Policy Director, Pioneer Public Affairs

Background:

Pioneer Public Affairs is a consulting firm with decades of experience in government relations, public policy development, and communications. We help climate-focused clients, including clean-tech manufacturers, renewable energy industry associations and developers, environmental advocates, nonprofits, and state governments, engage in policy development and the legislative process in Washington and beyond. We work with our clients to ensure their public affairs efforts align with their policy goals and that they are well-positioned to navigate Congress and the Administration.

Pioneer Public Affairs is seeking an experienced and strategic Policy Director who is eager to address climate change and promote clean energy technology. Our team helps climate-focused clients, including clean-tech manufacturers, renewable energy industry associations and developers, environmental advocates, and nonprofits, engage in policy development and the legislative process in Washington and beyond. 

The Policy Director is responsible for driving initiatives on behalf of clients through relationship building, policy monitoring and advocacy, and strategy development. This position reports to the President with oversight from our team of partners and close collaboration with other team members. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Collaboratively develops and executes government affairs strategies with the United States Congress and executive branch agencies, including securing meaningful engagements and effectively advocating for our clients’ policy goals. 

• Researches and monitors federal legislative risks and opportunities, regulations and rulemakings, and executive branch policies.

• Engages in relevant policy discussions on Capitol Hill, the administration, and with stakeholder groups and energy industry players.

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key Members, committee staff, agency staff and others, to provide clients with visibility into legislative considerations and developments. 

• Provides regular updates and landscape reports on legislative priorities and floor agendas for both the Senate and the House, as well as regulatory updates from the Administration.

• Works with clients to formulate DC- and industry-facing messaging and advocacy strategies, including identifying and engaging key allies, to promote clients’ policy agendas.

Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of substantive policy and management experience in Congress or executive branch, or comparable legislative policy experience.

• Excellent management, writing, and communication skills and strong political instincts. 

• Demonstrated ability to craft policy, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively under tight deadlines.

• Experience in climate, energy, environmental, or economic policy, or related issue areas. 

• Enthusiastic about being part of a team that works together frequently, and is dedicated to promoting professional development among staff. 

Starting annual salary range is $130,000 – $160,000 depending on qualifications and experience. 

The Policy Director position is a hybrid in-person role and will be expected to come into the office in Eastern Market, Washington, DC and participate in occasional events outside of business hours. 

To apply, please email cover letter, resume, and two writing samples, in a single PDF file to karin@pioneerpublicaffairs.com with the subject line [Last Name, First Name – Policy Director].

Pioneer Public Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other category prohibited by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, social and recreational activities, and termination.

Senior Vice President (SVP), Pioneer Public Affairs

Background:

Pioneer Public Affairs is a consulting firm with decades of experience in government relations, public policy development, and communications. We help climate-focused clients, including clean-tech manufacturers, renewable energy industry associations and developers, environmental advocates, nonprofits, and state governments, engage in policy development and the legislative process in Washington and beyond. We work with our clients to ensure their public affairs efforts align with their policy goals and that they are well-positioned to navigate Congress and the Administration.

Pioneer Public Affairs is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Vice President (SVP) who is a leader on shaping and advancing clean energy, climate and natural resources policy. Our team helps climate-focused clients, including clean-tech manufacturers, renewable energy industry associations and developers, environmental advocates, and nonprofits, engage in policy development and the legislative process in Washington and beyond. 

The SVP is a member of the firm’s executive team and is responsible for leading and retaining clients, shaping advocacy and policy strategy, and serving as a thought leader. This position reports to the President and collaborates closely with other team members. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Leads and retains clients in the clean energy industry, sustainable agriculture and/or climate finance and development sectors. 

• Develops and executes government affairs engagement with the United States Congress and executive branch agencies, and collaborates with clients and Pioneer’s policy team to develop advocacy and engagement strategies. 

• Originates and guides research efforts that support clients’ policy development and advocacy work.

• Engages in relevant policy discussions on Capitol Hill, with the Administration, and with stakeholder groups and energy industry players.

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key Members, committee staff, agency staff and others, to provide clients with visibility into policy and legislative considerations and developments. 

Qualifications:

• 5-10 years of senior congressional, executive branch, or comparable legislative policy experience.

• Experience working in the private or nonprofit sectors, for a company, trade association, NGO, or firm representing energy clients is preferred.

• Excellent management, writing, and communication skills and strong political instincts. 

• Proven ability to craft policy, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively under tight deadlines.

• Recognized experience and leadership in climate, energy, environmental, or economic policy, or related issue areas. 

• Enthusiastic about being part of a team that works together frequently, and is dedicated to promoting professional development among staff. 

Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and business development.

The SVP position is a hybrid role in-person and will be expected to come into the office in Eastern Market, Washington, DC and participate in regular events outside of business hours. 

To apply, please email cover letter, resume, and two writing samples, in a single PDF file to karin@pioneerpublicaffairs.com with the subject line [Last Name, First Name – SVP].

Pioneer Public Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other category prohibited by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, social and recreational activities, and termination.

Policy and Operations Intern, Pioneer Public Affairs

Background:

Pioneer Public Affairs is a consulting firm with decades of experience in government relations, public policy development, and communications. We help climate-focused clients, including clean-tech manufacturers, renewable energy industry associations and developers, environmental advocates, nonprofits, and state governments, engage in policy development and the legislative process in Washington and beyond. We work with our clients to ensure their public affairs efforts align with their policy goals and that they are well-positioned to navigate Congress and the Administration.

Pioneer is seeking candidates for our paid internship position. The Policy and Operations Intern will support the Pioneer team to meet its clients’ goals through a variety of tasks including, but not limited to:

• Assisting the Pioneer team with research projects related to topics relevant to our clients’ policy interests, such as covering upcoming Congressional hearings or votes, researching Administration rulemaking, preparing team members for meetings with clients and members of Congress, and supporting the team with bill tracking and analysis. The end product may be a memo, one-pager, table, or verbal readout for the team.

• Helping draft Pioneer’s weekly client newsletter, which provides an analysis of the current state of play in Washington and relevant climate and clean energy-related news. Specifically, determining which committee hearings are relevant to clients and flagging them in the newsletter.

• Tracking, reporting, and summarizing any media engagement related to Pioneer’s clients on a regular basis.

• Taking responsibility for administrative tasks, including processing incoming mail, planning events, summarizing team meeting notes, maintaining an organized office, greeting visitors, assisting with meeting and event execution, and providing administrative support, as needed.

• Compiling contact lists of Congressional staffers for clients to target for correspondence and advocacy efforts.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates should have general knowledge of one or more of the teams’ focus areas—political science/government, environmental studies (pollution, environmental degradation, environmental stewardship, environmental justice), clean energy, agriculture, or land/wildlife conservation;  

• Where applicable, candidates should be comfortable working with numerical analysis, research, and reporting; 

• Candidates must possess advanced writing, communication, and presentation skills; and,

• Candidates must be organized, detail-oriented, possess strong communication skills, and be able to keep track of multiple ongoing work streams and deliverables at once.  

• This is an in-person internship at our Washington, D.C. office.

General Qualifications:

• Strong interest in the federal legislative and advocacy processes; 

• Passionate about the environment and finding climate solutions; 

• Team player and able to collaborate well with others; and, 

• Understanding of the federal legislative and/or regulatory processes preferred.

Location: Office located in Eastern Market, Washington, D.C. 

To Apply: Send a resume to Carianne Lee (carianne@pioneerpublicaffairs.com) and please use the subject line “Intern Application” and please note the semester you are interested in applying for in the email.

• Summer internship applications must be submitted by February 20th.

• Fall internship applications must be submitted by July 15th.

• Spring internship applications must be submitted by October 15th.

Pioneer Public Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other category prohibited by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, social and recreational activities, and termination.  

In addition to compensation, Pioneer is able to work with you and your institution to assist in obtaining course credits, if offered by your institution.