Policy Director, Energy and Environment
About The Position
The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. with staff across the country and beyond—seeks a Policy Director to help lead and manage our Energy and Environment policy program. If you are the right fit, you will report to the Vice President of Organizational Performance and Advancement. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this may be the opportunity for you! Your typical day at R Street may include working with colleagues to shape an op-ed on electricity reliability, reviewing an analyst’s memo on transmission planning and interconnection reform, drafting public comments on a regulatory proposal, speaking with coalition partners about permitting modernization, coordinating with Communications on message alignment, and consulting with state or federal staff on policy tradeoffs. You’ll find yourself working collaboratively across the organization almost every day. Other aspects of your role Support program leadership and execution across the Energy and Environment portfolio, including project planning, timelines, and quality control. Manage and coach staff (i.e., fellows, analysts, or associates, as applicable), helping them scope work, strengthen analysis, and deliver polished products. Drive the program’s financial growth and long-term sustainability by securing funding, stewarding donor relationships, leading technical proposal development, and closely collaborating with the Business Development team on strategy. Contribute thought leadership aligned with the program’s mission by writing policy analysis, op-eds, and regulatory comments and participating in conferences, media, and other engagements to translate complex issues for varied audiences. Edit and elevate written products to ensure they are rigorous, credible, timely, and aligned with R Street’s research standards and methodologies. Help advance the program’s research agenda across three pillars, with a critical focus on the future of electric systems. Electricity: Driving critical research in transmission planning, interconnection, and grid resilience; leading engagement on wholesale market design (RTO governance); and shaping pragmatic policy for retail choice, rate design, and distribution system performance. Environment and Innovation: Advancing market-enabling climate mitigation/adaptation, climate risk management, permitting and siting, energy innovation policy, and efficient environmental regulation. Transportation: Exploring competition and innovation in heavy-duty modes (i.e., rail, shipping, trucking) and market-enabling approaches for light-duty vehicles (e.g., barriers to EV/AV adoption, congestion and infrastructure usage/funding mechanisms). Collaborate with Government Affairs, Communications, Business Development, and Editorial to identify target audiences and ensure products land where they can have the greatest impact. Stay current on key research, legislation, and regulatory developments in energy and environmental policy. Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations!
Requirements
- No particular educational background is required; a proven record of achieving results is more meaningful than credentials.
- Strong policy fluency in energy and environmental public policy.
- People and project leadership experience, including managing projects with multiple stakeholders; management experience is a plus.
- Top-notch writing and editing skills; comfort translating complex analysis for policymakers and the public.
- Ability to synthesize research using methods common to the program’s work (e.g., literature review, secondary analysis, descriptive statistics, case studies; familiarity with econometric approaches is a plus).
- Demonstrated ability to work productively with a wide variety of groups and individuals, including those with whom you may disagree.
- Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government.
- Entrepreneurial attitude, strong judgment, and a sense of humor.
Nice To Haves
- management experience
- familiarity with econometric approaches
Responsibilities
- Support program leadership and execution across the Energy and Environment portfolio, including project planning, timelines, and quality control.
- Manage and coach staff (i.e., fellows, analysts, or associates, as applicable), helping them scope work, strengthen analysis, and deliver polished products.
- Drive the program’s financial growth and long-term sustainability by securing funding, stewarding donor relationships, leading technical proposal development, and closely collaborating with the Business Development team on strategy.
- Contribute thought leadership aligned with the program’s mission by writing policy analysis, op-eds, and regulatory comments and participating in conferences, media, and other engagements to translate complex issues for varied audiences.
- Edit and elevate written products to ensure they are rigorous, credible, timely, and aligned with R Street’s research standards and methodologies.
- Help advance the program’s research agenda across three pillars, with a critical focus on the future of electric systems.
- Collaborate with Government Affairs, Communications, Business Development, and Editorial to identify target audiences and ensure products land where they can have the greatest impact.
- Stay current on key research, legislation, and regulatory developments in energy and environmental policy.
Benefits
- Unlimited paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
- Alternating Fridays off
- A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
- Dental and vision insurance
- 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
- HSA employer contribution match
- Quarterly wellness reimbursement
- Mobile equipment/mobile plan reimbursement
- Home internet subsidy
- Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
- A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
