JOB OPENINGS
Position: Associate
Position Reference: Council Oak, a public policy consulting firm specializing in natural resources, environmental, and infrastructure issues, seeks an Associate to join its Washington, D.C.-area team. In this role, you will work on small teams supporting a range of clients and subject matter across government programs and agencies. The ideal candidate is a curious, detail-oriented self-starter who can come up to speed quickly and can juggle multiple project deadlines with minimal supervision. Subject matter knowledge in the following areas is helpful, but not required: water resources management, dam and levee safety, infrastructure resilience, aquatic restoration, and emergency management.
Responsibilities
- Supporting small and large collaboration activities including conferences, interagency meetings, public engagement processes, strategic planning, and technical meetings. Tasks include supporting facilitation team in organizing deliberative material and handouts, taking detailed notes, compiling meeting summaries, and assisting with logistics, reserving venues, and participant communication.
- Supporting policy making and program implementation. Tasks include researching and compiling relevant policy and program information, drafting white papers, arraying policy options, drafting briefings, updating guidance and procedural documents, and documenting decisions.
- Supporting within agency and external communication activities. Tasks include developing talking points, fact sheets, newsletter articles, Q&As, and social media plans.
Qualifications/Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline. Professional experience: 0 – 5 years.
- Excellent analytical, writing, and editing skills.
- Experience with policy or social science research skills (e.g., literature review, basic research design, policy research, analysis, information visualization, interviews, report writing)
- Excellent organizational skills and an ability to pay close attention to detail.
- Ability to balance several projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Self-motivated and self-disciplined with the capacity to work with little direct supervision.
- Problem-solving mentality with the ability to think both conceptually and practically. Need to be able to move between and balance multiple subject-matters and activities.
- Curious, flexible, and creative.
About Council Oak
Council Oak is a small, public policy consulting firm that focuses on natural resources, environmental and infrastructure topics. Headquartered in Falls Church, VA, Council Oak specializes in assisting government agencies make scientifically-informed decisions, communicate program requirements and benefits, meaningfully engage stakeholders, and design programs and governance to efficiently and effectively administer programs. Council Oak staff includes expert neutral facilitators and collaboration specialists, public policy analysts, communications professionals, and program evaluators. For more information about Council Oak, go to www.thecounciloak.com.
About the Position
This is a full-time position based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Day-to-day work is virtual but candidate must be available for in-person internal and client meetings that will take place in the Washington, DC metro area. Employees must maintain a home office that is productive and reflects a professional demeanor. Some long-distance travel may be required, estimate 3-4 weeks per year.
Benefits and Salary
- Annual salary commensurate with education and experience, but starts at $60,000.
- Paid holidays and vacation
- Health insurance, including dental and vision
- 401k with automatic employer contribution
- Long and short-term disability
Council Oak is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. Applicants must be authorized to legally work in the United States.
To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: hiring@thecounciloak.com.
Please reference position title in the subject line of your email. Posting will be open for 30 days, but applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Incomplete applications will not be considered.