Policy Director

Our organization  

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent nonprofit that puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We envision a peaceful, healthy, and just world where science serves people and the planet by guiding policy decisions, reducing risks, and improving lives.  

For over five decades, we have been working as scientists, engineers, economists, advocates, and everyday people to create and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems—from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting disinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war.  Values informing our work include:  

• Science in the service of people and the planet.  

• Justice and Equity for people of all races and incomes—now, and for future generations.  

• Courage to take principled, science-based stands in the public arena.  

• Integrity to always examine evidence critically, openly, and honestly.  

• Democracy to promote a voice for all in government decisions.  

• Action inspiring and mobilizing people to build a healthier, safer, and more just world.  

UCS’s Center for Science & Democracy (CSD) 

The Center for Science and Democracy works to make sure that government decisions are informed by the best possible science and evidence, free from political interference, and responsive to diverse community voices. We put science and scientists into action to strengthen US democracy by working for more fair and inclusive elections and processes of governance.  Our ultimate aim is that the systems, structures, institutions and practices that govern the American people, places, and environments are evidence-based and serve the broadest public good.   

THE POSITION 

The Policy Director leads the Center for Science and Democracy’s (CSD) efforts to develop, socialize, and implement strategic policy objectives at the federal level, and in key states as needed.  They play a leading role in coordinating analysts, advocacy and outreach staff contributions to achieve our federal and state campaign goals.  The Policy Director advocates for CSD’s policy agendas with Congress, the Executive Branch, state governments, non-governmental organizations, industry and other allied groups.  They represent UCS in coalitions, before media and the public. They manage policy staff in executing government affairs activities. The Policy Director serves as part of senior leadership team for the program and is involved in program wide management around strategy, mission and vision development, and operations.   

***Kindly include a work sample along with your application materials.***

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:  

Lead the Center for Science and Democracy’s efforts to develop and advance policy objectives at the federal level, and in key states as needed. 

• Lead, oversee, and facilitate the development of new UCS policy positions. Work with the Program Director, policy team, campaign team, research team, other UCS staff, and external stakeholders to identify guiding principles, define analytic and other resource needs to achieve policy objectives, develop policy positions, recommendations, and legislative/administrative proposals, and help ensure that equity implications of our policy positions are appropriately considered. Socialize draft positions and maintain a transparent record of decisionmaking. 

• Act as lead decisionmaker on requests for UCS to support federal and state legislation related to science policy, defense of science, and elections science, and more or to join sign-on letters addressing federal and state decisionmakers on related issues.  

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with congressional representatives and their staff, administration and agency officials, advocates from allied organizations, and other stakeholders. Oversee and participate in the creation of legislative and administrative initiatives promoting or supporting UCS policies. Lead advocacy activities such as meeting with administration officials and congressional staff, lobby days, etc. Provide and oversee UCS input into legislation and regulation and assist in producing desired legislative and regulatory outcomes.  

• Author and review written reports, fact sheets, testimony, media statements, and other key documents. Write and edit materials for use on the Hill, and ensure quality of advocacy/campaign material developed by government affairs, analytic, and outreach staff.  

• Monitor the policy landscape for program priority issues, including science policy, democracy, electoral administration and systems reform, science of elections, scientific integrity, science-informed procedural equity, environmental justice, disinformation, and others.    

Represent UCS in coalitions and to external stakeholders including media and the public.    

• Lead and support coalitions and/or working groups of coalitions that UCS participates in.   

• Represent UCS at meetings of organizations/coalitions that are pursuing similar goals, and in consultation with other CSD staff, coordinate lobbying, outreach, and media work with these other organizations.   

• Serve as a public spokesperson for UCS. Respond to press inquiries on science and democracy issues. Author blogs, op-eds, and other statements. Participate in public events and conferences as a representative of UCS. Present information on science and democracy to regulators, legislative committees, civic and community organizations, conference attendees, and other stakeholders.  

• Contribute to CSD program funder proposals and reports and join funder calls as needed.    

Lead CSD policy and government affairs staff and work across UCS to ensure coordination and effective execution of priorities. 

• Effectively develop and communicate clear delineation of responsibility for CSD priorities on the Hill, with the administration, and relevant agencies. Communicate regularly with direct reports, federal campaign staff, and CSD leadership to ensure that strategic, substantive, operational, resource, and prioritization questions are resolved in a timely fashion with clear guidance given to staff as to action steps and timeframes. 

• Convene regular meetings of government affairs staff to identify priority Administration and Hill meetings & communications, determine when/how to deploy members and experts, and ways to further advance UCS’ role as a trusted and influential resource for policymakers.  

• Hold regular check-ins with supervisees. Work with supervisees to develop individual programmatic goals. Provide mentorship to help supervisees build skills and make progress toward professional development goals.  

• Provide strategic input on government affairs priorities to UCS’s Executive Team, Board of Directors, and National Advisory Board as needed.  

• Represent the Center for Science and Democracy in internal UCS coordination spaces, such as the weekly Federal Action Campaign Team and cross-programmatic working groups on overlapping priorities or coalition work such as environmental justice issues. Coordinate advocacy activities and campaign needs with UCS development, communications, and administrative staff.  

As part of program leadership team, contribute to program-wide management of strategy, mission and vision development, and operations. 

• With the Research Director and Campaign Director, participate in regular program leadership meetings. Provide strategic guidance and recommendations to the Program Director on policy issues and internal priorities.  

• Provide policy and political guidance to inform the Center for Science and Democracy’s annual and longer-term campaign planning processes. 

• Help advance major programmatic efforts and provide input on decisions, planning, priority-setting, budgets and personnel to help strengthen the program’s long-term impact. 

• Provide leadership in program’s ongoing work to craft decision-making structures, processes, systems, and ways of working together that are rooted in anti-racist practice and that support a culture where BIPOC staff can thrive. 

As needed, manage or co-manage campaign and project work for defined issue areas, such as a campaign, sub-campaign, or initiative. Within these issue areas: 

• Develop strategies for advocacy and coalition engagement. 

• Run regular campaign/project check-in meetings and serve as project manager for the development of publications, advocacy materials, and other deliverables. 

• In coordination with the Campaign Director, lead planning processes to inform the development of CSD’s annual and longer-term plans. 

Basic Knowledge, Skills, and Experience 

Position requires:  

• Master’s or Juris Doctor required, PhD a plus, in a relevant field, such as science policy, public policy, political science, government, or other policy-oriented field in the natural and social sciences. 

• 10+ years of comparable and relative experience to include issue campaign development, a thorough understanding of advocacy campaigns and the legislative process, advocacy skills, project management, policy expertise, and an understanding of political organizing and planning/strategy development at the federal level, with an understanding and experience of similar issues at the state level preferred.  

• Expertise in science policy, such as science-informed public policy, policy for defense of science, scientific integrity, science of elections, environmental justice, regulatory reform, and science for public participation.  

• 3+ years of supervisory experience and experience working with interdisciplinary teams. 

• Demonstrated experience engaging with campaigns, coalitions, and partners with diverse policy perspectives. 

• Understanding of, and experience with, integrating justice and equity perspectives into policy advocacy and analytics. 

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively in a fast-paced work environment. 

• Skills in public speaking, taking media inquiries, and strong written communication (including an ability to synthesize science in layperson-friendly ways) strongly preferred. 

• Training or experience in project management preferred.  

Degrees can be substituted for comparable training and/or experience when appropriate. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY 

Will supervise one Washington Representative, with the potential to supervise additional Washington Representatives and occasional interns, volunteers or consultants. 

Here's what your first 90 days will look like: 

30 days 

• Become familiarized with all work being undertaken at the Center for Science and Democracy (CSD), planned or scoped across CSD’s two campaigns 

• Meet with supervisee(s) to learn about their role, duties, and needs and develop a schedule for regular check-ins. 

• Meet with staff in CSD and across the organization to gain a full understanding of the center’s and organization’s goals, culture and collaborative opportunities  

• Discuss policy communications needs and priorities with UCS comms staff 

 60 days  

• Begin to build relationships with congressional representatives and their staff, administration and agency officials, advocates from allied organizations, and other stakeholders 

• Work with CSD leadership team to identify policy priorities and strategies to drive campaign wins 

90 days  

• Establish workflows to monitor the policy landscape for program priority issues 

• Develop and begin to lead on a workplan for the policy team in collaboration with campaign teams 

• Review and provide feedback on written reports, fact sheets, testimony, media statements, and other key documents 

 ***Kindly include a work sample along with your application materials.***

WORK SCHEDULE    

Regular office hours may include occasional nights and weekends. 

TRAVEL     

Regular travel in Washington, DC. Additional 10-15% travel to meetings, conferences and events. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Describe the work environment and physical requirements for performing the position’s essential responsibilities, including:  

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time. 

• Continuously operate a computer and must have the ability to control a mouse and keyboard.  

• Communicate in verbal and written formats with internal staff and external constituents.  

This is a full-time hybrid position. Proximity to Washington, DC is required for in-person activities. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary range is 129,001-145,130 . UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. *CA Resident Only, we offer a 12% salary differential* 

Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.  

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate. 

Benefits

More about the team: 

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment which is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds. 

To Apply: We know there are great candidates who won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please.  

This position is not in the bargaining unit. 

Covid Mandate for New Hires: 

For in office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely. 

All new employees must comply with the mandatory vaccination requirements outlined in UCS policies as soon as practicable. Union of Concerned Scientists will notify candidates for employment of the requirements of this policy before the start of employment. 

Deadline: Until filled.  

***Kindly include a work sample along with your application materials.***