Job Description

Key responsibilities

Legislative & Regulatory Advocacy
Serve as the organization's lead representative to Congress, federal agencies, and the Administration on maritime shipping policy.
Develop and execute a federal advocacy strategy and annual policy agenda in coordination with organizational leadership.
Track, analyze, and respond to relevant legislation, appropriations, and agency rulemakings (e.g., Coast Guard authorization, MARAD programs, FMC actions, EPA vessel emissions standards, IMO-related federal implementation).
Draft and deliver testimony, comment letters, position papers, one-pagers, and talking points for policymakers and internal leadership.
Build and sustain relationships with congressional members and staff, relevant committees (e.g., House T&I, Senate Commerce), and agency officials.
Work with congressional offices to shape, draft, and advance legislative proposals.
Secure new bipartisan cosponsors for priority legislation and lead efforts to frame bill messaging for cross-party audiences.
Carry out various advocacy tactics such as grassroots organizing, traditional and digital outreach, engaging policymakers, in-person mobilization tactics, etc.
Coalition & Stakeholder Engagement
Represent the organization in coalitions, working groups, and industry/NGO partnerships focused on maritime and shipping policy.
Cultivate and help lead a Washington, D.C.-based clean shipping/maritime policy coalition, including environmental justice groups, labor organizations, port and maritime associations, and academic partners.
Engage with carriers, cargo owners, ports, and maritime industry associations to understand industry positions, identify potential allies for federal policy goals, and inform advocacy strategy.
Build and maintain strategic partnerships with industry, labor and allied advocacy organizations.
Develop and maintain target lists, relationship maps, and coordinated work plans with congressional offices, agency contacts, and coalition partners to guide advocacy priorities and divisions of labor.
Represent the organization at hearings, briefings, conferences, and public forums, and with the press as needed.
Support grassroots and grasstops mobilization tactics (e.g., sign-on letters, fly-ins, constituent engagement) to build pressure for federal action, in coordination with campaigns/organizing staff.
Support ports, companies, and labor partners in identifying and pursuing federal funding opportunities that advance clean vessel deployment, port electrification, battery production, and domestic maritime supply chains.
Strategy, Communications & Internal Coordination
Advise senior leadership and the board on the federal policy landscape, emerging risks, and opportunities.
Partner with communications/media teams on public messaging tied to federal policy developments.
Coordinate with development/fundraising staff to support grant proposals and donor engagement related to federal policy work, as needed.
Supervise consultants, contract lobbyists, or junior policy staff as applicable.
Ensure all advocacy activity complies with applicable lobbying disclosure and 501(c)(3) rules.
Other tasks as determined by the Climate Policy Director

Qualifications

Required
5–10+ years of federal government affairs, legislative, or regulatory experience, ideally including maritime, transportation, energy, or environmental policy.
Demonstrated relationships with congressional offices, committee staff, and/or relevant federal agencies (Coast Guard, MARAD, FMC, EPA, DOT).
Strong understanding of the federal legislative process, appropriations cycle, and administrative rulemaking.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting testimony, letters, public comments, and policy materials for non-expert audiences.
Track record of representing an organization credibly in coalitions and with external stakeholders.
Ability to work independently in a remote/hybrid environment while regularly meeting with congressional and agency offices in Washington, D.C.
Bachelor's degree required.
Commitment for climate action, with a demonstrated ability to think creatively and identify innovative opportunities to advance campaign goals.
Preferred
Prior experience on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, or in maritime/shipping industry government affairs.
Familiarity with transportation, clean energy, maritime decarbonization, clean fuels, or vessel emissions policy.
Existing network within maritime trade associations, port authorities, or environmental/labor coalitions.
Experience with defensive advocacy (protecting existing law, funding, or regulatory authority from rollback), not solely proactive policy advocacy.