Policy and Legislative Campaigns Director

The Ecology Center is seeking a talented and experienced advocate to coordinate its policy and legislative campaigns in Michigan.

The Ecology Center is a Michigan-based nonprofit environmental organization that works at the local, state, and national levels for clean production, healthy communities, environmental justice, and a sustainable future. In recent years, the Ecology Center has led successful campaigns to protect children's health from toxic chemicals, provide consumers with information on chemicals in products, close down Michigan's medical waste incinerators, improve the environmental performance of the auto industry, and save thousands of acres of working farms and valuable natural areas. The Ecology Center is the parent organization of Recycle Ann Arbor, also a nonprofit organization, which operates one of the country's premier recycling programs.

The Ecology Center's Environmental Health Project coordinates the
Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health, a coalition of health professionals, health- affected groups, environmental organizations and others dedicated to a safe and less toxic world for Michigan's children. Our Energy and Climate Campaign coordinates national and state campaigns to promote clean energy, low-carbon fuels, and solutions to address climate change.

Our staff are advocates who translate cutting edge environmental science into calls for changes in policy and in the marketplace. We work in an informal, team atmosphere, where individual initiative and priority setting is expected. Our methods emphasize research and scientific credibility, developing reports, fact sheets and websites, grassroots organizing with public health, environmental and health-impacted communities, and crafting effective stories for the media.

Position Overview:

The Policy and Legislative Campaigns Director will be responsible for coordinating the Ecology Center's Michigan policy and legislative campaigns, and will play a key role in local and federal campaigns. S/he will lead development of all aspects of our campaigns, including policy and strategy development, media, report releases, grassroots mobilization and strategic ally engagement. The Ecology Center's current issue priorities include environmental health, green chemistry, clean energy and low-carbon fuels, and zero waste.

The person would join our staff working from our downtown Ann Arbor office, with significant time spent in Lansing. A Lansing-based position is also possible. Located in the center of the Great Lakes Basin, Ann Arbor is widely considered one of the best places to live in the Midwest, with a vibrant arts and music scene, great schools, terrific parks, and one of the best public universities in the country, all a short drive from the most beautiful natural areas in the region.

The position offers opportunity for educational and professional development. It includes some shared organizational responsibilities and office duties. Ecology Center staff are unionized, and actively participate in organizational decision-making. This position is a great opportunity for a creative person to make a difference working for a nationally respected public interest organization with outstanding colleagues.

Responsibilities: 

Primary responsibilities include:

• coordinating the Ecology Center's state legislative campaigns in Michigan
• crafting and analyzing policy to advance Center priorities
• leading the Ecology Center's legislative campaigns, and administrative campaigns to win reforms to improve environmental health and to advance clean energy and other EC issue priorities
• working with key constituencies to build a strong base of support for legislative priorities
• developing relationships with key decision makers to advance the Center's policy priorities
• connecting policy priorities with grassroots activists and tactics;
• building and strengthening the Center's networks and coalitions to support legislative and political campaigns;
• conducting effective media relations, and serving as a public spokesperson through public events, legislative testimony, press releases, editorial board meetings and other tactics; and
• networking with partners across the nation working on similar campaigns

Qualifications:

• at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, including grassroots organizing, political, policy, legal, journalistic, or government settings;
• at least 4 years successful professional legislative experience at the state Capitol or Congress is desired; with additional direct legislative experience a plus
• strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, including experience in preparing and delivering public presentations, and ability to communicate technical information to the general public;
• demonstrated ability to develop and implement all aspects of high impact advocacy campaign - political strategy, research, advocacy, and media liaison;
• great leadership skills, self-initiative, and willingness to take risks;
• strong teamwork and ability to work with diverse people and community groups
• sound judgment and good habits of consulting with others;
• well-organized and self-motivated with the ability to work independently; and,
• must be passionate about protecting public health and the environment, and tenacious in the face of challenges.

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with relevant professional experience. The Ecology Center offers generous benefits, including medical, dental, 4 weeks vacation, and retirement. We would entertain part- time or full-time options for this position.

Application Deadline: Please apply before December 31. Applications received prior to Dec. 31 will be given priority, but we will continue to receive applications until the position is filled.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and a current writing sample by email.

Alternatively, please fax, or mail. For more information, please call.

Ecology Center
117 N. Division
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

The Ecology Center is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people of diverse cultural backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.