Apply to our Senior Director, State Policy role.
About Ceres
Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions
throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future.
For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site (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 at Ceres works with companies through the Ceres BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy) Network and a broader coalition of companies and investors to advocate for responsible climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policies at the state and federal level. Through in-person meetings with policymakers, sign-on advocacy letters, speaking engagements, and op-ed placement, the Ceres Policy Team provides BICEP members with numerous opportunities to advocate for smart public policy and demonstrate their leadership toward building a cleaner, just and more resilient economy.
The Ceres State Policy Program mainly operates in 17 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.
About You
You are passionate about climate and energy policy and bring an understanding of corporate perspectives and the national political landscape. You are highly motivated and detail oriented, with an ability to plan and deliver projects both collaboratively and independently, as well as inspire others to act with high ambition. You are a skilled communicator – with an emphasis on both verbal and written communications – and have 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
The Senior Director, State Policy leads Ceres’ state policy program, developing and executing a strategy to achieve state progress on decarbonization by coordinating a team of regional and sector experts to track the policy landscape and engage businesses in advocacy. The position reports to the Vice President of Government Relations and coordinates closely with the Senior Director, Federal Policy and Senior Director, Partnerships, BICEP Network.
This is a full-time salaried position, working remotely. Employees may occasionally be asked to travel to Ceres’ Boston office or elsewhere on behalf of the organization. The Senior Director should anticipate approximately 10% of time traveling. Candidates must be flexible to work with employees in all US time zones.
Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Lead development, execution, and continuous refinement of the State Policy team vision and strategy, in alignment with Ceres’ theory of change and overall strategy for decarbonizing the electric power and transportation sectors.
- Build and maintain key partnerships with other NGOs and business associations and represent Ceres in national state-focused climate coalitions.
- Work closely with Ceres’ Development Team to conduct fundraising efforts to support a budget of approximately $2.5 million. Fundraising duties include cultivation, relationship management, and reporting.
- Oversee team of 8-10 staff members with 4-5 direct reports:
- Responsible for coordinating the hiring and training of any new team members.
- Supervision of direct reports includes conducting regular one-on-one check-ins, performance and professional development reviews, and providing ongoing guidance and support.
- Lead team efforts to cultivate, steward, and mobilize companies and investors as advocates for state climate, clean energy, clean transportation, and building decarbonization policies.
- Work closely with Senior Director, Partnerships, BICEP Network to support member recruitment.
- Ensure writing quality and accuracy on any public written communications and resources developed by the state policy team, including sign-on letters, member educational materials, bill testimony, regulatory comments, and outreach to policymakers or other high-profile stakeholders.
- Build rapid response campaigns on major climate policy initiatives. Recent examples include implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and ESG backlash efforts.
- Identify opportunities for Ceres’ thought leadership and sponsorship, including public workshops, conferences, reports and white papers, and press statements.
- Strengthen, develop, and craft cross-NGO partnerships with climate and environmental organizations, center-right groups, and business and trade associations to effectively deploy key advocates and messengers in challenging political debates on climate policy.
- Coordinate with other Ceres teams (such as Investor Network, Company Network, Accelerator, Communications, Development, Climate & Energy, People & Diversity, Organizational Strategy, Planning & Results) as needed to accomplish organizational objectives.
- Work with the Director, Freedom to Invest within the Accelerator team to coordinate on state legislative engagement and lobbyist retainment.
- Represent Ceres at conferences, seminars, and meetings as a spokesperson for project or program work; also identify high-profile opportunities for the VP of Government Relations, CEO, and other Ceres’ senior leadership.
- As organizational needs arise, and upon successful internal readiness evaluation by the communications and marketing team and relevant program leaders, this person may be called upon to serve as a public spokesperson for external speaking and media engagements and/or as a lead or contributing author for thought leadership. Duties could include managing editorial projects from start to finish, leading and/or supporting message and content development for reports, briefs, and op-eds and media materials, as well as managing consultants and partners.
- Work with team members to identify, select and manage state-based consultants and lobbyists to execute Ceres’ advocacy strategy as needed.
- Continuously evaluate and improve Policy Team systems and norms for policy tracking, member communications, grant reporting, internal progress reporting, team coordination, etc.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience required.
- Minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant full-time experience required; experience working in climate, clean energy, and/or clean transportation policy preferred.
- Knowledge of clean transportation, electric power, sustainability issues and an understanding of corporate and/or investor perspectives.
- Knowledge of multiple regions/states climate policy and political arenas, with relevant experience.
- Self-starter focused on execution, with an ability to manage multiple projects.
- Ability to make strong connections between sustainability issues, public policy, and the impacts and implications for corporate and investor actions.
- Demonstrated ability to bring an advocacy perspective to corporate dialogues will be viewed as beneficial.
- Demonstrated strong project management and attention to detail is required.
- Proven track record of successful supervision, staff management, and coaching.
- Effective presentation style as well as strong speaking and written communication skills for external and internal audiences.
- Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, and strong initiative and motivation.
- Successful record of organizing multiple projects and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- 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.
- Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications.
- Ability to bring a positive outlook and commitment to working at Ceres.
- Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity.
- Willingness to travel as needed.
Compensation And Benefits
The hiring salary is $130,100 – $155,000 with competitive benefits (Pay Grade 20). Ceres offers fantastic benefits including opportunities for hybrid and remote work; 80%, 82% or 85% (depending on your coverage election) employer paid health insurance and 85% employer paid dental insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous match that starts on day one; generous allowances for 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 week-long summer and winter breaks, 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 ADArequest@ceres.org. Please note, this email address is for ADA inquiries only.
To Apply
We encourage all applicants to review 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.
