Legislative Aide

Application Deadline: July 14th, 2025

Position Overview

The Legislative Aide serves as a key policy support specialist for CJA's federal advocacy efforts, focusing on specific environmental justice and climate-related policy initiatives. This position combines policy analysis, research on assigned issue areas, drafting of policy memos and recommendations, advocacy with elected officials, CJA member engagement, and cross-functional collaboration to advance CJA's mission through strategic legislative and regulatory work. The Legislative Aide will work as part of the Policy Team, and will report to the Legislative Director.

Location: Remote within the United States, with preference for proximity to Washington, DC.

About Climate Justice Alliance
Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) was formed in 2013 to create a new center of gravity in the climate movement by uniting frontline communities and organizations into a formidable force. Our translocal organizing strategy and mobilizing capacity is building a Just Transition away from extractive systems of production, consumption and political oppression, and towards resilient, regenerative and equitable economies. We believe that the process of transition must place race, gender and class at the center of the solutions equation in order to make it a truly Just Transition.

We are a unique alliance of 99 community, frontline, and environmental justice organizations; movement networks; and support organizations at the forefront of climate change. Our members are multicultural, intergenerational, and prioritize leadership among women, gender-oppressed, and persons of color. They come from traditionally underrepresented constituencies, including Indigenous Peoples, African American, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander, and low-income white communities, often often located near toxic, polluting industries such as oil refineries, fracking wells, coal mines, power plants, and pipelines; rails, ports, and other major transportation corridors; landfills and incinerators; and industrial agriculture.

Core Responsibilities

Support CJA’s Federal and Policy Work in designated issue areas (60%)
The Legislative Aide will support the organization’s federal policy work by conducting policy research and tracking legislative and regulatory developments related to the assigned issue areas below. They will draft quality written materials—such as policy memos, talking points, one-pagers, and legislative analysis—tailored for various audiences including members of Congress, partners, and internal teams. The Aide will also develop and present clear policy recommendations to the Legislative Director, CJA staff, advocacy coalitions, and working group co-chairs. In addition, they will monitor federal legislation, hearings, and rulemaking processes under their portfolio to produce timely, rapid-response materials.

Assigned Federal Policy Issue Areas:

• Tribal affairs
• Public lands
• Ocean and water justice
• AI data centers
• Food sovereignty
• Mineral resources support

Cross-team Collaboration (30%)

• Work closely with CJA’s policy and organizing staff who are engaging with members consistently and support any state and federal work and issue area expertise as needed.
• Work closely with CJA’s communications team to ensure execution of robust campaigns that include resources such as targeted messaging and educational materials for members and lawmakers alike.
• Provide updates on federal and state developments across teams and in close coordination with the Policy Organizing Manager to ensure organizing staff are equipped to support the larger organizational efforts to increase member engagement and knowledge around key issue areas and critical campaigns. 

Build Healthy & Sustainable Organizational Work Culture and Other Responsibilities (10%)

• Along with all other staff, this position contributes to CJA’s culture of innovation, teamwork, and continuous learning. They work diligently to collaborate and support each other within and across teams and excel in an environment where every staff member takes care of their own basic administrative needs.

Travel
Significant domestic travel (1-2 times per month) for meetings or conferences would be required for this position. 

Physical duties of this role: Ability to work at a computer and participate in video conferencing, speaking and typing for extended periods of time. 
Occasional physical duties: Responsible for logistics during travel which includes lifting items (not in excess of 25 lbs.), coordinating meals/catering, and driving.(CJA is willing and able to make reasonable accommodations for candidates who may not be able to fulfill these tasks). 

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• 2–4 years of experience in a legislative, policy, or government relations role, preferably in environmental justice, Tribal affairs, or related fields.
• Familiarity with federal policy processes, including agency rulemaking and congressional legislative cycles.
• Skilled with information sharing and discerning different audiences; aptitude for discretion and deep understanding of political institutions and relationships, and how they function.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and electronic) and ability to create high-level policy content and resources on tight timelines when needed.
• Ease with researching, analyzing, and distilling new and/or complex policy issues, strategies, or tools.
• Strong organizational skills, proven high attention to detail, ability to effectively prioritize tasks with little supervision and work independently to accomplish assignments and projects.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with staff and volunteers in a member-oriented collaborative environment.
• Agreement with and commitment to CJA’s mission, values, and practices.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience 

• Lived or professional experience in frontline, Indigenous, or EJ communities.
• Experience working with Tribal governments, Native-led organizations, or public lands advocacy.
• Understanding of emerging climate tech policy issues (e.g., water impacts of AI data centers).
• Spanish or other language proficiency aligned with our member communities.

• 100% FTE, exempt position. Annual gross pay is $90,000 (@100%FTE).
• CJA’s 100% FTE benefits package includes:
  • 20 days vacation leave per year;
  • 15 standard holidays per year;
  • 12 sick days per year;
  • 1 month of paid parental leave during first year; eligible for an additional 2 months of paid parental leave in the second year of employment, up to 3 months;
  • 3 month sabbatical leave after 5 years of continuous Full-Time employment 
  • Medical, vision, dental for employees and dependents (requires 30 day waiting period);
  • 100% employer sponsored basic life, short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage;
  • Access to FSA Benefits;
  • Employer-funded HRA;
  • Employer-sponsored 401k with annual employer contribution.

Climate Justice Alliance is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law. BIPOC and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.