Program Manager, Policy & Engagement

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us 
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, and to creating solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment is working toward a future in which societies meet people’s needs for water, food, health, and other vital services while sustaining the planet. Part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, we bring together Stanford faculty, researchers, and students from all seven schools, fostering research collaborations that can tackle challenges too complex for any one discipline to solve alone.

The Woods Institute is seeking a self-motivated and independent Program Manager, on the policy & engagement team, reporting to the Director, Policy & Engagement. The Program Manager engages with the California policy community and fosters relationships with collaborators. The Program Manager uses exceptional writing skills and knowledge of current policy topics to translate complex scientific processes and findings for non-academic and non-scientific audiences and policy makers. They are experienced in program management and are responsible for all aspects of the Rising Environmental Leaders Program (RELP) including recruitment, promotion, managing the selection process, designing and organizing workshops, selecting speakers etc. If you are passionate about interacting with the next generation of environmental leaders; have an understanding of a related scientific field, such as environmental science or sustainability; have knowledge of the federal and/or state policy process; and are a strong communicator, this may be the opportunity for you. The Program Manager must be able to travel periodically to Sacramento and Washington DC. 

Your Responsibilities will include:

• Identify, cultivate, and facilitate opportunities for Woods faculty to make meaningful contributions to policy decisions by meeting and speaking with key policy influencers, attending government meetings and events, and sharing Stanford research.
• Develop new and cultivate existing relationships with potential collaborators and/or strategic alliances. Create targeted lists of relevant elected officials, key CA Assembly committees, and state agencies and develop and execute an outreach strategy. Familiarize and stay current on Woods/SDSS researcher projects and areas of interest.
• Stay up to date and well informed on legislature activity including hearings, budget process, and relevant introduced legislation. Evaluate potential investments, funding, programs, and opportunities for legislative input and inform Woods researchers on areas related to their interest and research.
• Manage all aspects of RELP, a flagship professional development program for grad students and postdocs, from inception through conclusion. This includes program administration, recruitment, promotion to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows across Stanford, creating recruitment materials, managing the selection process, sourcing speakers, and developing content for workshops.
• Manage and lead RELP Sacramento Bootcamps to introduce the RELP cohort to California's leading environmental actors as well as provide an insider's view of the policy-making process at the sub-national level.
• Develop and organize RELP summits every other year, including identifying and inviting fellows and other experts from the policy community to speak. The summits will explore opportunities for improved environmental outcomes through greater science, policy, and community engagement.
• Manage the RELP LinkedIn website as well as alumni outreach and events.
• Write and /or edit complex content for program activities such as the California portion of the bi-monthly DCA Update newsletter and Policy Deep Dives.
• Identify partners and participants for expert panels.
• Serve as the subject matter expert within Woods on environmental issues in the legislature.
• Maintain CA contacts in the database system.
• Draft research briefs based on published scientific articles.
• Arrange and schedule meetings with key policymakers and faculty, fostering connections.