Senior Legislative Associate

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is seeking a Senior Legislative Associate in our Washington, DC office. This individual will join our Federal Affairs team and report to our Federal Legislative Director. The Senior Legislative Associate will develop an active network on Capitol Hill, contacts in the environmental and conservation community, and will be able to develop strong collaborative relationships with colleagues at SELC. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation.

The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of 3 years of progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacy or political campaigns. They have the skills and experience to support SELC’s federal efforts on multiple issues with direct supervision.

SELC has a hybrid work model that offers employees flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week. This is a full-time, exempt position. The anticipated start date for this position is flexible, with the ideal candidate able to begin anytime between now and early January.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Federal Legislative Director, attorneys, communications professionals, advocacy, and policy staff to develop and advance legislative and advocacy goals for assigned issue areas.
• Serve as a primary federal affairs representative and subject matter resource on wildlife, public lands, forests, and other assigned environmental policy issues.
• Cultivate, maintain, and strengthen relationships with members of Congress, congressional staff, administrative agencies, coalition partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop and execute federal advocacy strategies through legislative targeting, stakeholder engagement, power mapping, and issue-based campaign planning.
• Schedule, prepare for, participate in, and follow up on lobbying meetings, providing additional information and resources to policymakers and staff as needed.
• Research legislative, regulatory, and policy developments and assess regional, state, and district-specific impacts to inform advocacy efforts and organizational decision-making.
• Draft and review advocacy materials, including talking points, fact sheets, letters, testimony, press releases, coalition communications, and other externally facing documents.
• Monitor congressional hearings, briefings, and legislative activity; prepare summaries, analyses, and memoranda for attorneys and internal stakeholders.
• Facilitate the exchange of information between the federal affairs team and staff across the organization, ensuring alignment on priorities, strategy, and emerging issues.
• Represent the organization in coalitions, working groups, and external partnerships, collaborating with peer organizations to advance shared advocacy objectives.
• Help guide coalition strategies and activities to support organizational goals while fostering productive relationships within the environmental and conservation community.
• Participate in team meetings, retreats, and cross-functional initiatives, contributing to a collaborative and supportive organizational culture.
• Maintain awareness of political, legislative, energy, environmental, and conservation trends, ensure compliance with lobbying reporting requirements, and support fundraising and communications initiatives as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years minimum of progressively challenging work experience in federal or state legislative and administrative advocacy or political campaigns.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive relationships with policymakers, coalition partners, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience drafting advocacy, policy, or public-facing materials.

Desired Qualifications:

• Connection to the people and places of the South.
• A genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and foster an equitable and inclusive workplace that welcomes people from across the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region.

About SELC:

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 250, including more than 160 legal and policy experts and advocates. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, SELC has offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, DC.

At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe in an equitable and inclusive workplace that welcomes people from across the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region and values diverse perspectives. We approach our work with the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves to high standards with an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic, and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful results. We believe in these values and in the power of SELC. We hope you consider joining us. Learn more at https://www.selc.org/.

Compensation & Benefits:

SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent benefits package. The starting salary range for this position is $88,000 – $97,350 which includes a 10% location premium for the Washington, DC metro area. Actual placement within the range will depend on factors such as relevant experience, education, skills, and internal equity considerations. For more details about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page.

SELC is a PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) eligible employer.

All employees are required to reside in our region. SELC will provide relocation reimbursement up to a specific dollar amount for those relocating at least 50 miles from their current primary residence.

To Apply:

To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and professional references. Please note that all attachments must be submitted in PDF format. The initial deadline for receipt of complete applications is Sunday, October 4th at 11:59 pm ET.

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SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment. We are eager to welcome new team members who share this commitment. Qualified individuals of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Medical and Dental Coverage: High-quality, affordable health and dental insurance is available for all full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and their dependents.

Vision Coverage: Vision insurance provides employees with coverage on eye exams, frames, and lenses every 12 months.

Flexible Spending Plan: Eligible employees may put aside pre-tax dollars for medical and dependent care expenses.

Retirement Plan: Eligible employees may participate in SELC’s 403(b) retirement plan immediately. After one year of employment, SELC begins making contributions to employees’ accounts.

Vacation and Sick Leave: Employees accrue generous vacation leave to ensure a healthy work-life balance and a separate sick leave accrual to cover sick days.

Holidays: SELC observes an average of 9 paid holidays and a Winter Break each year.

Life Insurance: SELC covers the cost of life insurance to all full-time employees, equal to 2x their salary.

Voluntary Life Insurance: Employees may elect additional life insurance for themselves, their spouses, or domestic partners, and their dependents.

Disability Insurance: SELC offers short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost to employees. Disability insurance covers a portion of salary during periods of extended leave due to injury or disability.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The EAP provides employees and their family members with support services when dealing with life’s struggles.

Parental Leave: SELC employees are entitled to 12 weeks of paid parental leave following childbirth or adoption. The leave can be taken up to one year after childbirth or adoption and can be broken up in any manner that best accommodates the needs of the family. Once available parental leave has been used, employees have the additional option of requesting to return to work on a reduced schedule for up to 12 weeks.

Family Leave: SELC employees are entitled to 6 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member suffering from a serious health condition.