About CEI

CEI is a non-profit public policy organization dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty. We believe economic freedom is essential for entrepreneurship, innovation, and prosperity to flourish. CEI pursues a full-service approach to advancing public policy, which includes conducting original scholarly research, active communications campaigns, direct advocacy with policymakers, and litigation. Founded in 1984, CEI has grown into an effective advocate for freedom on a wide range of critical policy issues, including technology, telecommunications, free market environmentalism, business and finance, and food and drug regulation.

Culture matters; CEI is a feisty think tank that embraces a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial approach to policy change. Policy analysts are expected to be self-starters, strategic and creative; “policy entrepreneurs,” if you will. Members of the team operate with emphasis’ on personal accountability, accountability to one another and to those in other departments at CEI. They work hard, have a good sense of humor and are intensely dedicated to conveying CEI’s principles of individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited government.

About the Role

The Competitive Enterprise Institute seeks a Policy Analyst to primarily focus on energy and environmental policy.  The successful candidate will be able to work collaboratively with the Center for Energy and Environment team on the program’s research, educational, and coalition activities. This includes project management, such as helping to organize events, special publications, and new initiatives, publishing op-eds, writing longer papers, filing comments, participating in events and in media, and developing expertise on a wide range of energy and environmental issues.  The Center’s work covers energy, climate, air and water quality, sound science, public lands, species preservation, and other issues that often come before the White House, Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior and similarly authorized agencies of state government.

Candidates should expect to build and maintain relationships with public officials and allies, communicate CEI’s policy and legislative agenda to key policy makers and allies, and execute internal communications to keep CEI staff aware of legislative and policy developments.

This role is based in CEI’s main Washington, D.C. office. We believe this position is most suitable for an individual with at least three years of experience working in a similar capacity with a consistent free market outlook and strong analytical and writing skills. However, for candidates with more extensive experience, the position could be hired at the research fellow level.  More experienced candidates are encouraged to apply.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Track, analyze and produce policy documents on energy and environmental policy issues
  • Write op-eds, write longer papers, contribute to the CEI blog, make radio, television and public appearances as needed to promote CEI’s issue agenda
  • Assist in the coordination of Center projects, such as events, working groups, special publications, and new initiatives
  • Schedule and attend meetings among key policymakers
  • Attend congressional and ally coalition meetings in coordination with CEI’s Federal Affairs team
  • Write and submit congressional testimony
  • Write and submit comments to appropriate federal agencies
  • Produce CEI research and policy work to key audiences on Capitol Hill, in the executive and allies
  • Keep CEI staff informed of relevant legislative and policy developments

Qualifications

  • The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years of experience with legislative or regulatory analysis, project management experience is a plus
  • At least 1-2 years of energy and environmental policy experience
  • Strong writing, communications, and organizational skills required
  • Ideological compatibility with a policy agenda that emphasizes property rights, energy abundance, reasoned and empirical debate, and the moral value of people everywhere to pursue economic growth
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office essential
  • Availability for periodic travel outside of the Washington metro area.

Characteristics

If you believe that this position may be a good fit, these words will describe you:

  • Communicator. You have excellent oral communication, writing and editing abilities. Any type of strong writing skills will be considered, but legislative and/or public affairs experience provides added benefit.
  • Detail Oriented. You are relentless about accuracy with regard to content and value good writing style. 
  • Team Player. You will be on a team of committed individuals within the Center for Technology and Innovation and also be expected to work with members of other Centers within CEI.
  • Teachable. You are eager to learn new things and couple that with an open attitude toward the mundane nature of some research tasks.
  • Self-starter. You are willing and able to jump into project management. You know when to ask for help, but, once trained, you don’t need hand-holding. You’re comfortable receiving increasing autonomy to manage your own work and important processes.
  • Multi-Tasker. You thrive in an environment that sometimes demands multi-tasking.
  • Focused. You are able to focus on specific tasks for as long as necessary. While skilled at multi-tasking, you know how to avoid being distracted. You drive yourself to get the job done right and on time.
  • Curious and Policy-Minded. You like public policy and are curious enough to enjoy the challenge of taking complex policy ideas and distilling them in ways that are both factually accurate and interesting to external audiences.
  • Planner. You enjoy planning and executing complex processes.
  • Deadline Driven. You are deadline-driven. Making the trains run on time and meeting deadlines are simply part of your DNA.
  • Flexible. You easily maintain a positive, flexible attitude whenever needs or priorities shift.
  • Aligned. You are, politically libertarian or conservative and can discuss your philosophical alignment with CEI’s mission and vision. Please see the CEI website, cei.org, for a deeper understanding of the organization’s policy agenda.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:

• Cover letter detailing your interest in and qualifications for this position

• Resume

• Two short writing samples (including at least one demonstrating policy analysis); writing samples relevant to CEI’s energy and environment work is preferred, but any two writing samples are acceptable.

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

Questions can be directed to Stephanie Keaveney, Outreach Manager of Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected].

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.