WE ACT is seeking a Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager with a demonstrated passion for justice and equity issues for our Federal Policy Office. This individual reports to the Senior Director of the Federal Policy Office and will pursue the use of administrative, legislative and regulatory actions to address the environmental and socio-economic burdens of pollution, creating safe and healthy living conditions in frontline communities.

While national policies aim to allocate funding and resources to particular communities, we have seen time and time again that government often falls short. The Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager will lead WE ACT’s efforts to ensure that environmental justice organizations are poised to receive funding allocated from across federal agencies (e.g., HUD, DOE, DOT) using the Justice40 framework, including the communities of Upper Manhattan. The manager will work to ensure that LIHEAP funding remains stable and effective implementation of that program leads to improved environmental, economic, social and political outcomes for Upper Manhattan. The person in this role will identify the most important existing federal EJ legislation and regulation and assess the status of current implementation efforts in New York City and New York state, provide legislative guidance and influence policy regulation to ensure accountability. The manager will also conduct research and develop reports to provide oversight and promote compliance with policy guidelines, communicating findings and raising awareness among key decision-makers, implementing bodies and local community members about implementation efforts that are falling short. Key Responsibilities include:

Legal Strategy

• Co-create and implement a comprehensive federal regulatory affairs plan in support of the policy priorities of the Federal Policy Office and to define short- and long-term goals and objectives related to WE ACT’s policy impact.
• Identify and implement environmental justice interests in legal, policy and regulatory solutions, including litigation, regulatory proceedings and other advocacy venues.
• Co-create public comments, white papers, policy designs, technical reports and analytical tools that can be used in legal campaigns.
• Convene and facilitate meetings and working groups with EJ movement partners, experts, advocates, ratepayer and consumer groups, manufacturers, business organizations and associations, outside counsel and others to develop relationships and strengthen networks in order to address barriers to equity-centered environmental policy.
• Track and support WE ACT’s partners in pertinent regulatory dockets.

Policy Analysis & Regulatory Affairs

• Provide analysis of legal cases and trends, as well as proposed federal laws and regulations that may perpetuate inequitable public health and economic burdens in communities disproportionately impacted by pollution.
• Serve as WE ACT’s point person on regulatory education and communication with federal regulators and policymakers, developing strong relationships, identifying opportunities and priorities and establishing WE ACT as the go-to resource for policymakers, regulators, coalition members and other stakeholders around environmental justice policy.
• Provide testimony and support administrative advocacy to ensure strong implementation of existing federal laws and regulations.
• Share legal insight on state and federal regulatory issues with members of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, an alliance of 54 environmental justice groups representing 22 states that is convened by WE ACT.

ABOUT YOU

The incoming Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager is driven by their belief in and commitment to WE ACT’s vision and mission. Through their track record as a policy advocate, lawyer or legal strategist, the successful candidate determines and drives WE ACT’s federal policy agenda. The manager builds authentic and lasting relationships inside and outside the organization with regulators, policy makers and coalition members, engaging with them as partners in WE ACT’s mission and vision.

The successful candidate is entrepreneurial and self-directed, bringing policy and political savvy to prioritize an ambitious agenda for maximum impact. This role requires a deep commitment to the principles of environmental justice and the ability to influence the development and implementation of federal policy and regulation. The optimal candidate has worked in an advocacy environment and understands the movement context, possessing a strong grasp of the economic, social and political forces that shape environmental policy in the U.S. The selected candidate will also possess most of the following Core and Preferred qualifications:

Core

• Strong commitment to the mission and goals of WE ACT and a strong passion for solving the climate crisis through environmental justice.
• At least 7 years of increasing responsibility in public policy, with a proven track record of accomplishments designing and executing strategies that generate strong EJ policy, intervening in administrative dockets and successfully influencing regulatory policy.
• JD, law school graduate admitted, or willing to apply for admission, to the District of Columbia Bar.
• Demonstrated experience working across lines of race, class, gender and geography and an analysis of how climate change and energy-related issues intersect with historically marginalized communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of how organized movements create change and accomplish policy objectives and familiarity with administrative, constitutional and regulatory processes.
• Outstanding research, analysis, oral and written communications skills in order to:
• Translate complex data and analysis into persuasive narratives;
• Communicate WE ACT strategies without jargon;
• Write and deliver cogent arguments often within a short turnaround time.
• Exceptional project management skills and a high degree of emotional intelligence to support consensus building and collaboration between and among diverse stakeholders who may possess divergent viewpoints.
• Outstanding relationship-building skills with a wide range of diverse external constituencies, diplomatic abilities and authentic leadership skills that build the trust-based relationships necessary for stakeholders to buy in and share accountability for our collective work.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and be flexible in a fast-paced, constantly evolving and collaborative environment, where working on a team and working individually are required.

Preferred

• Background in environmental, climate, energy, transportation or civil rights policy.

SALARY & BENEFITS

WE ACT offers competitive nonprofit compensation and is committed to justice in salary transparency and wage equity. The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000, based on experience and qualifications. WE ACT offers a generous suite of benefits, including comprehensive health care (medical, dental and vision), flexible spending account, life insurance, pre-tax transit program, retirement programs and paid holidays and vacation, along with onsite HR support for your benefit needs. WE ACT follows a 3-2 hybrid work policy, requiring 3 days in the office per week. All staff are fully vaccinated.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

WE ACT is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ communities. We are committed to transparent and equitable recruitment, hiring and promotion processes that foster inclusion and belonging. If you’ve read this job description, are excited by it and can see yourself in this role, we hope you apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please email David Hudson at davidhudson@weact.org.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply or nominate a candidate, please send to david.hudson@weact.org with “Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager (Attorney)” in the subject line a resume, a sample legal brief or memo and cover email or letter answering the following:

1. Why are you passionate about environmental justice?
2. Briefly share a policy (legislative, administrative or regulatory) win you played a key role in, particularly a lesson learned that you would apply to WE ACT’s national policy goals.

Submission in a combined PDF or Microsoft Word file is preferred. This position is open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.