California Senior Policy Manager

With a clear vision, smart strategies, and significant and sustained financial support, Rewiring America is growing rapidly. As the California Senior Policy Manager on the Policy team you will lead on efforts to influence state policy initiatives in California. This role will drive policy strategy, targeted research, support the drafting of policy and campaign documents, and provide input into the policy team’s multi-pronged strategy in California. This position reports to the Head of Policy.

This position is open until filled, and we are moving quickly to fill this position -- apply as soon as possible. Candidate review and phone screens begin immediately and will be conducted throughout the search period.

What You’ll Do

Policy Development:

• Identify and develop creative policy solutions that align with Rewiring America’s mission
• Develop policy campaigns to bring ideas to fruition, building relationships with key local stakeholders and putting together the relevant coalitions to succeed
• Develop relationships with legislators, State administration officials and other policymakers to help shape and support statewide building decarbonization and other electrification policy in California, including developing specific policy campaigns
• Work on key dockets at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) related to electrification
• Develop relationships with the administration and key agencies (e.g. the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board) focused on electrification policy
• Support the Local Policy Manager in partnerships with California cities and local leaders working on electrification
• Develop resources such as fact sheets, memos, reports, and one pagers for both internal and external stakeholders
• Manage Rewiring America’s relationships with lobbyists and lawyers in California
• Set Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) on a weekly and monthly basis, in collaboration with Policy Team leadership and in line with annual OKRs

Research:

• Manage and conduct research and analysis to identify and develop specific policy initiatives and their associated impacts
• Work with the Research and Communications Teams to analyze and communicate the deployment pace necessary for electrification technology to meet California’s climate goals
• Draft recommendations for Rewiring America on various proposed policy approaches in California including legislative, regulatory and administrative actions

Outreach and stakeholder engagement:

• Work with the California Building Decarbonization Coalition and other coalitions and partners
• Build relationships with key stakeholders in California electrification policy, including labor unions, utilities, CCAs, workforce coalitions, building associations, and other groups
• Build relationships with key media outlets and journalists working on climate policy in California

Requirements

The incoming California Senior Policy Manager will be driven by their belief in and commitment to Rewiring America’s values, vision, and mission. The successful candidate embraces the dynamism of doing big things and demonstrates humility, empathy, and an appetite for tackling ambitious goals. We are looking for an organized, driven, persistent and motivated individual who thrives on execution and collaboration.

We are looking for the following Core and Preferred qualifications:

Core

• 7+ years of work experience, including direct policy work in California working on energy and climate change

• Content knowledge in climate, energy policy, and/or building electrification
• In-depth experience working on a policy initiative and seeing it through from beginning to end; the ideal candidate has themselves spearheaded initiatives or key elements of initiatives
• Adept at collaborating with various stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Ability to apply both creative and critical thinking to complex policy and political situations
• Experience working with executive-level positions in either the public or private sectors, i.e. Members of State legislatures or C-suite executives
• Strong commitment to the mission, policies and goals of Rewiring America
• Experience managing a team and/or leading projects
• Highly motivated and ability to excel as a self-starter
• Demonstrated success balancing multiple projects simultaneously
• Exceptional communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to synthesize complex and nuanced ideas
  

Preferred

• Prior experience in both the private and public sectors
• Experience working in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial setting with tight deadlines
• Advanced degree or equivalent work experience in public administration, public policy, political science, law, economics or a related field

Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Rewiring America values diversity in all its forms and is committed to inclusive and transparent recruitment, hiring, and promotion processes. Candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please email Christin Pelgrum at christin@rewiringamerica.org.

Hiring Statement

Rewiring America is a project of Windward Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Windward Fund is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Windward Fund ‘s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

Covid-19 Statement

To center the safety and well-being of its employees, Windward Fund requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date. This position may require candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law by contacting human resources at HR@windwardfund.org.

Benefits

The salary range for this position is $110,000-140,000, commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 160 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year (15 days during Presidential and Congressional elections). We have an office closure between Christmas and New Year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment. Regular, full-time employees and part-time employees are eligible to take up to sixteen weeks of parental leave, in all cases related to birth, adoption, or foster care starting from the first day of employment. We offer access to professional development resources.