried position, working remotely from the Midwest. Employees may occasionally be asked to travel to Ceres’ Boston or San Francisco office.

Primary duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Implement Policy Program for the Midwest United States
  • Leadership role in identifying policy priorities in Midwest states, developing a plan for policy engagement, and executing the plan with team members.
  • Work with the policy team to periodically refine the strategy for state program work as it fits into the Policy Team’s overall vision.
  • Track key developments related to state policy.
  • Manage state-based consultants and lobbyists to execute Ceres’ advocacy strategy.
  • Develop and cultivate relationships with key state policymakers, external partners, and in-state allies (local non-profits, communications firms, lobbyists, etc.).
• Support Outreach and Engagements to Amplify Ceres’ Work
  • Recruit investors and businesses to engage in state-level and federal policy advocacy opportunities.
  • Support outreach and dissemination of Ceres’ work in the Midwest, including designing and implementing workshops, webinars/conference calls, newsletters, and other multi-media communications to reach companies, investors, policymakers, and donors.
  • Use earned media, advocacy days, national meetings, direct engagement with policymakers, and other strategies to impact state policy outcomes.
  • Prepare materials and prep participants for investor and business engagements with press, state lawmakers, and federal lawmakers.
  • Support recruitment of investors and businesses to engage in state-level and federal policy advocacy opportunities.
• Other
  • Coordinate with other program teams (such as Transportation, Investor, Communications, Development, Electric Power, or Operations) as needed to accomplish organizational objectives.
  • Participate in crafting fundraising proposals to support designated project or program work.
  • Represent Ceres at conferences, seminars, and meetings as a spokesperson for project or program work as requested.
  • Support organizing and logistical activities related to Ceres’ Annual Conference.
  • Support special projects of Policy Program, as necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience required.
• Five (5) or more years of full-time related work required: experience working on environment, environmental equity, energy, and/or transportation policy issues, particularly at the state level, highly preferred.
• Demonstrated successful project management skills across multiple projects, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment are required.
• Knowledge of clean transportation, electric power, and/or sustainability issues and an understanding of corporate perspectives.
• Knowledge of Midwest states’ environmental policy and political arena, with relevant experience.
• Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative, and motivation with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to make strong connections between sustainability issues and articulate the impacts and implications for corporate and investor actions.
• Demonstrated ability to bring an advocacy perspective to corporate dialogues a plus.
• Effective presentation style as well as strong speaking and written communication skills for external and internal audiences.
• Ability to work as part of a team and take a collaborative approach as well as deliver independent projects.
• Planning expertise and ability to deliver projects on deadline within time and resource budgets.
• Ability to bring a positive outlook and energetic commitment to working at Ceres.
• Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity.
• Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications along with the willingness to learn new systems as needed.
• Willingness to travel as needed to accomplish duties noted above.

Compensation and Benefits The hiring salary is $79,545 – $84,500 with competitive benefits. Ceres offers fantastic benefits including opportunities for hybrid and remote work; 82% or 85% (depending on your coverage election) employer-paid health insurance and 90% employer-paid dental insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous match that starts on day one; generous allowances for professional development, 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 a week-long winter break, 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 diversity, equity, and inclusion. 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 [email protected]. Please note, this email address is for ADA inquiries only.

To Apply We encourage all applicants to check out 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.