Climate Urgency Research Director

About the role

Climate Power is seeking to add a Director of Climate Urgency Research to our research department. The role is full-time, exempt, and regular.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work with the Deputy Managing Director of Research to develop and execute overall departmental strategy for the Climate Urgency campaign and opposition research strategy focused on relevant agency heads and key administration officials.
• Represent the department in organization-wide Climate Urgency campaign meetings and planning.
• Monitor developments in the issue area by relevant federal agencies, including FEMA, NOAA, NWS, and USFS.
• Develop an opposition research strategy focused on relevant agency heads and key administration officials.
• Manage and train a Senior Research Associate, directing day-to-day tasks and managing contributions to long-term research projects.
• Work across the organization, including directly with the Climate Urgency campaign, to manage research-driven projects in the issue area.
• Oversee the Senior Research Associate’s tracking and reporting on business news from the home insurance industry, including financial filings and earnings calls.
• Collaborate with partners on opposition research items and manage consultants’ relevant work in the issue area.
• Generate actionable research that can be used in communications materials, media pitches, and campaign tactics to hold powerful interests and individuals accountable.
• Produce polling and ad backups in their issue area on short deadlines, conduct fact-checks, and approve applicable content in outbound materials.
• Work with the Research Deputy Managing Director and Communications team to pitch research findings to media outlets.
• Draft reports, fact sheets, backgrounders and other Climate Urgency research and communications materials, and engage in rapid response work.

Essential Qualifications

• 7 years of relevant prior work experience in political research, which may include working for a campaign or issue advocacy organization.
• Relevant work experience may include, but is not limited to: Opposition research at a campaign, campaign committee, or PAC; Working on energy/climate policy or corporate accountability issues in a political, advocacy, or policymaking environment; OR Working as an analyst or journalist covering extreme weather or climate change.
• 3 years of people and/or project management experience; demonstrated success in leading departments and diverse teams and managing complex projects.
• Demonstrated experience with opposition research and development of hard-hitting original research.
• Must be able to work independently, but also collaboratively with diverse groups of people, communities, and partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities with minimal direct supervision.
• Strong news judgment and knowledge of the political media landscape.
• Strong familiarity with research tools, including LexisNexis, public records, and campaign finance filings.
• Strong proficiency in Google Workspace and Airtable preferred.
• Interest in climate justice is a plus!

Salary & Benefits Package

Climate Power offers a competitive compensation package, including salaries that are commensurate with and directly tied to years of experience. The full salary range for this role is listed below, with a given set of years correlating to a fixed 'step' or placement within a salary range. Salaries are otherwise non-negotiable, and not impacted by merit-based performance evaluations or other flexible and/or subjective factors.

Step Years Annual Salary Step 1 7 $120,499 Step 2 8 $123,376 Step 3 9 $126,253 Step 4 10 $129,130 Step 5 12 $132,007 Step 6 14 $134,885 Step 7 16 $137,762 Step 8 18 $140,639 Step 9 21+ $143,516

The company also offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurances 100% paid for employee, 50% for their dependents
• Unlimited Paid Time off, including every other Friday and extended summer, fall, and winter breaks
• 401(k) with 5% match
• Education Assistance, including student loan repayment program
• Sabbatical Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Monthly Tech Allowance
• Work From Home Stipend, for home office furniture
• Treat Yourself Funds

The terms of your benefits and any applicable waiting period(s) are governed by relevant plan documents and any and all applicable policies, and are subject to change or discontinuation by the organization.

About Climate Power

Climate Power is a strategic communications organization focused on winning the politics of climate. We’re educating Americans about our climate progress, highlighting how clean energy investments benefit local communities, and holding Big Oil accountable for polluting our air and water. We use data-backed messages to pave a path for bold action and shine a light on the price of ignoring the climate crisis would cost our health, economy, and future generations. It’s our job to tell the story of how climate action and clean energy investment are rebuilding our economy, lowering energy costs, and protecting our planet for future generations. We call out disinformation from bad actors like the Big Oil lobby, and make the climate stakes real for voters.

Location & Hours of Operations

Climate Power is a remote-first organization based in Washington, DC. This position can be located anywhere in the United States, but must be able to work Monday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm EST, plus weekends and evenings as the work dictates. Occasional travel is required as needed, typically 3-4 times per year.

Hiring Timeline and Process

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will continue to interview until the position is filled (posting will remain up until position filled). An ideal start date would be before or by July 6, 2026. Our interview process generally involves 2-3 rounds of interviews, ranging in length from 30-60 minutes. All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet or Zoom. Successful candidates that move forward in the hiring process, will be invited to complete a skills assessment activity (for which they will receive compensation) and will undergo a vetting process, including reference and background check. Climate Power is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, or sexual orientation. Additionally, Climate Power is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Climate Power will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview and hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed in the interview process, please accessibility@climatepower.us. Requests for updates in the hiring/interview process or other solicitations, should not be sent to this email.