Policy Director– Climate and Energy Focus

ORGANIZATION

The Bay Area Council is one of California’s most influential public policy and advocacy organizations, working to maintain the Bay Area as the global center of innovation. Our members include many of the region’s largest and most prominent companies. Through public policy and advocacy, we focus on building more housing, increasing investment in transportation, eliminating homelessness, modernizing our workforce, creating a more inclusive economy, and protecting the environment, among other key initiatives. We consistently achieve results by bringing together top business, government and community leaders and implementing bold and actionable solutions.

In a recent anonymous employee survey, colleagues said they like working at the BAC because of: 

• “The people... love that we are a noble cause organization, am so proud of the work we do, love our members, our ability to help the region.” 
• “I really like the BAC culture, friendliness, humor and fun in the workplace.” 
• “Being allowed to bring who I am as a person to my role and performance as a BAC employee.” 
• “Challenges, latitude to innovate, ability to manage my time and goals fairly independently, great friends and team members.” 
• “Many really smart people to work around all willing to do whatever is necessary to get things done.” 
• “The BAC has an awesome mission, and an ability to rally together to achieve lofty goals. The staff feels like a family.”   

WHAT WE DO

We gather what we consider the world’s greatest business community to build the world’s greatest region, balancing long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

• Mobilize and activate business, civic and political leaders on the most critical issues and opportunities facing the region.
• Develop solutions for an ambitious vision for the region’s future with participation of business, government, labor, science and education.
• Achieve results through persistence, advocacy, partnership and committed leadership to realize this vision.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Policy Director, with a focus on Climate and Energy, will be a member of the public policy team, reporting to the Senior Vice President of Public Policy, and be responsible for managing and implementing independent projects in all aspects of their respective policy functions shaping policy that affects millions of Bay Area and California residents.  The Policy Director will be assigned lead responsibility for our Climate Mitigation Task Force, our California Resilience Challenge and our Energy Committee, though may be adjusted in the future.  

Climate Resilience

Water & Climate Resilience Committee

Between wildfires, floods, drought, and extreme heat events, the Bay Area has broken virtually every climate-related record over the past decade. The Bay Area Council’s Water & Climate Resilience Committee advocates for innovative policy solutions to make the Bay Area the most climate-resilient coastal region in the world.

California Resilience Challenge

The California Resilience Challenge brings together businesses, utilities, and non-profit organizations to develop a pipeline of early-stage climate adaptation planning projects to strengthen local resilience in under-resourced communities across California against floods, drought, wildfires, and extreme heat. A philanthropic initiative of the Bay Area Council Foundation, the California Resilience Challenge is shaped each year by the Challenge’s Steering and Advisory Committees administered by the Bay Area Council Foundation. 

Climate Mitigation

Climate Mitigation Task Force

 The Climate Change Mitigation Task Force develops pro-growth policy recommendations to cut green tape and speed corporate decarbonization efforts. We help leading Bay Area companies achieve their emissions reduction goals to ensure the Bay Area leads the emerging post-carbon economy.

Energy Committee

California’s energy grid is threatened by climate-driven wildfires and increasing demand due to economic growth and warmer temperatures. The Bay Area Council Energy Committee advances policies to ensure California has a reliable, affordable, and clean energy future to achieve the state’s 2045 clean energy goals.

2023 Goals

·       Promote water resilience through sponsoring legislation to speed water recycling and brackish desalination projects; secure state matching funds for regional Measure AA dollars for wetlands and levees

·       Directly support innovative climate adaptation planning projects in underserved communities across California through the BAC Foundation’s CA Resilience Challenge

·       Build a pro-business climate agenda to speed building electrification projects and assist transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuels

·       Promote clean, safe, affordable energy; defend nuclear, support sustainable solar, and expand geothermal opportunities

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Policy Director’s work includes project management, advocacy and testimony in public forums, fast-paced policy research and analysis; direct communication with elected leaders, policy makers and other key stakeholders; drafting of position papers and letters to constituents; member engagement; administration of policy-related events and meetings; and, CRM database management to support these functions.  

Policy Advocacy, Project & Grant Management

·       Develop and maintain expert, up-to-the-minute knowledge of the relevant policy and political issues and players, and keep team members informed.

·       Monitor proposed legislation (local, state, and/or federal, as relevant) and pending actions by public agencies that will affect assigned policy areas; identify opportunities and threats to Council policy objectives; and develop Council response.  Proactively assist the CEO and COO with any needed policy analysis and responses.

·       Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with key external stakeholders, including member employers, public officials, and funders.

·       Communicate (in writing and orally) Bay Area Council positions effectively and convincingly to Bay Area Council members, prospective members, public officials, advocacy organizations, opinion leaders, voters, and citizens at large. 

·       Prepare written reports, memos, letters, newsletters, emails, web-site content, op-ed pieces, speeches, and PowerPoint presentations.

·       Write grant applications and take input from team, while managing projects, creating timelines and keeping stakeholders up to date for the life-cycle of the project.

Member Engagement -- Engage and involve BAC members in developing and advocating Council positions on public policy issues.  Coordinate and staff Council member committees and task forces.  Learn Bay Area Council member interests, concerns, and perspectives on assigned policy areas, and develop program activities that engage members on the basis of those interests.

Events & Meetings Support – For meetings, events, and delegation trips involving assigned policy areas, work with the team to provide comprehensive management for these activities.  This includes recruiting speakers, arranging venues, setting dates, developing agendas and pre-reading materials, developing invitation lists, sending invitations, tracking RSVPs, arranging catering, A/V, hotel, transportation, staffing needs, name badges, registration and day-of-event staffing and support.  Draft minutes following meetings where applicable.  

Database Management, Tracking & Reporting – For assigned policy areas, ensure that all committee members and related contacts, accounts, events, meetings, and sponsorships are regularly updated and maintained in the Salesforce CRM database so that contact information, event registrations, mailing lists and other functions supported by the database are accurate and reliable.  Work with key contacts in member companies to ensure that the contacts we have for the organization are current, and that their contact information is complete and accurate.    

Other -- Coordinate activities with, and as necessary assist and support, other Bay Area Council staff (in policy, communications, membership, events, and accounting functions) in order to ensure overall success of the Council. Perform other duties in support of Bay Area Council programs and activities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

·       Minimum two-year college degree; prefer degree in relevant field (e.g. public policy, law, political science) and/or relevant work experience.

·       Strong research and analytical skills.

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills including proofreading and editing capabilities.

·       Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and both web and cloud-based applications, ability to design and edit graphic presentations and materials.

·       Strong ability to execute work with a diversity, equity and inclusion lens.

·       High degree of professionalism in dealing with diverse groups of people, including board members, senior executives, elected officials, staff, community leaders, donors and funder partners.

·       Ability to adhere to and meet deadlines.

·       Ability to complete a high volume of tasks and projects with little or no guidance.

·       Ability to react with appropriate levels of urgency to situations and events that require quick response or turnaround.

·       Ability to maintain a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information

·       Possess creative and solution-oriented problem-solving skills.

·       Work well with teams including the ability to build constructive working relationships with others and treat others with dignity and respect at all times.

·       Excellent judgment is essential.

·       Ability to switch gears at a moment’s notice.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

·       The Policy Director, with a focus on Climate and Energy, position is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated individual who desires a role in a highly-respected organization.  The salary range is $80,000-100,000 and will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience.

·       Annual performance and compensation reviews

·       Annual Bonus Incentive program (when financial conditions permit)

·       Medical, dental and vision insurance is 100% paid by the employer for the employee and 50% coverage for all dependents will be paid by the employer with the employee carrying the other 50%

·       Long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance policy of up to one (1) times the employee’s annual salary.

·       Paid time off (PTO) of 20 days per year for the first 4 years, then 25 days thereafter.

·       Eleven (11) Paid Holidays.

·       Employer sponsored 401(k) plan with an employer match of 12 percent.

·       Professional development training allowance provided annually.

·       Mobile Phone reimbursement up to $55.00 per month.

·       Wellness stipend of $25.00 per month (certain qualifications must be met).

·       Commuter stipend and/or work from home stipend provided monthly.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Bay Area Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive environment and to building a team that reflects the rich diversity of our community.   Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. Answers to application questions will be used for applicable, job-related reasons only.

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit your resume and a cover letter as one pdf e-mail attachment with your last name and “Policy Director” in the file name (i.e., LASTNAME_PolicyDirector) to jgrubb@bayareacouncil.org.  Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.