Michigan State Lead - Lobbyist and Strategist

Michigan State Lead - Lobbyist and Strategist

About Climate Cabinet

Climate Cabinet helps state and local candidates run, win, and legislate on climate change. State and local policymakers are key to tackling climate change – they drive progress regardless of who is in the White House. That's why Climate Cabinet exists. We are a dynamic, passionate, startup team of experienced climate experts with staff on-the-ground across the country and a remote-first workplace. Our team culture prioritizes supporting each other as full people, striving for the highest standard of excellence in our work, respecting local knowledge, embracing technology and innovation, curiosity, and a continuous growth mindset.

Role Overview

The Michigan State Lead builds powerful climate outcomes with Climate Cabinet staff, legislators, and coalition partners in Michigan. This leadership position strengthens Climate Cabinet's presence in the legislature and continues to scale up policy and political work throughout the state. This includes a heavy emphasis on coalition work, legislator relationship development, and collaboration with Climate Cabinet's national teams. This is a high-agency position that reports to the Deputy Policy Director and operates within clearly defined strategic parameters set at the national level.

Location and Travel Expectations

This role is flexible within Michigan, with the expectation to be in Lansing 40%+ of the time, or roughly 2 days per week every week, with some weeks requiring more time in Lansing. The role requires some out-of-state travel for team retreats, conferences, and in-person meetings with coalition partners and national leadership.

Key Responsibilities

With the support and direction of Climate Cabinet's Senior Policy Director, Deputy Policy Director, and broader team, you will:

• Represent Climate Cabinet in the Michigan legislature by building strong lawmaker relationships through consistent lobbying, policy education, and strategic coalition work
• Help shape and advance Climate Cabinet's Michigan legislative strategy and political agenda in collaboration with Legislative team leadership, the Political Director, and the national team
• Bring robust, specific policy and legislative expertise to help Climate Cabinet advance, defend, and adapt priority climate policies in Michigan
• Represent Climate Cabinet in Michigan media and to funders, in close collaboration with the national communications and development teams
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key legislators, staff, and coalition partners across the political spectrum
• Conduct legislative research and analysis to inform Climate Cabinet's policy positions and advocacy strategies
• Coordinate with Climate Cabinet's national legislative and political teams to ensure cross-state sharing, alignment with state goals, and alignment with national climate priorities
• Identify, cultivate, and activate champions for climate action within the Michigan legislature

Required Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you should have:

• Demonstrated experience in state-level policy work, legislative advocacy, or political strategy, particularly in climate or environmental policy
• Deep understanding of Michigan's political landscape, legislative process, and key stakeholders
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, and community partners
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience communicating complex policy issues to diverse audiences
• Experience in coalition building and collaborative problem-solving across different sectors and perspectives
• Strategic thinking and project management skills with ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Commitment to climate action and alignment with Climate Cabinet's mission-driven approach
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a distributed, mission-driven team

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience working in Michigan state government or legislature
• Background in climate science, environmental policy, or clean energy sectors
• Experience with state-level political campaigns or candidate recruitment
• Familiarity with Michigan's clean energy landscape, utility regulation, or environmental advocacy

Application Timeline

Priority deadline for applications is May 29, 2026. Target start date is mid-July 2026.

💰 Salary Range: $81,000–$95,500 USD annually, based on experience and qualifications.