Director, Energy, Climate & Environment

American Chemistry Coun•Washington, DC

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

The position serves as a lead technical and policy expert for energy, climate, and environmental activities with an emphasis on federal and state regulatory processes impacting the business of chemistry. The role provides subject matter expertise on issues including energy supply and feedstocks policy, natural gas and electricity rate, allocation, and infrastructure regulation, industrial regulation, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon accounting, and waste management. The Director will collaborate with the Senior Director, Energy, Climate and Environment to translate regulatory, technical, and market developments into actionable positions, support member company engagement, and advance ACC’s policies and approaches through credible analysis, coalition-building, and direct engagement with policymakers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
Eight years of relevant technical, scientific, legal or policy experience associated with energy, climate or waste management programs or approaches.
Demonstrated experience engaging with business, trade, government, political or policy advocacy organizations.
Demonstrated understanding of relevant energy, climate and waste management regulation and related legislation (i.e. Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Administrative Procedure Act), and related policy activities that may impact the business of chemistry.
Strong written and oral communications skills, including the ability to make internal and external presentations.
Ability to quickly learn complex regulatory and policy issues, contribute to team success, and collaborate with internal and external customers.
Ability to demonstrate initiative and work independently on a variety of complex matters simultaneously.
Ability to acquire and build effective professional relationships and develop coalitions and alliances with diverse stakeholders on relevant issues.
Proven ability to work in a team environment.
Ability to travel, as needed, domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (JD, MS, MPA, or MBA) in energy policy, environmental policy, climate science, engineering, economics, or a related discipline.
Working knowledge of greenhouse gas accounting methodologies, carbon management strategies, or emissions reporting frameworks.
Working knowledge of electricity and natural gas markets, grid operations, and infrastructure planning and regulation (e.g., FERC), including implications for energy-intensive manufacturing.
Working knowledge of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and related environmental liability schemes and principles.
Familiarity with chemical manufacturing processes and supply chains, and how energy and climate policies affect operational reliability, competitiveness, and decarbonization strategies.
Experience engaging with senior federal or state regulatory and legislative officials in formal or informal policy settings.

Responsibilities

Develops, reviews, and delivers high-quality technical analyses, policy briefs, and written and oral comments for federal and state regulatory proceedings, legislative initiatives, and stakeholder consultations associated with energy supply and regulation, carbon accounting, infrastructure, permitting, and waste management.
Directs and manages assigned member committees, subcommittees, and task forces, ensuring effective agenda-setting, consensus-building, and timely decision-making.
Monitors, analyzes, and interprets emerging regulatory, legislative, and market developments affecting energy availability, energy and feedstock suppy chain security, natural gas and electricity ratesetting and cost allocation, industrial decarbonization pathways and policies, infrastructure permitting and permitting reform, and environmental compliance for the chemical sector.
Expands and supports state-level engagement and advocacy on energy, infrastructure, and climate-related policies through ACC, state-partners, and coalitions, including but not limited to the impact and implications of data center deployment, state climate related pricing, disclosure and liability frameworks.
Builds and sustains trusted working relationships with member company experts, federal and state agencies, policymakers, trade associations, academia, and third-party stakeholders, and global forums related to energy, climate and waste policy.
Coordinates ACC engagement across internal teams and external partners to advance consistent and technically credible policy positions associated with energy, climate and waste related efforts.
Manages external consultants and vendors, including scopes of work, deliverables, budgets, and performance for assigned portfolio.
Manages the scheduling and development of materials to facilitate virtual and in-person meetings.
Develops clear and targeted member communications, including issue updates, briefing materials, talking points, and meeting summaries.
Represents ACC before a broad range of internal and external stakeholders at events, conferences, and meetings.
Performs other duties as assigned.