Federal Government Affairs Coordinator

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters — one of Michigan’s largest, most impactful political advocacy organizations tackling drinking water contamination, the rapidly-worsening impacts of climate change, and efforts to undermine our access to the ballot — is seeking a full-time Federal Government Affairs Coordinator to advocate for climate action, water justice, and natural resource protections and build power, presence and relationships in order to enact stronger laws and safeguards for Michigan’s air, land, and water.The ideal candidate will be a passionate leader and strategist, with a working knowledge of policy issues at the intersection of the environment, natural resources, social justice, racial equity, public health, democracy, and climate change. An ability to track and analyze legislation, regulations, and policy developments at the federal level is essential. They will be able to demonstrate a track record of advocacy to create policy change and experience in politics, elections, campaigns, and/or coalition building. The ideal candidate will be able to build long-lasting relationships with elected officials, partner organizations, grassroots advocates, grass-tops influencers, and frontline and impacted residents. Building a network of stakeholders and acting as a resource on national issues will be fundamental to this role in order to deliver positive policy outcomes for Michigan’s air, land, water, and public health.

About the Michigan League of Conservation Voters

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters is a statewide political organization whose mission is to elect pro-conservation candidates to office and to hold all decision makers accountable for protecting Michigan’s land, air and water. We work closely with elected officials, business leaders, partner organizations and advocates from across the state, and we are the leading, non-partisan political voice for Michigan’s land, air and water.

Michigan LCV is an equal opportunity employer. We assure equal treatment in hiring selection, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, training, discipline and other personnel practices and terms or conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, height, weight, marital status, genetic testing status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender status, or any other protected class established by all applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

Job Responsibilities

The Federal Government Affairs Coordinator, who is based in Michigan and reports to the Federal Government Affairs Director, is responsible for the following:

• Support and partner with the Federal Government Affairs Director in representing Michigan LCV with Michigan’s federal delegation, candidates, and Conservation Voter Movement affiliates, communicating our position on proposals and legislation.
• Serving as a resource to in-state, regional, and national partners, validators, and coalitions on state-federal environmental policy in Michigan, participating in regular network and coalition meetings.
• Tracking relevant activity in Washington, D.C. and researching new and proposed policy solutions on deadline, working with the Federal Government Affairs Director to communicate Michigan LCV’s position internally and externally.
• Strengthening Michigan LCV’s involvement in a strong alliance of partners, including Environmental Justice, racial justice organizations, and partners in the Great Lakes region, in order to advocate for clean and accessible drinking water, deepen participation in the democratic process and to pass stronger laws that address the climate crisis.
• Identifying opportunities for progress and key defensive plays on policy proposals and contributing to effective education, lobbying, and accountability strategies that protect critical policies and deliver winning outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Advocacy & Outreach team to create and organize a steady drumbeat of advocacy opportunities at the federal level that further Michigan LCV’s issue, accountability, electoral and public education campaigns.
• Organizing, attending, and/or leading events and meetings, particularly with federal decision makers and key stakeholders.
• Keep a steady pulse on the federal political and policy landscape, sharing that knowledge with staff and key partners and using those issues and opportunities to engage citizens and local and state decision-makers in Michigan LCV’s work.
• Collaborate with the State Government Affairs team and leadership on state climate change-related policy positions, and participate in a “Supercharged Government Affairs” approach to advancing state-level efforts.
• Work with the Communications team to create and coordinate strategic communications activities focused on state-federal priorities and identify and connect with potential storytellers about federal climate investments.
• Participating in all Michigan LCV political election work — doing the hard work of campaigning, which means door-to-door field canvassing, text and phone banking, and/or attending campaign events.

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who excel at building genuine relationships, are sharp strategists, and are looking to become federal advocacy and policy experts. You should have:

• A minimum of 2 years of experience working in government affairs, issue advocacy, or political campaigns
• A clear understanding of what it takes to impact policy decisions in Washington, DC, and how to navigate decision-making processes from start to finish.
• A proven track record of inspiring action and building a strong coalition of partnerships.
• A strong justice analysis of environmental issues and significant previous experience working on the intersection of environmental issues and racial justice and equity.
• An awareness of and dedication to the importance of networking and relationship-building.
• A track record of jumping into project planning and execution with minimal direction, consistently overcoming challenges and leveraging resources to creatively solve problems, proposing solutions to issues without much guidance, proactively asking for help, anticipating problems, and course-correcting where needed.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being comfortable presenting information about politics and public policy for a variety of audiences.
• Ability to travel to Washington DC for conferences, events, and lobby days.
• Hold a personal and professional commitment to social and political change and believe that personal growth is essential to that change; approach work with honesty, integrity, compassion, kindness, and humility; actively listen; and have the emotional elasticity to resolve conflict, take accountability, and act with the organization’s best interests at heart.
• Reliable access to the internet, a phone to use for work purposes, and transportation for travel across the state as well as the ability to participate in campaign activities, either phone banking or canvassing
• Cultural Competence
• Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about difference and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. A track record of working to build relationships with folks who represent a rich mix of people across race, gender, sexual orientation, and other group identities.
• Understanding of how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the U.S. and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems.
• Interest in electoral politics and understanding of how the electoral landscape affects policy advocacy.
• A belief that whom we elect matters and that the protection of Michigan’s land, air and water should be a political priority.
• Knowledge of and experience with Michigan political landscape and/or independent expenditure political campaigns is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

Step 1 (<0-4 years of paid and direct experience): $62,000

Step 2 (5 years of paid and direct experience): $66,000

Michigan LCV offers a benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage, long-term and short-term disability coverage, life insurance coverage, a retirement savings program, reimbursements for business-related travel, a generous paid time off policy, and a team of smart, funny, and kind colleagues working together to deliver on a mission that matters.

This position is in the bargaining unit for Michigan LCV Workers United and is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

How to Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If you need accommodation or assistance with our online application, please tell us how we can make this process accessible to you by emailing jobs@michiganlcv.org or by calling us at (734) 222-9650.

We know not all strong candidates will have every skill we list. We still want to hear from you. Research shows that women, non-binary people, disabled people, and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they don’t meet every skill listed. At Michigan LCV, we believe our collective differences enable us to make better decisions, drive innovation, and deliver impactful results. We are committed to creating racial justice and equity within the environmental movement, and we know that begins with us doing the work ourselves.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,000.00 - $66,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Salary : $62,000 - $66,000