Policy Analyst in Sacramento, California at The Climate Center

About The Climate Center
The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California. We believe in vibrant, healthy communities. We envision a future where everyone in California enjoys clean air and water, renewable and reliable energy, healthy food, thriving nature, and more.

Since our founding in 2001, The Climate Center has been dedicated to making climate solutions a reality in California at speed and scale. We are a think-tank, do-tank working to turn bold ideas into action for a climate-safe future. We know that as goes California, so goes the world. We partner with business, local government, labor, academia, and environmental and environmental justice organizations to deliver the equitable climate solutions that science demands. We also pride ourselves in having a supportive organizational team culture.

All of The Climate Center’s work is guided by three core principles: follow the latest science, prioritize climate justice, and secure a just transition for oil and gas workers.

Our staff and experts are laser-focused on equitably reducing climate pollution at the speed and scale necessary to ensure that California is doing its part to secure a climate-safe future. We are committed to living our values of ambition, collaboration, equity, inclusion, innovation, and responsibility.Our staff and experts are laser-focused on equitably reducing climate pollution at the speed and scale necessary to ensure that California is doing its part to secure a climate-safe future. We are committed to living our values of ambition, collaboration, equity, inclusion, innovation, and responsibility.

About the role

Reporting to the Government Affairs Director, the Policy Analyst is responsible for researching, analyzing, developing, lobbying, strategizing, and explaining policy. They will review, analyze and track bills that are priorities of The Climate Center, as well as help write and edit bill language and provide briefing materials for The Climate Center’s bill priorities. They will track regulatory proceedings relevant to The Climate Center’s priorities and write explanatory memos and comment letters as needed.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to and working closely with the Legislative Director, the Legislative Analyst’s key duties include:

Policy Analysis Responsibilities:

• Identifying emerging trends: the Policy Analyst monitors and analyzes policy trends in both domestic and international environments that may inform or impact TCC’s priorities and provide recommendations that inform policy decisions to the Policy Team

• Collecting policy feedback from staff, partners, academics, other experts and key stakeholders through conversations, email, focus groups, surveys, or interviews.
• Coordinate policy related basic research with Initiative Directors and assist with report writing to clarify policy gaps and direction.

• Help identify and provide analysis of TCC policy priorities, relevant policies we are tracking in the legislature and agencies at Policy Team meetings, through memos, and presentations.
• Help prepareTCC policy positions and draft external communications materials for formal and informal briefings, seminars, workshops, and conferences.
• Policy research and drafting policies: Conducts research on a range of climate and energy-related issues that inform the development of TCC's policies.

Legislative Responsibilities:

• Research and analysis of proposed and actual relevant legislation to The Climate Center’s strategic priorities
• Draft policy documents (Bill Fact Sheets, Policy one-pagers, Talking Points, etc.)
• Support the Policy Team on prioritization of policies

• Assist LD in tracking bills, reviewing bills, summarizing and providing analysis for bills of interest and reviewing bill analysis from relevant committees
• Assist the Policy Team in determining positions on legislation and manage/track policy, regulatory, and legislative position papers, and committee consultants’ reports
• Track bill hearings and provide comments in committees
• Sacramento-based coalition coordinates with our top priority policies
• Consult with the LD, Chief Program Officer (CPO) and our partners about the strategy to move our priorities forward
• Schedule key meetings for the LD and others with legislators and their staff to discuss key policies

Regulatory Responsibilities:

• Track key regulatory proceedings and lead The Climate Center position-setting conversations and draft comments as needed, especially in the CA Air Resources Board
• Attend coalition meetings on regulatory priorities and report decisions and outcomes back to LM and CPO

Other duties or tasks assigned by the Government Affairs Director

Qualifications

• Education: A bachelor's degree in a relevant subject to policy development. University majors in political science, sociology, policy studies, public policy, law, psychology, and economics are among the relevant majors.
• Experience: A minimum of 3 years of policy work:In policy analysis or legislative affairs, preferably in California

• • Regulatory affairs understanding and some experience
  • Experience with data analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data
  • General research experience and composing papers with citations
  • A basic understanding of the causes of the climate crisis and the science behind it
  • A basic understanding of climate and clean energy policies in California
  • A clear understanding of the California political landscape

Qualities

Key qualities of the policy analyst include:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Detail-oriented while being able to see the big picture
• Strong sense of ethics
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and projects effectively.
• Team player and enthusiasm for collaboration
• Desire to learn new things and a willingness to grow!
• Analytical mindset
• Self-driven and able to work independently
• Passion for effective climate policy
• Strong organizational skills
• Sense of humor

Salaries & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to 82,000 depending on skills and experience. The Climate Center also offers an excellent benefits package:

• Paid vacation of 3 weeks per year to start
• 9 scheduled holidays and 2 floating holidays
• Paid sick leave of 13 days per year
• Additional paid time off between Christmas and New Years Day
• Medical, Dental and Vision (100% employee premium and 50% dependent premium paid by The Climate Center)
• 401k retirement savings with annual employer match, budget permitting
• 9/72 work weeks (every other Friday off, work duties permitting)
• Annual wellness stipend
• Home office support
• Life Insurance, Voluntary Insurance Coverage, and Flexible Spending Account available

At The Climate Center, we care about each other and know that each employee has a whole life that includes time outside of work. The Climate Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, age, protected status, or genetics. We value diversity and strongly encourage people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities to apply. We also encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications.