Legislative Secretary for Sustainable Energy and Environment Program- Washington D.C.

Organization: Friends Committee on National Legislation

Title: Legislative Secretary for Sustainable Energy and Environment Program

Location: Washington D.C.

Hours and Compensation: A beginning salary of $56,000 to $71,000, depending on level of experience. Approximately 37.5 hr/week

Application Deadline: Until Filled

Posted On: Sept 23, 2011

Overview

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is a Quaker lobby in the public interest that seeks to influence national policy for a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.

FCNL’s sustainable energy and environment program encompasses a wide range of issues related to climate change, from tax subsidies for oil to the development of renewable energy resources, and from the intersection of climate change and conflict over resources to investments inU.S.jobs in renewable industries. Working within FCNL’s vision to “seek an earth restored,” the legislative secretary for energy and environment plans strategically to advance FCNL policies for achievable legislative change. The legislative secretary keeps current on evolving knowledge on sustainable energy and environment, analyzes bills, lobbies members of Congress and congressional staff on our priorities, writes materials for and engages our constituents around the country in legislative action, coordinates with colleague organizations, presents information in meetings and conferences, and integrates the work of the energy and environment program with other aspects of the FCNL program.

Description

The Legislative Secretary the Sustainable Energy and Environment occupies a senior position in FCNL and assists in the management of the legislative program. This person serves the FCNL General Committee under the leadership of the Executive Secretary and the supervision of the Associate Executive Secretary for Legislative Programs (Legislative Director).

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have the following skills and abilities:

• Graduate degree in public policy or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with designing and leading legislative program development and legislative change strategies, preferably at the national level.
• Two or more years experience of legislative advocacy–with Congress, a relevant administrative agency, a non-profit organization or business.
• Excellent research, writing, editing, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to work with a team of individuals who are responsible for various aspects of FCNL’s work, including lobbyists who focus on other issues, communications experts, grassroots organizers, and public campaigns staff.
• Physical stamina; demonstrated ability to maintain a dependable work schedule under usualWashingtonpressures.

In addition, we expect the ideal candidate to have the following characteristics:

• An appreciation of the vision that FCNL promotes in Congress and with administrative agencies; an ability to help lead FCNL’s integrated legislative program.
• An abiding passion for stewardship of the earth.
• A consultative and collegial manner, with skills in facilitating group processes and cooperative work with colleagues inside and outside of FCNL.
• Self-reliance and the ability to take initiative.
• A systematic and well-organized approach to problems, with attention to details and deadlines, and the ability to handle a wide range of tasks as needed.
• Successful supervisory experience.
• Familiarity with Friends organizations, concerns and practices, and ability and willingness to work with Friends’ committee process.
• A strong interest in legislative issues and public policy development, and general agreement with FCNL statement of legislative policy.

Background

Since 1943, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) has endeavored to bring values of simplicity, equality, peace, and justice to bear on national policy. Through visits with congressional offices, research and analysis, educational activities, grassroots lobbying, publications (including a rich website and the monthly FCNL Washington Newsletter), and occasional Congressional testimony, FCNL works for social and economic justice, peace, stewardship of the Earth, and good government. FCNL is a non-partisan organization that speaks from a basis of spiritual and ethical purpose rather than political expediency.

Other Details

Benefits: Health insurance; disability and life insurance; paid holidays, vacation, personal days, and sick leave; maternity/paternity leave; transportation subsidy, and retirement plan.

Work Week: The schedule of the Legislative Secretary will never be routine and the work week is variable within a 37.5 hour average per week. Travel and weekend meetings are sometimes necessary to the work.

Expected term of service: While all FCNL employees serve the general committee “at will,” candidates for this position should expect to be available for at least a three to five year term of service to develop and grow the Sustainable Energy/Environment program. Continuation beyond five years is desirable upon continuing mutually satisfactory reviews.

Starting date: The selected candidate for this position will begin work in January 2012.

Application