Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Director, Policy Team

at Evergreen Action

🏢 About Evergreen Action

Evergreen Action is a dynamic and influential organization dedicated to empowering leaders and policymakers to drive bold climate action. They are known for their strategic, actionable policy work that has shaped state and federal climate agendas. Working here means being at the forefront of the clean energy transition, with a team that is deeply committed to making a tangible impact.

About This Role

As the Senior Director, Policy Team, you will be a critical thought partner to the Vice President, Policy, helping to design and execute a bold, actionable climate policy agenda. You will manage and coach the Policy team, ensuring seamless integration with State and Federal teams to advocate for a vision applicable nationwide. This role is pivotal in translating high-level strategy into concrete work streams and directly managing all Policy team members, making it a leadership position with significant influence.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve leading a team meeting to align on policy priorities, meeting with the Vice President to discuss strategy, and coaching individual team members on their projects. You could also be drafting or reviewing policy documents, coordinating with the State and Federal teams to ensure consistent messaging, and representing Evergreen in external meetings with partners or policymakers.

🎯 Who Evergreen Action Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in climate or energy policy, with a strong understanding of both state and federal policy landscapes.
  • Demonstrated leadership and management skills, with experience directly managing a team and coaching staff to achieve ambitious goals.
  • Strategic thinker who can synthesize input from various stakeholders into a coherent policy agenda and actionable work plans.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, able to work effectively across teams and with external partners.
  • Passionate about climate action and committed to advancing equitable, just, and effective policies.

📝 Tips for Applying to Evergreen Action

1

Apply through the GoodCitizen link provided in the job description, as Evergreen has retained them for this search; ensure your application is tailored to the executive search context.

2

Highlight specific examples of your experience in climate policy, particularly any work that has influenced state or federal legislation or regulations.

3

Emphasize your management experience, including how you have developed and mentored team members, and how you have integrated policy work with advocacy or political strategies.

4

Show your ability to think strategically and translate broad goals into actionable plans; provide a concrete example of a policy agenda you helped design and implement.

5

Research Evergreen's recent policy initiatives and positions, and incorporate that knowledge into your application to show genuine interest and alignment.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your leadership philosophy and how you have successfully managed and motivated policy teams.', 'Your experience in designing and executing climate policy agendas at both state and federal levels.', 'Specific examples of how you have collaborated with advocacy or political teams to advance policy goals.', "Your passion for Evergreen's mission and how your background aligns with their approach to bold, actionable climate policy."]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Review Evergreen's website and recent reports or publications to understand their policy priorities and recent achievements.
  • Look into their 'Evergreen Action Plan' and other key initiatives to see how they frame their policy agenda.
  • Check out their team page to learn about the Vice President of Policy and other leaders you might work with.
  • Follow Evergreen on social media and read recent press releases to stay updated on their current campaigns and positions.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach building a policy agenda that is both ambitious and achievable, given political realities?
2 Describe a time you managed a team through a major policy initiative; what were the challenges and how did you overcome them?
3 How do you ensure that policy work is integrated with state and federal advocacy efforts to maximize impact?
4 What are the most pressing climate policy opportunities at the state level right now, and how would you prioritize them?
5 How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture while holding team members accountable for high-quality work?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic application; tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific role and Evergreen's mission.
  • Avoid focusing only on your technical policy expertise; they are looking for a leader and manager, so highlight those skills.
  • Don't neglect to mention your experience with both state and federal policy; this role requires a broad perspective.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Evergreen Action!