Climate Equity Policy Fellow

About the Organization

The Maryland Just Power Alliance is a broad-based, community power organization dedicated to making Maryland a place where everyone can thrive. In coalition with Action In Montgomery, Anne Arundel Connecting Together, and People Acting Together in Howard, we work to build relationships with community members throughout Maryland to engage in meaningful civic participation. We win victories by meeting community members face-to-face, listening to understand the issues that concern our neighbors, and identifying and developing leaders to seek justice and social change in their communities through holding elected and corporate officials accountable. Together, we have helped win $73 million for clean, affordable home energy. We are incorporating our statewide organization in 2026 to strengthen our impact at the state level while continuing deep local community organizing.

About the Role

The Maryland Just Power Alliance is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Climate Equity Policy Fellow to join the Climate Equity and Healthy Homes team as part of a two-year Climate Equity Policy Fellowship program. The primary goal of this position is to provide policy support and analysis while receiving training, mentoring, and coaching opportunities to develop expertise in equitable climate and clean energy policy and leadership.

Our ideal candidate is a strategic, visionary, community and policy-oriented advocate passionate about justice and equity. The candidate should excel in collaborative work, create authentic partnerships with diverse communities, and be committed to deepening their expertise in equitable energy and climate policy. The ideal candidate is grounded in community-based organizing principles and has a foundational understanding of environmental issues, including lived experience.

This is a full-time, two-year position. The Fellow will report to the Lead Organizer at the Maryland Just Power Alliance.

Fellowship Program Overview

Fellowship Program Dates: September 2026 – September 2028

• Year 1: 2026-2027
  • Fellow hired and onboarded in September 2026
  • Attend virtual fellowship orientation in September 2026
  • Attend in-person fellowship retreat in December 2026
  • Work plan and day-to-day tasks managed by Maryland Just Power Alliance
  • Attend monthly virtual trainings with other Climate Equity Policy Fellows across the country
• Year 2: 2027-2028
  • Attend monthly virtual trainings with national cohort and optional Policy Learning Community calls
  • Attend annual in-person Policy Fellow retreat
  • Work with a mentor for 6 months

Responsibilities

• Grassroots Power Building, Public Policy Development & Advocacy
  • Support existing and developing programs and policies around climate, clean energy, and healthy homes
  • Evaluate existing and new policies and issue areas associated with climate justice and energy equity
  • Support state- and county-level campaigns and regulatory actions to advance policy solutions
  • Draft comments, testimony, policy memos, public communications, and legislative updates
  • Attend meetings or hearings and conduct research and policy analysis to support advocacy efforts
  • Develop toolkits, presentations, case studies, infographics, and other collateral for allies and partners
  • Collaborate with state coalition partners to advance successful campaigns
  • Educate and develop relationships with state partners, legislative and government leaders
  • Facilitate meetings with community, government, and business leaders to drive advocacy forward
  • Draft legislation in response to policy priorities elevated by grassroots leadership
• Leadership & Professional Development
  • Participate in all cohort meetings, retreats, and trainings, including orientation and skills-based workshops
  • Provide input and feedback on the Fellowship program through quarterly meetings
  • Participate in Maryland Just Power Alliance training and leadership opportunities

Qualifications

• Lived experience with frontline communities, including Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, as well as low-income and working-class communities, especially communities of faith
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental, racial, and social justice
• Strong policy or legal analysis skills, delivered in writing or verbally to diverse audiences
• Excellent writing skills
• Understanding of community organizing and participatory processes in policy setting and advocacy
• Knowledge and policy experience with building decarbonization and energy governance
• Deep commitment to grassroots power-building and policy development
• Ability to speak Spanish is a plus
• High level of independence
• Ability to drive to meetings at different locations throughout Maryland is required

Benefits

• 15 vacation days, 2 floating holidays, and 9 holidays per calendar year
• 403(b) retirement fund with generous employer contribution after 12 months of employment
• Monthly stipend towards health insurance
• Monthly stipend towards internet, phone, and meals

Pay

The target starting salary for this position is $65,000–$72,000 per year, depending on experience.

Schedule

This role may require some evening and weekend hours.