Oregon Legislative Director

Location: Portland, OR (Hybrid)

Reporting to: Oregon Director

Compensation: $110,000 - $125,000

Start Date: July 2026

Application Deadline: May 1, 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 seeking an Oregon Legislative Director to lead the development and execution of our legislative strategy to advance climate and clean energy policy in Oregon. This role requires experience in government and public affairs, and a demonstrated ability to build trust-based relationships with policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders to defend and deliver climate progress.

The Legislative Director leads advocacy for Climate Solutions’ Oregon policy agenda and deepens relationships across the legislature, administrative agencies, and executive branch. During legislative sessions, this role represents Climate Solutions full-time in Salem, partnering closely with the Oregon Director, Oregon policy and communication teams, and contract lobbyists to provide strategic direction and advance priority legislation. Between sessions, the Legislative Director cultivates legislative relationships, develops advocacy campaigns, and collaborates with policy and communications colleagues to advance policy priorities through regulatory, budget, and public engagement opportunities.

This role is ideal for a candidate who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; is energized by clean energy policy and advocacy; excels at building trust-based relationships; and brings a strategic, campaign-oriented approach to advancing policy outcomes. The ideal candidate values collaboration and is excited to work alongside a mission-driven team of policy experts.

Success Outcomes and Key Priorities

Legislative Strategy and Implementation (45%)

• In partnership with the Oregon Director and policy team members, develop and execute a comprehensive legislative strategy to advance Climate Solutions’ Oregon policy agenda across clean energy, transportation, buildings, and industry.
• Lead direct lobbying efforts with legislators, legislative staff, and executive branch officials to advance priority policies, in coordination with contract lobbyists.
• Exercise strong political judgment to identify opportunities and risks, and adapt legislative strategy, messaging, and engagement tactics in real time as dynamics shift.
• Provide strategic guidance to Oregon policy team on legislative tactics, messaging, and engagement.
• Track and shape key legislation, amendments, and budget proposals throughout the legislative session

Cross-Team Collaboration (25%)

• Collaborate closely with the Oregon Director to align legislative strategy across policy, communications, and coalition partners.
• Translate legislative dynamics into clear internal guidance for messaging, campaigns, and stakeholder engagement.
• Partner with communications staff to shape narratives, media engagement, and public-facing materials.
• Support integrated advocacy campaigns that leverage lobbying, grassroots engagement, and communications strategies.
• Contribute to organizational strategy-setting and cross-state alignment in partnership with the Oregon Director and Director of Policy and Strategy (e.g., Washington/Oregon coordination).

Stakeholder Engagement and Coalition Building (20%)

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders, including legislators, agencies, Tribal governments, business leaders, and community-based organizations.
• Strengthen and align coalitions to advance shared policy goals, including facilitating strategy development, decision-making, and coordinated action.
• In partnership with environmental justice and community organizations, co-develop and implement advocacy strategies that center and amplify the voices of communities most impacted by climate injustice.
• Represent Climate Solutions in coalition meetings, working groups, public forums, media engagements, and other legislative settings to advocate for policy priorities, mobilize support, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.
• Identify and cultivate new allies to expand political support for clean energy policies

Organizational Participation (10%)

• Participate in Climate Solutions staff meetings, trainings, 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 bring policy and political fluency. You understand the complexities of advancing, implementing, and defending climate policy, and bring a strong grasp of legislative and political dynamics. You are able to get up to speed quickly on complex issues and recognize the intersections between clean energy, environmental justice, and economic priorities.
• You exercise strong political judgment. You navigate complex and evolving political dynamics with sound judgment, discretion, and strategic insight, making real-time decisions that advance policy outcomes.
• You build and sustain trust-based relationships. You have a track record of building collaborative, trust-based, and accountable relationships with policymakers, agencies, community leaders, and diverse stakeholders across the political spectrum. You bring people together across differences to build alignment and collective power.
• You are a strategic campaigner. You are a big-picture thinker, and deploy a full range of advocacy tools, tactics, and strategies including direct lobbying, coalition building, communications and grassroots engagement to advance durable policy progress.
• You are a persuasive communicator and storyteller. You distill complex policy into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with policymakers, partners, and the public, and can tailor your message to different audiences.
• You are a continuous learner. You are energized by complex challenges and quickly get up to speed on new issues, translating technical information into actionable strategy.
• 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 are adaptive and resilient. You stay focused amid shifting priorities and perspectives, guiding advocacy initiatives with clarity, collaboration, and long-term vision.

Travel: This is a hybrid role, based in Portland, OR, with a combination of remote and in-person meetings and external partner meetings, events, and trainings. The Legislative Director is expected to travel frequently to Salem during the legislative session (including regular in-person presence at the Capitol), and periodically during the interim for committee days and relationship building. Additional regional travel is expected for key meetings, organizational activities, and events.

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 Human Resources will reach out to nominees.

Climate Solutions recognizes that institutional racism, including systems and behaviors that maintain white power and privilege, exists within our organization, the broader climate and environmental movement, and throughout society. We also recognize that the impacts of the climate crisis, pollution from fossil fuels, and the costs of proposed solutions fall disproportionately on communities of color, low-income, Tribal Nations, and frontline communities, both in our region and across the world. This is a barrier to a more equitable future and our ability to achieve our mission.

Climate Solutions has chosen to lead our work with a racial equity lens as a strategy to address all forms of oppression. Climate Solutions is committed to equal opportunity in employment and promotion for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, military or veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, pregnancy and childbirth, family responsibilities, or any other basis protected by applicable laws, regulations, or guidelines relating to discrimination in employment.

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 Solution. In addition, Climate Solutions covers 100% of eligible employees' short- and long-term disability insurance, as well as life insurance.