Production of petrochemicals (especially plastics and ammonia) has become the fossil fuel industry’s lifeline to buoy demand for its products and sustain its entrenchment in the economy. Unless halted, ongoing expansion of petrochemical, agrochemical, hydrogen, and carbon capture infrastructure will lock in fossil facilities that threaten frontline communities and public health and accelerate the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and toxic pollution.
As CIEL’s US Fossil Economy Campaigner, you will support, develop, and operationalize the program’s campaign priorities to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels by confronting the expansion of petrochemicals and the deployment of false climate solutions that distract from real solutions and exacerbate environmental injustice. In doing so your work will advance human rights, environmental, and health protections and that distract from real solutions and exacerbate environmental injustice. In doing so your work will advance human rights, environmental, and health protections and hold corporations accountable for their human rights and environmental harms. With a primary focus on the United States, you will (1) develop and support campaigns to achieve programmatic policy goals, legal objectives, and administrative actions; (2) translate legal and technical research into accessible materials for movement partners and key audiences; (3) build and maintain effective working relationships with partner organizations; and (4) organize events, meetings, and other logistics to advance campaign objectives.
The position requires work within regional, national, and international coalitions and across timezones, as well as national and possibly international travel, occasionally for periods of up to 2 weeks. This position is included in the CIEL staff unit of the Washington Baltimore News Guild union.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Campaigning & Advocacy (50%)
- Support the development of and drive progress on bold campaigns and tactics that achieve measurable progress towards CIEL’s strategic priorities and program objectives on petrochemicals, agrochemicals, and carbon capture and storage, in conjunction with Fossil Economy management and campaigners, communications specialists, and other relevant staff.
- Implement collaborative strategies to engage and mobilize various constituencies to pursue coordinated campaigns across the program’s priority regions (US Gulf Coast, Permian Basin, and Ohio River Valley).
- Maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues, relevant partner organizations, agencies, communities, and other actors.
Education & Research (20%)
- Support CIEL’s research and program staff to identify and close knowledge gaps on petrochemicals or carbon capture and storage, including through preparing educational, outreach, and advocacy materials for a variety of internal and external audiences.
- Represent CIEL at public events that contribute to campaign objectives.
Project Management: (25%)
- Provide ownership and proactive project management of activities to maintain national and regional strategies, including organizing and hosting meetings (online, in-person, hybrid) and proactively building relationships with movement allies, partners, and relevant media.
- Assist in information flow within the CIEL Fossil Economy program and with other CIEL programs.
- Perform other job-related duties as requested or assigned by the US Campaign Manager and Program Leadership.
Administration (5%)
- Support fundraising efforts, such as written proposals and reports, as relevant.
- Maintain timesheets and submit them on time.
- Meet periodically as requested with supervisor and other team members.
- Participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other organizational activities, including a regular staff performance evaluation.
- Meet target dates, prioritize tasks, and ensure high-quality work products.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Qualifications:
- At least 3 years of relevant experience with a proven track record of successful support for advocacy campaigning, particularly within or adjacent to CIEL’s priority areas, including: climate, fossil fuels, petrochemicals (plastics, fertilizers, pesticides), public health, state or federal environmental regulations, and/or corporate accountability
- Demonstrated ability to distill key messages from technical information and translate them to a variety of audiences and on different platforms.
- Able to oversee and deliver multiple priorities by target dates and independently perform a wide variety of tasks.
- Able to work both separately and collaboratively, in close coordination across teams.
- Comfort admitting what you don’t know and recognizing that seeking and receiving feedback is part of the learning process.
- Awareness of how your words and actions affect others, openness to and respect for others’ perspectives.
- Able to travel frequently and sometimes internationally, for periods of up to 2 weeks
Desired Qualifications:
- Familiarity with ongoing developments in policy, cultural relevance, and/or science on CIEL’s core work areas, namely: climate, fossil fuels, petrochemicals (plastics, fertilizers, pesticides), public health, state or federal environmental regulations, and/or corporate accountability
- Proficiency in Spanish
A successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:
- Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of curiosity, proactivity, and constructiveness.
- Nimble Learning: Approaches unfamiliar tasks proactively and with an open mind. Can quickly adapt to new situations and to draw on past successes and failures to solve current problems.
- Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding, and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
- Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.
- Resourcefulness: Is able to make the best of limited resources and find a way to get things done even when the odds are against them. Can look beyond the obvious for viable approaches to accomplish the goal.
Location note: This position is eligible to work from our Washington, DC office or remotely only in the following US states provided you have the ability to legally work in the US: Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Colombia, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington (State)
Working Hours: Due to the time zones in which we operate, US employees are expected to be available for meetings no later than 9am Eastern, regardless of their location. In terms of working hours, CIEL tries to support staff with life/work balance and working a 40-hour work week. However, there will be occasions when working more is required; in such cases, CIEL may provide compensatory time to use at a later date.
CIEL offers a strong benefits package including employer-subsidized health, dental, and vision; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; a 5% contribution of gross annual salary into a 403(b) retirement account; a relocation stipend; dedicated professional development funding; and paid sabbatical leave after 7 years. CIEL is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in the US, and full-time employees qualify for the US Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Application instructions: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until July 8, 2026; the first application review will take place on June 30, 2026. Desired start date: September 1, 2026. Please submit a resume, a cover letter (touching on your expertise in 1-2 of CIEL’s core work areas listed above, and why CIEL is the right place for those skills), and responses to the below application question:
- In your own words, please briefly describe your role in a successful environmental or health advocacy campaign. How was collaboration or coordination across groups part of the campaign’s success? (max 250 words)
Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.
Note that CIEL does not sponsor visas of any kind. You must have prior authorization to work in the United States in order to be considered for this position.
