Senior Associate, Programs, U.S. Climate Alliance

Position Overview

The U.S. Climate Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of governors securing America’s net-zero future by advancing state-led, high-impact climate action. The Alliance Secretariat helps its members accelerate climate action by providing a broad range of technical, analytical, policy, and capacity assistance and resources. The coalition has also built strong relationships with the federal government to help create and implement an ambitious, durable national climate framework. For more information on the Alliance, please visit www.usclimatealliance.org.

The U.S. Climate Alliance seeks a highly motivated Senior Programs Associate to facilitate the deployment of capacity-building grants to help states and territories advance their governors’ climate priorities. Specifically, the Senior Programs Associate will manage support through two programs led by the Alliance Secretariat — the Technical Assistance Fund, which provides demand-driven technical and policy support to help Alliance members overcome barriers and drive transformative climate action, and the Climate Leadership Grant Program, which bolsters state-level staff capacity in governors’ offices and state agencies. Key responsibilities include responding to direct requests from Alliance members for technical assistance, information, resources, and access to experts; and developing new programs and resources that can support state climate priorities. The position reports to the Senior Programs Manager and is part of the Energy and Climate team at the United Nations Foundation, which houses the U.S. Climate Alliance Secretariat.

This position is based in Washington, DC (hybrid schedule) with consideration for remote work in the contiguous United States.

Essential Functions

Equip Alliance states and territories with demand-driven technical assistance

• Assess members’ needs for technical assistance and work with state staff to develop impactful project proposals on climate priorities across the Alliance’s ten priority policy areas.
• Work with the Senior Program Manager to conduct competitive Technical Assistance Fund application cycles, including developing and overseeing a robust application process and coordinating with Secretariat policy staff in reviewing and selecting recipients.
• Manage the execution and implementation of grant awards with Alliance members once recipients are selected.
• Based on state need, help states identify qualified experts to implement selected projects.
• Partner with states and vendors to track progress on project outcomes, and capture and track project impacts once completed.
• Draft summaries of key outcomes, successes, and lessons learned that can be shared with foundations and partners supporting the Alliance’s work.

Equip Alliance states and territories with strengthened staff capacity support

• Assess members’ needs for additional staff capacity and support states in developing impactful proposals.
• Work with the Senior Program Manager to conduct competitive application cycles for the Climate Leadership Grant Program, including developing and overseeing a robust application process and coordinating the review and selection of recipients.
• Manage the execution and implementation of grant awards with Alliance members once recipients are selected.
• Partner with recipient states to ensure they have the necessary support to advance their governor’s climate priorities and help monitor progress toward their self-identified project goals.
• Track key outcomes, successes, and lessons learned that can inform efforts to increase states’ climate capacity over the long term.

Develop new Alliance programs and resources that can support state climate priorities

• Facilitate development of new programs and resources that can help states overcome barriers and drive transformative climate action, in close collaboration with colleagues on the Programs & Analysis Team and the Leadership Team.
• Conduct policy research, analyze key trends, and draft chapters of the Alliance’s annual report that outline progress.
• Contribute to the Alliance’s policy tracking efforts by conducting research and actively monitoring the development of state and federal policies and programs and associated budgets.
• Independently conduct research and analysis and draft material for Alliance products across other sectors as needed.

Support Alliance-wide meetings, workshops, and other high-impact events

• Work with the Secretariat, Alliance members, and outside experts to prepare meeting content and materials.
• Advise on remarks, talking points, and other relevant communication materials.
• Contribute to invitation lists and key partner outreach.

Other duties as assigned

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3-4 years of relevant work experience, including past experience managing projects, developing budgets, and tracking progress toward established goals. Experience working with or around state government is a plus.
• Knowledge of and interest in U.S. climate and clean energy policy issues.
• Strong research, analytical, writing, presentation, and briefing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with coalitions or groups of stakeholders to create consensus-based products.
• Critical thinker that can help states develop and implement solutions, including by creatively seeking out appropriate partners and technical resources.
• Self-motivated with ability to prioritize multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Maximum flexibility in accepting and professionally executing a range of tasks.
• Ability to diplomatically engage diverse counterparts and use personal discretion in working with sensitive information.
• Ability to work as part of a small team balancing multiple competing priorities.
• Ability to work well under pressure and effectively manage competing priorities.

Our Values

The Secretariat’s core values represent our team’s highest priorities and driving forces. These values are the heart of how we go about doing our work in support of each other and our member governors and states, serving as cultural cornerstones and exemplified by all members of our team.

• Purpose: We are aligned by a common purpose to confront the climate crisis and its impacts through the power of state government. We connect our daily work to the Alliance’s mission and, in pursuit of our shared goals, always act in the best interest of our governors and states.
• Excellence: We have high standards in the work we do to support Alliance governors and states. We are focused, data-driven, and attentive to the smallest of details while never losing sight of the big picture.
• Empathy: We value kindness and treat others with dignity and respect, recognizing that our actions affect one another and all those with whom we interact. We consider growth, learning, and development to be priorities.
• Inclusion: We actively work to increase diversity, advance equity, and cultivate a welcoming work environment where everyone feels valued. We are collaborators and prioritize teamwork — knowing that it will take our broader community all working together to ultimately solve the climate crisis.
• Balance: We value a positive work environment and, even in the hectic day-to-day, we make the time to build relationships, celebrate successes, and laugh. We know that balancing home and work lives is essential and encourage each other to put the health and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones first.

Benefits & Compensation

For full-time, U.S. benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:

• a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
• group term and supplemental life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• health club discounts
• commuter subsidy
• back-up care
• employee assistance program

Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.