Senior Managing Policy Advisor, Forestry

WHO WE ARE

We know that our climate goals can only be met by rapidly reducing emissions and removing the carbon that already exists in our atmosphere. Carbon180 is a climate NGO with a vision to remove legacy carbon emissions from the atmosphere and create a livable climate in which current and future generations can thrive. Based in Washington, DC, we design and champion equitable, science-based policies that bring carbon removal solutions to gigaton scale.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Here at Carbon180, we believe there is no “perfect” candidate and want to encourage applying even if all the requirements listed aren’t met. Our goal is to build an authentic workplace by valuing diversity in our candidates. We are always looking to expand our growing team with dynamic and enthusiastic individuals. We look forward to receiving your application! 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Overview

Carbon180 is seeking a senior managing policy advisor, forestry to join our growing land-based carbon removal work around carbon storage in forests, agroforestry systems, agricultural lands, and other land-based systems. This role will center diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ), while providing thought leadership on forest carbon removal and collaborating with the land policy team to develop and implement Carbon 180’s federal land-based carbon removal policy campaigns. Additionally, this individual will identify and pursue opportunities to influence policy wins for forest carbon removal, agroforestry, innovative wood products, wood harvesting and storage, seed and seedling supply, and more. The senior managing policy advisor, forestry will collaborate across teams to stay up to date on the latest scientific research, co-lead engagement with forest land stewards on the ground, and propose new policy ideas to advance forest carbon removal in a just, equitable, and science-based way.

The senior managing policy advisor – forestry, will work closely with the director of the land policy team to create and manage Carbon180’s forest carbon removal strategy and fill policy gaps as needed. Responsibilities will include identifying where Carbon180 can have the greatest impact, engaging with coalitions, performing direct outreach and advocacy to policymakers and agency leadership, and supporting policy-related communications and events. The senior managing policy advisor – forestry should be passionate about the role the federal government can play in delivering nature-based climate solutions and the opportunity to build broad and durable coalitions in support of just, equitable, and high-accountability land-based carbon removal.

Major roles and responsibilities

• Serve as a team leader and subject matter expert (SME) on healthy forest management practices, the climate mitigation potential of forests, agroforestry, tree nursery supply chain needs, and the role of fire in maintaining carbon-storing forest ecosystems.
• With the land policy team, identify opportunities for thought leadership and advocacy, develop high-impact, novel policy ideas, and execute Carbon180’s policy strategy related to land-based carbon removal
• Lead outreach and relationship-building with partners and allies and build coalitions in support of Carbon180’s policy campaigns.
• Serve as a thought partner to the director of policy, and a mentor to more junior land policy team members.
• Collaborate with the science and innovation and environmental justice teams to ensure policies are grounded in the best available science and aligned with Carbon180’s equity and justice principles, respectively.
• Support Congressional outreach to educate policymakers and advance model legislation in coordination with Carbon180’s government affairs team.
• Coordinate with our communications team to support relevant content creation, media engagement, social media planning, and other communications tasks. Help plan policy-related events including briefings for Hill staffers, gatherings with media personnel like reporters, ENGO workshops, and more.

YOU WILL NEED

• A proven track record (6-8 years) working on policy advocacy strategy and tactics, preferably in climate and/or forestry and some experience at the federal level.
• Experience with the current landscape of forestry policy and its primary players, coupled with adeptness in cultivating relationships across diverse constituencies, including tribal nations.
• Experience building consensus around a policy campaign across diverse stakeholders and in alignment with a shared advocacy platform.
• The ability to manage complex cross-functional projects, creating action plans and coordinating resources across teams to achieve desired outcomes.
• Connections to key partners, allies, and decision makers and/or enthusiasm to actively build this network. 
• Eagerness to think creatively and propose innovative ways to implement ideas. 
• Demonstrated commitment to and some experience in incorporating and growing DEIBJ in strategic goals and work plans.
• Located in Washington, DC (preferred).

WHO YOU ARE

Our ideal senior managing policy advisor – forestry believes deeply in our mission. Beyond that:

• You don’t opt out of DEIBJ conversations, even when they are uncomfortable.You are committed to working at an organization that centers DEIBJ and willing to learn and grow your literacy in this space.
• You move fluidly from strategy to execution. You appreciate the big picture and feel inspired to set a bold vision, but you know it’s all in the details. You manage projects fluidly, fiercely prioritize, and track timelines, data, and information in an organized and systematic fashion. You don’t drop balls, miss deadlines, or forget to respond to someone’s inquiry — and you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves to do the work. 
• You’re a driver of results. You’ve demonstrated the ability to set ambitious goals and achieve them, and you combine your exceptional strategic, analytical, and critical thinking skills with your penchant to make data-informed decisions for impressive outcomes.
• You inspire and motivate others to action. You build trusting relationships quickly and deftly and engage your storytelling skills to elevate the impact of our work.
• You effectively collaborate to get things done. A relationship-builder at heart, you work with people to get things done in a mutually beneficial, non-transactional way. You are both warm and motivated. You do the things you say you will do, hold others to account, and support others pursuit of shared goals. 
• You’re high impact, low-ego, and kind to yourself and others. Our core values (see below) resonate with who you are and what you believe.

WHAT WE OFFER

Carbon180 is deeply committed to providing market-leading compensation and robust benefits to our employees. Our salaries are in the 70th percentile of the Washington, DC market. We employ an external firm to conduct market analyses every three years, and we are committed to safeguarding internal salary equity. For those reasons, we have a non-negotiation policy on salaries.

The starting salary for this position will be between $150,000 and $155,00 with opportunities for growth up to $203,000. 

Carbon180 prides itself on offering benefits and perks to our employees that illustrate how we live our values, including:

• 36-hour workweeks (we close at 1 pm every Friday) and dedicated no-meeting time each week.
• A remote-first flexible work culture.
• Four weeks of PTO, three weeks of paid org-wide breaks including one week in the summer and two weeks in the winter, four weeks of sick leave, and five floating holidays/personal days.
• 100% company-covered insurance premiums for medical/dental/vision/long-term disability for you and your dependents.
• Quarterly health and wellness, book, and learning and development stipends.

On the application, you’ll be asked to

• answer some basic questions about your background and experiences,
• in place of a cover letter, answer a few written reflection questions to help us learn more about your interest in joining our team and in this role specifically, and
• send your resume via email as prompted in the application form.

Interview process and timeline

• Applications are being accepted and reviewed through late May.
• There will be three rounds of interviews in June and July.
• We anticipate extending an offer in early August.

If you have any questions or issues submitting your application, please email us at .

OUR VALUES

At C180, we believe in living by an internal set of core values, which we strive to embody and celebrate in moments big and small.

• One Boat. We work hard to ensure that we are rowing in one direction as a team, aligning our work and resources to shared goals..
• Pencil to Pen. We think critically, do our research, and weigh multiple options. Then, we commit to move to action.
• Win + Lose Together. When one of us succeeds, we all win. When we encounter challenges, we determine how best to redirect the energy and resources of the team to solve them.
• Person in the Professional. Our team is composed of real people with real passions, interests, and needs within and outside of work. We believe we need to care for ourselves and others to be our best and most productive selves at work. 
• Make Space, Share Space. We believe in making space for all voices to be heard, within our team and our broader work – particularly and especially voices historically disenfranchised and disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change.
• Be a Window, Not a Door. We’re committed to transparency, and to shining light on how and why decisions are made. We are honest with one another, ask for clarity, and operate with integrity to build a culture of trust.
• Grow the Braintrust. We are committed to constantly learning, and to staying up to speed on the science of our field. We work to grow our knowledge, sharpen our skills, and to bring great minds to the field of carbon removal.

We currently require that all employees who plan to enter a Carbon180 office or otherwise meet in person with coworkers or other third parties on Carbon180 business are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Accordingly, this role may require full COVID-19 vaccination (subject to any exemptions or accommodations due to medical or religious reasons).

Carbon180 is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Carbon180 continually seeks to enrich its staff and team culture. In particular, we’re dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We’re also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely different backgrounds can thrive. We’ve adopted this commitment because we believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities.