Washington Transportation Policy Director

Location: Seattle, WA (Hybrid)

Reporting to: Washington Director

Compensation: $90,000 - $105,000

Start Date: September 2026

Application Due Date: July 10, 2026

About Climate Solutions

As a Northwest-based nonprofit for over twenty-five years, Climate Solutions' mission is to accelerate clean energy solutions to the climate crisis. Climate Solutions has a vision of a thriving, equitable Northwest, powered by clean energy, inspiring the transition to sustainable prosperity across the country and beyond. Climate Solutions advances local, regional, and state action on climate and clean energy through championing transformational policies and market-based innovations; catalyzing powerful partnerships and a diverse movement for action and accountability; and communicating a bold vision for solutions at the scale required by climate science. For more information about Climate Solutions, visit www.climatesolutions.org.

About the Opportunity

Climate Solutions is looking for our next Washington Transportation Policy expert who wants to lead our work in Washington on an equitable transition to a zero-emission transportation system. The position will lead work related to on-road transportation policy, encompassing passenger & commercial vehicles, trucking, rail, public transit, and supportive infrastructure. The person will use their technical expertise in transportation issues, policy analysis and advocacy leadership, and ability to build trusting partnerships with community, local and state government agencies to help advance the vision and goals of the organization. The person will develop and lead Washington’s transportation decarbonization portfolio at the state, regulatory, and local levels, collaborating closely with the rest of the Washington Policy Team and a broad set of partners.

This position is ideal for candidates who thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment; are energized by transportation issues, regulatory, and advocacy work; enjoy building trusting relationships with community partners, businesses, utilities, and government agencies to push forward Washington’s effort for transportation decarbonization and have a passion for pushing forward climate and environmental justice in Washington. The Transportation Director is comfortable and experienced with leading transportation decarbonization advocacy efforts, including in the state legislature. The candidate also enjoys working at a mission-driven organization with a team that is highly collaborative and are experts in their fields.

Success Outcomes and Key Priorities

Leading Transportation Policy Strategy and Implementation in Washington (50%)

• Develops and leads Washington’s transportation policy portfolio to advance Washington’s transportation decarbonization goals in legislative, regulatory, and other decision-making venues in the state.
• Leverages advocacy for transportation decarbonization to ensure success of Washington's Electric Vehicle goals and programs including the Clean Fuel Standard, the Climate Commitment Act and Washington States’ meets its statutory greenhouse gas limits.
• Works closely with the Washington Director and other members of the policy team to deepen, advance, implement, and defend transportation policy progress in regulatory and legislative environments.
• Develops rapid response to emerging state and federal policies impacting Washington’s transportation decarbonization progress.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coalition Building (30%)

• Manages and sustains trust-based, accountable relationships with a broad and diverse set of partners to advance transportation policy goals, including community-based organizations, Tribal nations, labor unions, organizations working on transportation, utilities, businesses, and local, state, and federal agencies and elected officials.
• Advances policy goals and amplifies collective power through collaboration with diverse coalitions and stakeholders across legislative, regulatory, and public campaign efforts.
• Represents Climate Solutions among its stakeholders, local and state elected officials, business, and opinion leaders, including doing public presentations, participating in public forums, and testifying at hearings.

Cross Team Collaboration (10%)

• Collaborates with the Washington Policy Team to provide expertise, leadership, and guidance on transportation policy and budget and its impact on broader Climate Solutions’ goals and work.
• Partners with the Communications team to develop strategic communications campaigns to engage and reach diverse audiences.
• Supports the Washington Director by developing policy strategies to decarbonize the transportation sector in Washington State and strategically remove barriers to achieving progress.

Organizational Participation (10%)

• Participate in Climate Solutions staff meetings, training, racial equity conversations, retreats, and team meetings. Lead or coordinate meetings when appropriate.
• Incorporate Climate Solutions’ Equity, Diversity and Inclusion commitments, Commitment to Leading our Work with a Racial Equity Lens, and Climate Solutions’ values into all aspects of the job.
• Meet staff reporting deadlines for program, development, and administrative tasks
• Additional duties may be assigned within the course of the work, such as participating in relevant meetings and events, maintaining positive working relationships by travelling to other offices, and more.

Who You Are

• You believe in Climate Solutions’ Mission and Vision to accelerate clean energy solutions to the climate crisis and champion transformational policies and market-based innovations across Washington and Oregon.
• You understand the transportation policy landscape and other environmental issues. You understand the complexities, nuances, and challenges around implementing and defending clean transportation policies. You understand the intricacies and connections between transportation and other environmental and climate justice issues.
• You are an expert policy analyst and advocate. You could do deep research and analysis and then turn transportation concepts into creative and actionable policy solutions. You are able to advocate for solutions in state legislative and agency venues and navigate technical spaces like utility regulatory proceedings. You have the experience of persuading and bringing stakeholders and community members along with you to create sustainable solutions.
• You are a big-picture and strategic thinker. You understand and deploy a full range of advocacy tools, tactics, and strategies such as regulatory engagement, direct lobbying, campaigns and grassroots activation. You build power to advance transportation decarbonization progress across the state.
• You are a learner and advocate for transportation decarbonization. You enjoy learning new and complex topics. You have the ability to become a subject matter expert that will help pave the way to Washington’s transition to decarbonized transportation, while increasing clean transportation opportunities and climate-resilient communities.
• You center Equity and Inclusion to move forward climate justice. With cultural humility, you navigate complex dynamics and create space for voices historically marginalized. You ensure that their voices are heard, valued, and prioritized throughout your work. You understand that climate justice can be achieved through community and true collaboration with the most impacted.
• You cultivate trust-based relationships. You have a track record of building collaborative, trust-based, and accountable relationships with decision-makers and diverse stakeholders. You unite diverse stakeholders from local and state institutions, climate related and frontline organizations, businesses, policy makers, and socioeconomically diverse populations
• to amplify collective power.
• You are adaptive and resilient. You stay focused amid shifting priorities and perspectives, guiding transportation policy initiatives with clarity, collaboration, and long-term view.

Travel: This is a hybrid role, based in Seattle, WA, with a combination of remote and in-person meetings (~2-3x week) and external partner meetings, events, and training, as well as periodic travel within the region (approx. quarterly) for key meetings, organizational activities, and events. During legislative session, there will be consistent travel to Olympia, WA to advance state-level on-road transportation

We request that you do not use AI tools in preparing your resume. We do not use AI or computer screening for applicants and ask that you offer us the same respect.

If you are concerned that you don’t meet the minimum qualifications but have other skills or experience that we have not considered and would be valuable in this position, please apply.

If you need reasonable accommodation in applying for or interviewing for this position, please let us know.

Nominate a leader: Submit a nomination and a recruiter will personally reach out to nominees.

Benefits: Climate Solutions provides 100% employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision, 6 weeks of PTO and 14 flexible holidays, and access to an Employment Assistance Program (EAP), health care flexible spending and dependent care spending accounts, and voluntary life insurance. A 401k retirement plan after 3 months of employment with a 5% contribution by Climate Solutions