Deputy Director

Company: Public Citizen
Location: Washington
Posted on: February 16, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Opening: Deputy Director, Climate Program . Public Citizen seeks a strategic, energetic, and experienced manager to serve as Deputy Director for our Climate Program. The Deputy Director will work with the Director to plan and set program priorities; develop strategies and campaigns; fundraise; maintain relationships with public officials, funders, and allies; improve workplace systems; recruit and train staff; and support and supervise a strong, fast-growing team. The right candidate will be a sharp strategic thinker, creative tactician, thoughtful and empowering manager, and either a policy expert or a skilled campaigner. Public Citizen’s Climate Program works to hasten the transition from dirty to clean energy in ways that advance rather than impede racial, economic, and intergenerational justice. Our main areas of focus at present are driving finance and insurance from dirty energy toward equitable deployment of clean energy and pushing for a faster transition to 100% zero-emissions vehicles and clean auto supply chains. We are rapidly picking up additional work. Public Citizen is a national, non-partisan, public interest group with more than 500,000 members and supporters. We hold governments and corporations accountable with campaigns and advocacy before all branches of government on issues including money in politics, open government, financial regulation, the climate crisis, fair trade, consumer protection, access to justice, workplace safety, and drug and medical device safety. We are the reason why there are air bags and backup cameras in cars and why there were no red M&Ms for a decade. And much more. APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 21, 2025. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so please submit your materials quickly. RESPONSIBILITIES Management: Work with the Climate Program’s Director, Campaigns Director, and Policy Director to coordinate and manage a fast-paced, rapidly growing, highly effective, flexible team working on policy, communications, corporate and public policy campaigns, and research. Coordinate information flow and reviews of plans and written products. Assist with personnel matters, including hiring and training. Supervise and support multiple direct reports. Strategic planning and execution: Work with the Director and other managers and staff to develop strategies and plans to execute them. Take primary responsibility for overseeing the group’s overall time management, prioritization, and progress toward our goals. Communications and public education: In collaboration with the communications team, make sure our work is communicated externally, and ensure that we are producing a steady stream of compelling content that advances our campaigns. Develop and maintain media relationships and respond to press inquiries, serving as a spokesperson. Help develop research and media strategies in coordination with other staff. Write or supervise the writing of editorial board memoranda, press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor, blog posts, and other website content. Policy development and advocacy: Identify emerging issues and opportunities and, with the Director, Policy Director, policy staff, and partners, develop policy proposals and advocacy strategies and plans. Engage in or supervise staff writing white papers, reports, fact sheets, letters, testimony, and comments on proposed rules, as well as advocating and testifying before legislatures and administrative agencies. Campaigning: Work with the Director, Campaigns Director, campaigners, and partners to develop and execute campaign strategies. Support the Campaigns Director in organizing or supervising the organizing of activists, shareholders, targets’ employees, or others to advance our campaigns. Outreach and collaboration: Represent Public Citizen in public forums. Develop high-level contacts and relationships in key organizations and institutions, and collaborate with allies. Participate actively in coalitions and, where appropriate, lead them. Organization building: Assist the Director in building and maintaining relationships with funders, tracking spending, and writing grant proposals and reports. Assist in planning and executing staff retreats, other events, and professional development activities. Assist or take the lead on building out new campaigns or areas of work before they are fully staffed. Help direct the overall program; foster an equitable, diverse workplace with a strong, positive culture; and develop and maintain systems for a well-working team. Making things happen: Above all, support and drive our team to make a difference: to organize the actions, write the papers, recruit the partners, hold the meetings, work with the coalitions, lobby the officials, create the materials—to do what’s needed to win. Other duties as necessary. QUALIFICATIONS Ten or more years of relevant campaign, organizing, policy, or advocacy experience, and five or more years of management experience. Knowledge of our substantive issue areas and existing relationships with key allies, officials, and funders a plus. Strong commitments to ending the climate crisis and advancing racial and economic justice. Outstanding analytical thinking, judgment, and oral and written communication skills. Excellent political judgment. Independence and strong impulses toward self-starting and self-finishing. Ability to lead, support, and manage staff. Ability and eagerness to learn new, complex material quickly. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, balance multiple projects and execute plans while reacting to new developments and maintaining accuracy and attention to detail. Strong editing skills a plus. Collaborative spirit, high energy, and enthusiasm. Willingness to work long hours when necessary. SALARY AND BENEFITS Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications, with annual cost of living increases. Below are some of our benefits (note that some have eligibility requirements): $115,877 – 145,781 Great medical and dental coverage, 100% paid by PC, including full coverage for children Three weeks paid vacation for new employees, plus five personal days 401K plan with a 5% contribution from PC after one year of employment 12 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment Sabbatical after 10 years of employment Student loan reimbursement program This is a grant-contingent position. TO APPLY: Submit a single document that includes a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references to climateaction@citizen.org. Please include your last name and the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email and the filename of your attachment. Women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, and multilingual speakers are encouraged to apply. No phone calls please. Public Citizen is an equal opportunity employer. Visit our website at www.citizen.org/. Powered by JazzHR dD5OnWJRa5

Keywords: Public Citizen, Severn , Deputy Director, PR / Public Relations , Washington, Maryland