State Policy Advocate, Appliance Standards Awareness Project

Are you passionate about making a positive impact through policy change? Would you like to use your advocacy skills to help reduce energy and water waste and save households money? Join our team and contribute to campaigns for new state-level laws that save energy and water, protect the environment, and cut costs.

The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), which is housed at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), is seeking a State Policy Advocate. ASAP’s current priority campaigns promote appliance energy and water efficiency and clean lighting standards. In 2025, we are launching a new effort focused on tire efficiency standards.

About ACEEE

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a nonprofit research organization, develops transformative policies to reduce energy waste and combat climate change. With our independent analysis, we aim to build a vibrant and equitable economy – one that uses energy more productively, reduces costs, protects the environment, and promotes the health, safety, and well-being of everyone.

Our organizational culture is collaborative and team-oriented with a strong commitment to our mission and an emphasis on results. We strive to help all staff develop professionally and to make ACEEE a flexible, fulfilling, and enjoyable place to work. ACEEE is dedicated to fostering a culture that values all individuals and ensures fairness while incorporating these principles into our research and policy work.

Position Description

The state policy advocate is part of a small team working to win specific policy changes (energy and water efficiency standards, clean lighting standards, tire efficiency standards) in targeted states. They report to the ASAP state policy manager but will regularly use sound judgment to make decisions independently. Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Lead state-level policy advocacy campaigns in three to five states, working in close coordination with in-state allies.
• Identify, recruit, and collaborate with advocacy partners
• Build and mobilize coalitions
• Become a trusted expert by acquiring substantive knowledge of product efficiency, clean lighting, and tire standards policies and the affected technologies and markets (previous knowledge about these topics is not required).
• Provide technical and policy support to policymakers and others
• Write fact sheets, testimony, and other educational materials
• Testify before legislative committees
• Represent ASAP at conferences and meetings
• Develop deep and lasting collaborative relationships with key partners, including advocacy groups that represent a range of interests (low-income consumers, environmental justice, business, public health, etc.) as well as state legislators and agency staff.

Expectations

The ideal candidate has a curiosity about energy- and water-saving technologies and policies, and a strong desire to make policy change happen. They will be top-notch listeners who learn quickly, can effectively communicate detailed information to diverse audiences, and are skilled at recognizing and responding to opportunities to make progress toward our goals. They will value collaboration with teammates and external allies and have a strong awareness of and respect for cultural and individual values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience or master’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience with state or federal legislative advocacy campaigns, including working in coalitions and with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including giving presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and complete tasks independently to achieve goals.
• Familiarity with climate, energy, and environmental policies or consumer protection policy frameworks a plus but not required.

Preferred start date: July 1, 2025, or as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

Location: Flexible. This position can be fully remote or based in ACEEE’s Washington DC office, on a full-time or hybrid basis. This position will likely have responsibility for Midwestern and Eastern states, so location in the Eastern or Central time zones is helpful.

Salary: $57,000 to $77,250, commensurate with experience. ACEEE’s generous benefits package includes health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage; a 403(b) retirement plan; transportation and bike share benefits (if located in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area); 3 weeks of vacation in the first year and 4 weeks thereafter, 11 federal holidays and office-wide closure for the week between Christmas to New Year’s. This is a full-time, exempt position.

To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and brief (1-2 pages) writing sample to the link below to apply through the Paylocity Recruitment portal. We do not accept phone calls.

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3248549/American-Council-for-an-Energy-Efficient-Economy/State-Policy-Advocate

Please let us know how you heard of this opening.

ACEEE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability. ACEEE is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in its organization and encourages applicants with diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply.