Policy Director

The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) was founded in January 2017 and now has over 750 EPA alumni across the country volunteering their time to protect the integrity of EPA, human health, and the environment. We harness the expertise of former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations to provide the unique perspective of former regulators with decades of historical knowledge and subject matter expertise. We are focused on building and defending the capacity of environmental agencies and the communities they serve to truly address the most urgent health and environmental crises. We work to ensure that EPA advances policies, budgets, and institutional changes to address environmental injustices and climate, as well as other pressing public health needs.

We provide capacity-building technical assistance and training to frontline communities; non-profit organizations; and under-resourced state, local, and tribal government agencies. We provide pro bono support to civil servants. We educate Congress and serve as a critical resource for facts, objective analysis, and scientific rigor for reporters and other strategic partners.

About the Role

This role reports to the Senior Director of Policy. The Policy Director leads the strategy and execution of EPN’s national policy work, setting vision and priorities in coordination with the Senior Director of Policy. It involves managing a small team, guiding volunteer engagement in federal policy efforts both present and future, and collaborating across departments to influence rulemaking and other policymaking, enhance transparency, support litigation, safeguard science, educate Congress, and amplify EPN’s impact through communications and partnerships. The position also plays a key role in building strategic alliances with NGOs and coalitions to advance environmental policy goals primarily at the federal level.

Responsibilities

• Program Strategy & Implementation:
  • Develop vision, priorities, and goals for the national policy work with input from the national policy team and in coordination with the Senior Director of Policy.
  • Track key metrics (comments submitted, testimony provided, amicus briefs, science advisory groups convened, products developed).
  • Track various proposed rulemakings and related national policy actions.
  • Facilitate teams of volunteers to draft comments and letters, deliver testimony, recommendations for a future EPA, support litigation, public affairs, and meet with the executive branch (including EPA, OMB, and CEQ).
  • Look for opportunities to share information with other NGOs and the media, educate Congress and tribal, state, and local governments.
• Team Management:
  • Directly manage 3-4 full-time senior policy associates and contractors.
  • Execute on all org-wide people manager responsibilities, including:
    • Weekly team 1×1 check-ins and weekly team shared space management.
    • Twice-annual formal review process.
    • Ongoing coaching and professional development support.
    • Team culture activities.
• Partner with the Public Affairs Team:
  • Partner with other NGOs and coalitions, as relevant to EPN’s work.
  • Coordinate collaborative efforts, including goal-driven webinars.
  • Educate congressional member offices and key committee staff.
  • Develop/influence website and digital media content.
  • Support and help develop press releases, tip sheets (weekly), briefs, press conferences, and related.
• Manage strategic partnerships with NGOs and others on national environmental policy issues:
  • Identify opportunities to partner with like-minded organizations on relevant environmental health issues.
  • Represent EPN and/or find and manage volunteers to represent EPN in various coalitions operating in relevant environmental federal policy areas.

Requirements

• At least 7+ years of relevant work experience.
• Highly productive in remote working environments.
• Interest in environmental justice, US environmental and health policy, and/or the work of the EPA.
• Prior experience working closely with or at the EPA is preferred but not required.
• Experience in program management, public sector initiatives, or workforce development, preferably within environmental justice, government, or nonprofit sectors.
• Experience creating and operationalizing priorities, goals, and metrics.
• Strong cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to racial, environmental, and social justice.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, priorities, and stakeholders in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Experience with direct people management.
• Experience with project management and specifically managing work across multiple complex stakeholder groups.

Core Competencies

• Building Relationships: Cultivate trust, credibility, and mutual respect with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil servants, volunteers, NGO partners, coalition members, and congressional staff. Foster strong, values-aligned partnerships that support collaboration on national environmental policy efforts and amplify EPN’s influence. Engage authentically across lines of difference, navigate power dynamics thoughtfully, and maintain long-term relationships rooted in shared goals and open communication.
• Making Decisions & Demonstrating Judgement: Assess risks, balance stakeholder input, and make timely, strategic choices that reflect EPN’s mission and values.
• Team Management: Coach and develop team members while driving them toward clear, measurable outcomes. Provide regular feedback, support professional growth, and create a collaborative environment that empowers staff to lead. Ensure alignment with organizational goals and hold the team accountable to high standards of performance and impact.
• Managing Execution: Ensure that team and departmental goals are met through clear planning, consistent monitoring, and timely adjustments. Track progress against key milestones, address challenges proactively, and keep work aligned with evolving priorities. Lead with focus and flexibility, ensuring high-quality outcomes in a dynamic policy landscape.
• Planning: Develop a clear vision, priorities, goals, and strategy in collaboration with key stakeholders. Gather and synthesize input, translate it into a focused and actionable plan, and ensure alignment across teams. Create pathways for implementation, including investing in resources and support needed to bring the strategy to life.

Pay

An annual salary of $114,129 based in D.C. We will adjust the salary up or down based on locality.

Benefits

Work-Life Balance

• Employees are encouraged to balance a 40-hour work week with a flexible work schedule and core hours of 10 AM-3 PM ET.
• 11 paid Federal Holidays and other paid days when the office is closed (including the work day before or after July 4, the day after Thanksgiving, and FY26 December 21st-January 4th and FY27 December 20th-January 3rd).
• 3 weeks (120 hours) of paid time off (inclusive of sick, personal days, and vacation).
• Organization-wide non-meeting days on all major holidays that fall outside of the federal calendar (staff can submit these to the calendar based on religious or cultural holidays).

Financial Security

• Competitive market-based salary.
• Annual tenure bonus (determined annually where funds are available).
• Performance-based bonuses where applicable.
• 401K Retirement Plan, 4% company match.

Wellness Benefits

• 80% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid family.
• 100% employer-paid life (50K), opportunity to purchase additional life coverage is available for employee and spouse.
• 100% employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.
• Access to employee-paid FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits.
• Up to 6 weeks of paid leave upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Career Development

• Up to $500/year for professional development-related expenses.
• Ongoing access to internal professional development training.

Additional Benefits

• $150 monthly cell phone plan and home internet reimbursement.
• Up to $2,000/year for the purchase of phones, computers, headsets, software, or other equipment used consistently to carry out staff responsibilities.
• Applicable travel expenses will be reimbursed, including travel time outside of your local area.

Environmental injustices disproportionately impact the most marginalized people in society, including people of color, people from working-class backgrounds, women, and LGBTQIA+ people. Because we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.