Legislative Affairs Associate

About the Organization

Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council has worked to safeguard Illinois—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends by building power for people and the environment. Representing over 130 environmental organizations, IEC carries out its mission to advance public policies that create healthy environments across Illinois through education, advocacy, and movement building.

IEC advances sound environmental laws and policies at all levels of government by bringing together the Illinois environmental community to influence decision-makers and ensure clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. From lobbying at the State Capitol to building consensus around an annual environmental agenda, IEC takes pride in leading our environmental movement in Illinois. We coordinate our affiliate member organizations to share resources, mobilize supporters, and respond quickly to the most pressing issues facing the environment in Illinois.

IEC also supports environmental activists across the state, building programs to cultivate the next generation of environmental leadership, such as our Young Professionals Board, Community Council, annual environmental scorecards, and other educational programs like our Civics for Environmentalists and Lunch & Learn series.

About the Position

The Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF) is looking for a self-motivated and experienced individual for the role of Legislative Affair Associate. The Legislative Affairs Associate is responsible for advancing environmental progress by implementing IEC’s policy and advocacy priorities with the state legislature. This is a permanent associate level position that is responsible for supporting the organization's full policy agenda through administrative support for the IL legislative process. This role will be supervised by the Legislative Relations Director.

This position is located in Springfield, IL. The position is full-time and may include evening and weekend work, and occasional travel within Illinois. This position is expected to be available during any days the legislature is in session with minimal PTO taken during session months.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is excited by the challenge of addressing the biggest issues facing Illinois. You should be a stellar communicator with excellent attention to detail who enjoys digging into legislative issues and working with broad coalitions of partners to build power and execute on legislative priorities.

We are a small, dynamic team that relies on each other to produce high-quality work.

We strongly encourage candidates from all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new hire is an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective, and we are always eager to further diversify our organization. IEC/IECEF is committed to building an inclusive, supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.

Responsibilities

Legislative Affairs Associate will be responsible to support the Legislative Team with administrative and coordinating processes of the State Legislature.

Legislative Process

• Support IEC’s direct and grassroots lobbying efforts for state to federal work.
• Support the writing, advocacy, analysis and tracking of state legislation.
• Communicate IEC’s position to decision makers through in person conversations, action alerts and position statements.
• Lobby and develop relationships with lawmakers on behalf of IEC with senior state policy staff.
• Attend General Assembly Committee Hearings as directed by supervisor.
• Administrative work such as database entry, legislative tracking, taking meeting notes and following up on action items, related to IEC’s government affairs work.

Program Work and Education

• Support the Program teams in implementing policies and legislative strategies.
• Support programs team to organize events and tours with IEC affiliates and legislators.
• Create educational materials and other tactics for legislators, as needed
• Assign program staff to update their issue area-specific candidate educational document
• Coordinate with the communications team for design of educational documents.

Affiliate Coordination

• Attend regular meetings with our program leads to coordinate group messaging and strategy related to policy and other subjects with direction from the program team.
• Support administrative coalition work including scheduling meetings, notetaking and external communications.
• Consult our affiliates to build on their expertise in certain fields.
• Support coordination of lobby day(s)
• Coordinate with partner organizations to develop strategies and implement tactics, such as congressional meetings, letters to the editor, action alerts, and other grassroots organizing opportunities.

Qualifications

• Passion for environmental advocacy, democracy, environmental justice
• Excellent project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups and people.
• Commitment to and knowledge of equity, diversity, inclusion, and allyship work.
• Proficiency using both the Microsoft and Google software suites.
• Highly organized.
• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks and work independently.
• Interest in environmental issues and policies.
• Issue expertise in environmental issues.
• Proven understanding of legislative process in IL General Assembly
• Strong writing skills — able to draft concise summaries, briefs, or reports
• Experience or interest in public interest work, advocacy, or lawmaking

Physical Requirements: Have the ability to:

• Lift and carry items up to 25 pounds.
• Operate a computer.
• Sit at a desk for extended periods.
• Ability to participate in meetings, events, or activities, including outdoor settings, that may extend over long periods.
• Communicate and exchange information.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IEC/IECEF is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, gender expression or identity, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, veteran status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, certain arrest or criminal history records, homelessness, and use of lawful products outside of work during non-working hours, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Equity, Allyship and Powerbuilding Values

IEC/IECEF is always working to ensure that everyone on our team feels engaged and supported in all areas of the organization’s operations as we work to become a fully inclusive, multicultural, and anti-racist organization.

We are only as powerful as the people in our movement and those we serve. Building power for people and our environment in Illinois requires us to actively combat social and political power dynamics that disenfranchise marginalized communities across a broad range of issues beyond those that fall squarely within traditional environmental policy. When marginalized communities are empowered, environmental protections become more possible. Thus we are called to stand in solidarity as allies with those fighting for justice and to strengthen our democratic institutions where power drives policy change.

About Our Pay and Benefits

The legislative affairs associate a full-time permanent position located in Springfield, IL. Benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k) plan, and vacation. Salary range is $50,000 to $66,000, commensurate with experience. Cover letter MUST include salary requirements. Candidates with salary requirements above the listed salary range will not be considered.

How to Apply

Introduce yourself to us as a colleague. Show us your future here and let us know what you’d bring to our organization! We value great writers, so be yourself, be creative, and take your time with the application.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with the closing date for the posting on 10/31/25.

To apply please send a cover letter with salary requirements and resume to:

Dany Robles, Legislative Relations Director, dany@ilenviro.org

About IEC

Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF) have worked to safeguard Illinois—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends by building power for people and the environment. Representing over 130 environmental organizations and over 600 individuals in the state, IEC carries out its mission to advance equitable public policies that ensure a healthy environment across Illinois through collaboration, building power, and advocacy.

IEC advances sound environmental laws and policies at all levels of government by bringing together the Illinois environmental community to influence decision-makers and ensure clean air, clean water and healthy communities. From lobbying at the State Capitol to building consensus around an annual environmental agenda, IEC takes pride in leading our environmental movement in Illinois. We coordinate our affiliate member organizations to share resources, mobilize supporters and respond quickly to the most pressing issues facing the environment in Illinois.

IEC also supports environmental activists across the state, building programs and resources to cultivate the next generation of environmental leadership, such as our Young Professionals Board, Community Council, annual environmental scorecards, and other educational programs like our Civics for Environmentalists and Lunch & Learn series.

• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups and people.
• Proven understanding of legislative process in IL General Assembly
• Strong writing skills — able to draft concise summaries, briefs, or reports