Pacific Environment is a nonprofit organization dedicated toconfronting our most urgent environmental issues by connecting local and global movements, catalyzing policy change, and inspiring action for the benefit of people and our planet. Together, we promote a healthy climate, reduce pollution, and conserve biodiversity for an equitable and thriving future. Learn more at www.pacificenvironment.org. Building on more than thirty years of policy wins for the Pacific Rim's peoples, ecosystems, and climate, Pacific Environment has been campaigning to end fossil fuel use, including to get ships off fossil fuels. Our federal strategies include securing strong regulatory frameworks and legislation to achieve zero-emission shipping on a timeline commensurate with the climate emergency; mobilizing congressional and public pressure on federal agencies and policymakers to adopt binding emissions standards and public investments; and engaging industry and maritime workers as partners in the transition to zero-emission shipping — working with bodies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, MARAD, and the Federal Maritime Commission to align national maritime policy with a zero-emission shipping future.
Position
Pacific Environment seeks an experienced Federal Policy Director to lead the organization's federal government affairs strategy on maritime shipping issues. This role is the organization's principal advocate before Congress and federal agencies — including the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), EPA, and Department of Transportation — on policy priorities such as vessel emissions and fuel standards, port and vessel infrastructure investment, supply chain resilience, and maritime workforce and safety standards.
The Federal Policy Director will build and maintain relationships with congressional offices and committee staff, track and analyze relevant legislation and rulemakings, represent the organization in coalitions and public forums, and translate technical maritime policy into actionable advocacy strategy. This is a senior externally facing role requiring deep familiarity with the federal legislative and regulatory process and credibility with maritime policy stakeholders.
Key responsibilities
Qualifications
Required
- 5–10+ years of federal government affairs, legislative, or regulatory experience, ideally including maritime, transportation, energy, or environmental policy.
- Demonstrated relationships with congressional offices, committee staff, and/or relevant federal agencies (Coast Guard, MARAD, FMC, EPA, DOT).
- Strong understanding of the federal legislative process, appropriations cycle, and administrative rulemaking.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting testimony, letters, public comments, and policy materials for non-expert audiences.
- Track record of representing an organization credibly in coalitions and with external stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently in a remote/hybrid environment while regularly meeting with congressional and agency offices in Washington, D.C.
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Commitment for climate action, with a demonstrated ability to think creatively and identify innovative opportunities to advance campaign goals.
Preferred
- Prior experience on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, or in maritime/shipping industry government affairs.
- Familiarity with transportation, clean energy, maritime decarbonization, clean fuels, or vessel emissions policy.
- Existing network within maritime trade associations, port authorities, or environmental/labor coalitions.
- Experience with defensive advocacy (protecting existing law, funding, or regulatory authority from rollback), not solely proactive policy advocacy.
Work environment & travel
This position is remote but requires the employee to be based in Washington, D.C. for regular meetings on the Hill, at agencies, and with coalition partners. Some additional domestic and international travel for conferences and events may be required.
Physical requirements
This role primarily involves sitting and working at a computer for extended periods, frequent virtual and phone communication, and regular in-person meetings, hearings, and events on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies. The ideal candidate must be able to complete the physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Pacific Environment is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people from communities harmed by environmental degradation and from backgrounds underrepresented in the environmental movement to apply. We welcome diversity to do our best work and believe that creating teams in which everyone can be their authentic self is key to the change we seek.
Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Pacific Environment. Please inform our HR team by emailing [email protected] if you need any assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application or interview process. To ensure fair consideration of all candidates, we ask that applicants do not contact Human Resources, Hiring Manager, or Program Staff directly. No phone calls, please.
