If you have policy, legislative, organizing or activist experience, consider putting those skills to work as an Issue Advocate with U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).

For more than 30 years, U.S. PIRG has been taking on powerful interests on behalf of the American public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being.

With a strong network of researchers, advocates, organizers and students across the country, we stand up to powerful special interests on issues to promote clean air and water, protect open space, stop identity theft, fight political corruption, provide safe and affordable prescription drugs, and strengthen voting rights.

Our Issue Advocates use the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposure, grassroots organizing and advocacy to deliver persistent, results-oriented public interest activism.

Issue Advocates have a variety of backgrounds—attorneys, policy school graduates, experienced political organizers or activists—and combine policy expertise, regulatory understanding, and political savvy to develop and implement new public policy.

Working at the state and/or federal level, PIRG Issue Advocates would play the following roles:

• Issue Expert: Develop our approach to problems within a broader political context, and develop comprehensive platforms for solving them.

• Political Strategist: Frame the problem, the public interest solution, the strategy, and the tactics for protecting the public interest. Identify allies and opponents. Formulate the campaign strategy and create an action plan.

• Researcher: Document problems and our solutions. Write comprehensive reports, fact sheets and white papers for release to the media and public.

• Legislative Drafter: Craft policy options that turn the solution into law.

• Advocate: Lobby for and testify on behalf of the public interest before decision-makers at the local, state, and national level.

• Media Liaison: Organize media events to release reports and publicize problems. Write media releases, provide source material to reporters, meet with editorial boards and reporters.

• Political Organizer: Broaden the base of support for our efforts. Involve these supporters—individuals and groups—in our campaigns.

• Organization Builder: Do grantseeking and other work to generate financial resources for the organization, recruit new staff and volunteers to help build your state PIRG.

Qualifications
Passion. Persistence. We're looking for goal-driven and results-oriented individuals with a strong commitment to protecting the public's interest, people with leadership skills and initiative, and the verbal and written skills necessary to make the case that protecting the public’s interest must be a top priority. Candidates should have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience, post-college, including (but not limited to) work in political, policy, legal, journalistic or government settings.

Salary and Benefits
Salary is commensurate with the relevant professional experience and/or advanced degrees that a candidate has. A competitive benefits package includes health care coverage, educational loan assistance, a retirement plan, and paid vacation and sick days. Opportunities for advancement, travel, and additional training are available.

Location(s)
Positions Open Nationwide, DC

Application

Click here to learn more about our current openings. Or e-mail your cover letter and resume to .

U.S. PIRG and all PIRG-affiliated organizations are equal opportunity employers and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status.