Policy Director

ABOUT BRIGHTLINE

Established in 2005 in San Francisco, Brightline Defense is an environmental justice nonprofit that bridges policy advocacy and on-the-ground partnerships to promote sustainability and opportunity in frontline communities. We are committed to reshaping the environmental landscape to ensure that all communities, particularly those who have been historically marginalized, enjoy the benefits of a cleaner, more sustainable, and inclusive future.

Brightline’s current efforts focus on:

• Policy Development & Advocacy to engage frontline communities in advocating for environmental and workforce policies that benefit people and nature;
• On-the-Ground Partnerships to share knowledge, train and build coalitions that empower frontline communities to advocate and prosper from sustainable development; and
• Meaningful Connections to act as a bridge between community members and policymakers, regulators, and industry so that the needs of community meaningfully shape plans for economic growth and environmental protection.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Brightline Defense is seeking an entrepreneurial Policy Director with the ability to develop and contribute to the development of legal / regulatory affairs strategy in support of ambitious policy objectives. The Policy Director is first and foremost an advocate for clean air, renewable energy infrastructure, equitable workforce development, and environmental justice in California. They do this while engaging with diverse stakeholders, conducting in-depth regulatory research and policy analysis, drafting essential documents, and serving as a key spokesperson for the organization.

Leadership is a vital aspect of this role, as the Policy Director will serve as a member of the leadership team, reporting to the Executive Director, while growing and developing a strong team of advocates, analysts, attorneys, and legal fellows.

Key responsibilities include:

Policy Analysis & Regulatory Affairs (60%)

• Collaborate with the Executive Director to define and realize the long-term vision, strategies, and priorities related to leveraging and building legal and policy expertise in the environmental justice movement.
• Conduct research and analysis on topics such as equitable deployment of renewable energy and green jobs – ranging from utility-scale generation such as offshore wind to distributed generation such as rooftop solar.
• Analyze state and federal climate policies with implications for environmental justice communities in the Bay Area and throughout California.
• Support and/or participate in legislative hearings, administrative advocacy, and regulatory proceedings in various jurisdictions, providing written responses and testimony (for instance, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, California Independent Operator System, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board).
• Co-create public comments, white papers, policy designs, technical reports, and analytical tools that can be used in legal and policy campaigns and educating policymakers and coalition partners.
• Serve as Brightline’s point person on regulatory education and communication with California regulators and policymakers, developing strong relationships, identifying opportunities and priorities, and reinforcing Brightline as a go-to resource around environmental justice policy.
• Train and develop other messengers for Brightline’s core messages and strategies.
• Lead the policy research team in creating and promoting policy reports, particularly in offshore wind, transmission, and more.

Organizational Leadership & Management (20%)

• Serve as a member of the organizational leadership team with shared responsibility to develop and execute plans and strategies to achieve organizational and team goals and objectives.
• Supervise and coordinate the Brightline Policy Team (Senior Policy Manager, Legal Advisor, Associates, and Fellows), including establishing annual objectives (to support overall goals established in the policy agenda), provide regular feedback and appropriate recognition, conduct annual performance reviews, and support ongoing professional development.
• Lead the development and implementation of Brightline's legal and policy fellowship programs, including identification of priorities, recruitment, and education / training.
• Partner with the Executive Director to determine and manage the policy program budget, ensuring cost effectiveness and accurate reporting to funders.
• Support fundraising efforts related to the policy agenda and priorities.
• Attend and present at relevant coalition convenings, conferences, webinars, panels, and other opportunities to learn about emerging climate policy issues and build Brightline’s network and reputation.
• Ensure compliance with all legal and lobbying requirements, as appropriate.

Coalition Building (20%)

• Convene and facilitate meetings and working groups with coalition partners, experts, advocates, ratepayer and consumer groups, manufacturers, business organizations and associations, outside counsel, and others to develop relationships and strengthen networks in order to address barriers to equity-centered environmental policy.
• Foster and implement information sharing and insights on state and federal regulatory issues with coalition partners, aiding in the translation of complex and technical issues.
• Track pertinent policy and regulatory dockets and identify opportunities for strategic engagement.

ABOUT YOU

The incoming Policy Director is driven by their belief in and commitment to Brightline’s vision of frontline communities creating and prospering from sustainable development. Through their track record as a policy advocate, lawyer or legal strategist, the successful candidate drives Brightline’s state and local policy agenda around clean air, renewable energy infrastructure, and equitable workforce development. The Policy Director builds authentic and lasting relationships inside and outside the organization with regulators, policy makers, and coalition members, engaging with them as partners in Brightline’s mission.

The successful candidate is entrepreneurial and self-directed, bringing policy and political savvy to prioritize an ambitious agenda for maximum impact. This role requires a deep commitment to the principles of environmental justice and the ability to influence the development and implementation of state and local policy and regulation. The optimal candidate has worked in a nonprofit advocacy environment and understands the movement context, possessing a strong grasp of the economic, social and political forces that shape environmental policy related to clean air and renewable energy in California. The selected candidate will possess most of the following Core and Preferred qualifications:

Core

• Strong commitment to the mission and goals of Brightline Defense and a strong passion for solving the climate crisis through environmental justice advocacy.
• At least 5 years of increasing responsibility in public policy, with a proven track record of accomplishments designing and executing strategies that generate strong EJ-centered public policy.
  • At least 2 years of experience as an intentional leader and manager that advances organizational goals with and through others by diligent daily practice and long-term vision.
• Demonstrated experience working across lines of race, class, gender, and geography, and an analysis of how climate change and energy-related issues intersect with historic marginalization, structural racism, and disenfranchisement.
• Demonstrated understanding of how organized movements create change and accomplish policy objectives and familiarity with administrative, constitutional, and regulatory processes.
• Outstanding research, analysis, oral and written communications skills in order to:
  • Translate complex data and analysis into accessible and persuasive narratives;
  • Communicate Brightline strategies without jargon;
  • Write and deliver cogent arguments often within a short turnaround time.
• Exceptional project management skills and a high degree of emotional intelligence to support consensus building and collaboration between and among diverse stakeholders who may possess divergent viewpoints.
• Outstanding relationship-building skills with a wide range of diverse external constituencies, diplomatic abilities, and authentic leadership skills that build the trust-based relationships necessary for stakeholders to buy in and share accountability for our collective work.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and be flexible in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, where working on a team and working individually are required.
• Ability to travel approximately 4 - 6 times per year (mostly US).

Strongly Preferred

• JD
• Background in environmental, climate, energy, regulatory or civil rights policy or regulatory proceedings.
• MS in public policy or public administration.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Brightline is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ, veterans, and other historically marginalized communities. We are committed to transparent and equitable recruitment, hiring and promotion processes that foster inclusion and belonging. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please email jobs@brightlinedefense.org.