Policy and Advocacy Campaigner

Our energy system is on the brink of a major transformation, and we're looking for someone to help us ensure this new system puts rooftop solar energy at the cornerstone!

This position will focus on helping us build a large, impactful, and engaged solar citizen activist movement. In collaboration with respective state teams, the Campaigner will help develop, carry out, and support state (and selective federal) legislative and regulatory campaigns to advance and defend equitable access to distributed solar power. This position will report to the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy.

Candidates can be located remotely from anywhere in the US, but preference will be given to those within our West and Atlantic Southeast regions.

• The West Region Policy & Advocacy Campaigner will support SUN programs in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada and Texas.
• The Atlantic Southeast Region Policy & Advocacy Campaigner will support SUN programs in Washington D.C., Florida, Maryland, Puerto Rico and Virginia.

If you think this job might be for you, please apply on our job board! Please include a cover letter and resume with your application. When indicating your region of interest, pick Arizona for West and pick Washington DC for Atlantic Southeast. First review will begin in 2025.

Job responsibilities include:

• Provide policy and advocacy support for 4-5 states, as well as priority national campaigns. 
• Engage and mobilize a bipartisan network of solar homeowners, advocates, and partner organizations.
• Help develop and implement municipal and/or state legislative and regulatory campaigns.
• Engage with and advocate directly to decision-makers on local, state and federal levels. 
• Participate in state coalitions, and identify and cultivate relationships with key partner organizations, including equity, environmental groups, religious institutions, and others.
• Work with our Communications Team to develop advocacy alerts, web pages, earned media pieces, and paid and organic social media.
• Test creative new campaign tactics that give our state and national network more ways to take action in support of solar growth and rights.
• Work closely with our Community Impact team to turn successful, creative tactics into replicable toolkits that can be used frequently for future campaigns as needed.
• Help identify and implement opportunities for SUN supporters in all 50 states to engage around solar policy issues and rights.
• Participate and present in coalition calls, webinars, and meetings.
• Help SUN capture and track information about relationships with partners and other organizations (for example, keeping records in Salesforce).
• Assist with tracking and reporting for grant reporting, annual reports, etc.
• Organization-wide administration including fully showing up for staff meetings, retreats, and learning opportunities as well as timely submission of timesheets, reimbursements, and other administrative requests. 

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of grassroots organizing experience in engaging and mobilizing activists and working with coalition partners in legislative, regulatory, or other arenas. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience managing projects.
• Deep interest in major distributed solar policy issues.
• Keen strategic sense on how to build the strategy, alliances, narrative, and tactics to win issue campaigns.
• Experience in building and being a productive member of complex internal and external teams.
• Passion for creating an equitable energy system where everyone gets to make and benefit from their own local power.

Preferred Qualifications

• Located in the West and/or Atlantic Southeast as indicated above.
• Spanish fluency.
• Knowledge of distributed solar policies.
• Persistent, creative, and innovative.
• Comfortable representing SUN with funders, partners, volunteers, supporters, and the press.
• Organized and able to track details, budgets, commitments, and multiple partners and moving parts.
• Digital savvy, with experience with online and social media tactics, getting noticed and making a splash.

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401K with company match
• Flexible work schedule
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Paid time off
• Bereavement leave
• Phone/Internet Stipend

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit that started more than 15 years ago with a simple question. "Mom, can we go solar?" Since then, we've helped tens of thousands of people benefit from solar energy. We are dedicated to creating a clean, equitable, resilient energy system that benefits everyone - by helping people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.

SUN welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds and experience to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with a non-traditional education. We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every preferred qualification, we still encourage you to apply.