Plastics Campaign Associate in Washington, District of Columbia at OCEANA INC

Oceana is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the world’s oceans. Oceana’s campaigns are directed at achieving measurable improvements in public policy that rebuild ocean abundance, protect marine habitat and ocean wildlife, end illegal fishing and reduce ocean pollution. The Campaign Associate works as part of the U.S. Plastics Campaign to protect the oceans from plastic pollution by reducing the production and use of unnecessary single use plastic.

The Campaign Associate conducts policy research and analysis, develops internal and external campaign materials, conducts outreach to key constituencies, plans and implements projects, and tracks campaign activities and other actions to advance the goals of the campaign. The Campaign Associate also leads the planning and execution of strategic campaign events such as fly-ins. The Campaign Associate will represent Oceana at meetings and other events as needed to support the goals of the campaign.

The Campaign Associate also facilitates collaboration and coordination across science, policy, communications, legal, and grassroots parts of Oceana’s campaign model. The Campaign Associate reports to the Plastics Campaign Director. The position is based in Washington, D.C.

Occasional travel is required.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Conduct ongoing campaign research and maintain a working knowledge of the plastic reduction policies passed by local, state, and national governments.
• Analyze local, state, and federal legislation and policy proposals.
• Draft materials for the campaign, including sign-on letters, grassroots activist tools, presentations, and internal documents such as background research memos.
• Lead in the planning and execution of strategic campaign events, such as fly-ins or coalition building events.
• Execute targeted campaign tactics in strategic locations.
• Mobilize organizations, businesses, and individuals in support of campaign goals.
• Engage with national, state, and international partners working on the plastics problem, including representing Oceana at meetings and events, and work in coordination with Oceana’s team in Washington, DC and in the field.
• Provide substantive and administrative support in the planning and implementation of internal and external projects and events.
• Assist with some administrative tasks that include but are not limited to, tracking campaign budget, expense reporting, and placing orders for campaign materials.
• Perform additional duties and functions as directed by the Campaign Director.

Job Requirements Education and work experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree (environmental science, political science, communications/journalism, or a related field) or equivalent work experience.
• At least 1 year of campaign, advocacy, or ocean conservation work experience.
• Experience in planning and executing events and engaging supporters.

Skills and knowledge:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communications skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into easy-to-understand, publicly digestible, and persuasive material.
• Experience taking initiative, meeting deadlines, completing unexpected projects, proactively solving problems, and effectively managing a demanding workload.
• Effective organizational skills and follow-through, and capacity to juggle multiple tasks at once.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Knowledge of the policy-making process at the federal, state, or local level.
• Willingness and ability to travel and occasionally work late hours or on weekends.

Required Competencies:

• Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Nimble Learning: Takes on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks. Can quickly adapt to new situations and to draw on past successes and failures to solve current problems.
• Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding, and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
• Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.
• Resourcefulness: Is able to make the best of limited resources and find a way to get things done even when the odds are against them. Can look beyond the obvious for viable approaches to accomplish the goal.

Oceana’s US offices have operated on a hybrid schedule and staff have been required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With agreement between the employee and their supervisor, the employee may work from home on Monday and Friday.

The salary range for this position is $51,000 - $56,000 annually.

Please apply by July 8, 2026