Government Affairs Specialist

Description

About Appalachian Voices
Appalachian Voices is a nonprofit advocacy organization that works to achieve an Appalachia with healthy, intact ecosystems and advance a just transition to a generative and equitable clean energy economy. We currently have over 40 staff members across the region, with offices located in Boone, N.C., Charlottesville, Virginia, and Norton, Virgina.

Commitment to Equity
Appalachian Voices is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion both in our work and in our organizational structure. We seek applicants who share and exhibit these principles. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

We understand people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the position details and responsibilities listed. If you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill many of the requirements of this role, we encourage you to apply. We may tailor the role to a talented or passionate candidate.

Position Details
Appalachian Voices is seeking a Government Affairs Specialist to join our fast-paced, dynamic team. This is a remote position, with frequent travel to Washington, D.C. Preference will be given to candidates who reside in or near D.C., or in the Appalachian region near one of our primary locations listed above.

This position will support federal legislative work to advance our goals related to community and economic redevelopment efforts in the Appalachian Coalfields, coal mine reclamation, the transition to clean energy, and other relevant issues of the region. The Government Affairs Specialist will build relationships across the political spectrum and policy campaigns with coalition partners, members of Congress, and federal agency officials to advance bills and initiatives through the federal government.

This position will work under the supervision of the Director of Government Affairs and Strategy, and in coordination with field staff to build and implement campaigns that engage and empower impacted communities in the Appalachian coalfield and Tennessee Valley region. Foundational to success is a well-developed understanding of the federal legislative process and politics. An individual with experience lobbying elected officials, developing legislative campaigns and working in coalitions is preferable.

With massive federal funding being invested in clean energy and economic transition in fossil-fuel-impacted communities, this is an exciting time to join the Appalachian Voices team. The Government Affairs Specialist will work with a diverse network of regional partners to deliver strategic and successful campaigns to accelerate sustainable and equitable development in Central Appalachia and protect communities from the harmful impacts of coal mining and methane gas infrastructure. In the face of climate change and hard won environmental victories, the Government Affairs Specialist joins a team and a movement building alternative systems where ecological integrity, social justice, and democracy drive our goal to build a new economy.

Compensation & Benefits:
This is a full-time, non-exempt position, and is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit. Specific terms, conditions, and benefits of employment are subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Appalachian Voices offers competitive compensation and benefits that include employer-paid health care, vision, and dental policies with options to include family members at a reduced cost; short- and long-term disability plans; generous paid vacation and parental leave; flexible working hours; and an employer-matched retirement plan.

Salary is commensurate with experience, with an expected salary range between $60,200 – $75,000. We are open to a wide range of experience for this position, however, and are open to feedback from the market. Therefore, salary could exceed this range for candidates with commensurate background. Appalachian Voices is committed to equity in pay practices.

Job Duties

Responsibilities
– Directly lobbying and educating members of Congress and federal administration officials and their staff to address priority issues, advance legislation and defeat bills that negatively impact or threaten our organizational goals;
– Working with partners, Congressional offices, and administration officials to develop legislation and proposed executive action on priority issues;
– Identifying strategic Congressional and administration targets, messaging, and messengers, and building effective campaigns;
– In coordination with partners and other AV staff, developing grassroots action alerts, press releases, letters to the editor, opinion pieces, and lobbying materials;
– Responding to media inquiries regarding federal legislation and executive actions;
– Tracking federal legislation as it moves through committees and amendment processes;
– Identifying strategic Congressional and administration targets, messaging, and messengers, and building effective campaigns.

Skills Required

Skills & Experience Required
– Demonstrate strong knowledge of and interest in the federal legislative process and federal politics, with a minimum of 3 years legislative or government affairs experience;
– Demonstrate the ability to directly communicate a convincing argument to elected officials and their staff regarding the importance of our organizational legislative priorities;
– Understand, or be interested in learning about, federal policies and programs that impact Central and Southern Appalachia, such as environmental protection, coal mine reclamation, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Tennessee Valley Authority, clean energy development and manufacturing tax credits and grant programs.
– Demonstrate the ability to work with people of diverse political interests and cultural backgrounds;
– Have excellent written and verbal communications skills;
– Utilize well-honed and flexible campaign management skills, with the ability to steward multiple campaigns simultaneously; and
– Thrive in a highly collaborative setting while being self-motivated and creative.

Additional Info

To Apply:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until this position is filled. For early consideration, candidates shall apply by March 1st, 2024. Using this link, please submit a resume and a brief cover letter that addresses (1) your connection to Appalachia, (2) why you want to work with coal-impacted communities, and (3) an example of your experience lobbying an elected official (at any level of government) who did not agree with you.

Appalachian Voices participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.