Climate Policy Analysts

Center for Clean Air Policy

Washington, DC

U.S. Policy Analyst

and

International Policy Analyst

OVERVIEW:

The Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), a renowned leader for more than two decades in the global climate change policy arena, seeks applications and nominations for a U.S. Policy Analyst and an International Policy Analyst. The last few years have seen unprecedented interest in climate policy, and CCAP aims to maximize its influence in market-driven, politically viable policy solutions around the world. CCAP is known for its analytical and consensus building leadership - “Dialogue, Insight and Solutions.” CCAP’s teams of policy analysts work collaboratively with scientists, industry and political leadership in every venue to contribute to effective policy making. CCAP is expanding its capacity to contribute to climate policy solutions over the coming years. The new Policy Analysts will join the team working on these solutions through CCAP’s U.S. and International policy programs. 

MISSION & HISTORY:

To significantly advance cost-effective and pragmatic air quality and climate policy through analysis, dialogue and education to reach a broad range of policymakers and stakeholders worldwide.

        -- CCAP Mission Statement    

Ned Helme, a leading expert on climate and clean air policy, founded CCAP in 1985 with the explicit goal to search for innovative solutions to environmental and energy problems. Under Ned’s visionary leadership, CCAP has developed unparalleled expertise in climate policy and has become a recognized leader in climate and air quality policy at the local, national and international levels. By working closely with policy makers at all levels of government, CCAP seeks to develop, promote, and implement innovative, market-based solutions to major climate, air quality, and energy problems while balancing both environmental and economic interests. CCAP is the only independent, international nonprofit think tank in the world working exclusively on these issues in all major climate policy markets in the U.S. and internationally. With a staff of 20 and a growing budget of $3.5 million funded by foundations, corporations and international governments, CCAP advances cost-effective and pragmatic policies using an active, on-the-ground approach.

CCAP has had great successes nationally as well as internationally throughout its 23 year history. In the U.S., CCAP played a major role in the landmark sulfur dioxide trading program and worked to develop a comprehensive climate policy strategy for New York State, leading to the successful creation of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Internationally, CCAP crafted the original design for the European Union’s CO 2 trading system and worked with three U.S. utilities to successfully finance the first carbon reduction project, the retrofit of coal-fired heating plant in Czech Republic. CCAP also produced with stakeholders the original design rules for the Clean Development Mechanism adopted as the Marrakech Accords.

In the U.S., CCAP has three major program initiatives: the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), the longstanding multi-stakeholder dialogue that works to develop solutions to further advance the U.S. climate policy debate, the California Program, with the broad objectives to advise the California climate policy debate at both ends of the spectrum and affect the development and integration of climate change policies statewide, and the Urban Leader Adaptation Initiative, with the path breaking objective to serve as a resource for government partners from several large counties and cities as they face important infrastructure and land use decisions that affect local adaptation efforts and to empower local communities to develop and implement climate resilient strategies.
To capitalize on increasing awareness and concern for climate and clean air policy both domestically and internationally, CCAP is now working to develop greater depth and breadth within its own organization.

Internationally, CCAP has three major program initiatives: the Future Actions Dialogue (FAD), which brings together senior climate change experts from 30 developed and developing countries to produce practical options for future international climate policy development; the European Dialogue, which partners government, industry, finance and non-government stakeholders to develop a medium-to-long-term EU approach to climate change, energy and finance policy and; the Developing Countries Project, with the broad objective to help developing countries prepare for and participate in UNFCCC negotiations and to identify opportunities that will result in economic gains and other benefits from reducing carbon emissions.

President Ned Helme continues his strategic trail-blazing policy initiatives. In the past few years, global interest in climate policy has only continued to grow. CCAP now seeks to expand its staff to take advantage of myriad opportunities for engagement and impact in the U.S. and internationally. Achieving a global solution is a complex undertaking which requires in-depth knowledge of each critical region, and the ability to integrate solutions across regions. CCAP’s engagement in all markets has proven valuable to inform concrete solutions.

More information about the Center for Clean Air Policy’s U.S. and international programs can be found at: http://www.ccap.org.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE POLICY ANALYST:

Both analyst positions afford tremendous opportunity to participate in the development of cutting edge climate change policy work. The Policy Analysts will play key roles in CCAP’s U.S. and international policy programs. Both positions afford a tremendous opportunity to participate in and contribute to climate change solutions. Both positions will be based in Washington DC. (CCAP has an office in Brussels and may also seek to fill a similar position there.)

The U.S. Policy Analyst will assist in the execution of CCAP’s Climate Policy Initiative, a dialogue among key stakeholders directed toward developing a consensus framework for national climate policy. In addition, he or she will provide research and analytical support to CCAP’s California Program, which is focused on implementation of the state’s landmark legislation, AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The successful candidate will have experience in cap and trade policy options, familiarity with current legislative options at the federal and state level and, preferably, familiarity with the political and policy issues central to the implementation of climate policy solutions in California.

The International Policy Analyst will assist in the execution of CCAP’s main international programs: the Future Actions Dialogue (FAD), which brings together senior climate negotiators from developed and developing countries to evaluate and develop policy options and other key elements of a potential post-2012 international climate agreement; the Developing Country Project, a program to analyze greenhouse gas emission trends and mitigation options and develop strategies for policy implementation in key developing countries; and the EU Dialogue, a forum to evaluate emission reduction and policy options in Europe. The successful candidate will have a keen sense of the post – 2012 international climate debate, the political and jurisdictional issues that are at the heart of finding consensus-based solutions in the EU and/ or similar experience in developing country GHG emissions and energy policies.
 

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate for each position will be an articulate professional with sophistication, intelligence, drive and experience in environmental policy. S/he will ideally hold a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy or a related field and have a minimum of five years of policy experience. Preference will be given to candidates with an advanced degree. Additionally, ideal applicants will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes and experiences:

• An ability to anticipate creative opportunities for collaboration and dialogue and to inspire new positive approaches;

• Substantive knowledge of climate policy and the ability to understand and articulate sophisticated economic, policy and scientific analysis;

• Knowledge of one or more of the following climate change policy markets: United States, California, International , European Union, Developing Country;

• Demonstrated project management skills and experience bringing major deliverables to completion in a team environment;

• A zeal for the importance of improving climate policies including demonstrated depth and experience in one or more cap-and-trade or climate policy issue areas (i.e. linking trading systems, sector-based approaches, technology or finance) with knowledge of policy design processes and alternatives;

• Superior oral and written communication skills with the ability to write for both policy and analytic audiences, reach out to stakeholders, and present to and lead groups;

• The flexibility and proven ability to work in a collaborative environment;

• A sense of humor, adaptability, humility and creativity.
   

APPLICATION AND NOMINATION INFORMATION:

Nominations and applications are due by March 28, 2008. Due to the pace of the search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word or pdf format), where you learned of the position and a salary history should be sent to: ccap-pa@nonprofitprofessionals.com.  In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only content in the subject line of your e-mail.

The Center for Clean Air Policy is an equal opportunity employer.

To view a pdf version of this job description, please click here.