Director of External Relations

Position Summary 

The Director of External Relations is a strategic and execution-focused role that requires exceptional project management skills and a partner-development mindset, providing cross-departmental leadership for CRES’s national Policymaker Site Visit & Field Tour Program, as well as project management for a new organizational initiative. This role plays a central part in coordinating multi-state field programming, high-level convenings and cross-sector engagement efforts that strengthen center-right clean energy leadership. 

This position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is proactive, collaborative and passionate about clean energy and conservative policy solutions. 

This is a non-supervisory role based in Washington, DC. 

Responsibilities 

Policymaker Site Visit & Field Tour Program 

Responsibilities include: 

• Develop and manage project plans, timelines and budgets for district site visits. 
• Manage travel and onsite logistics, ensuring collaboration among internal teams, field support and key stakeholders. 
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure timely and successful project delivery. 
• Maintain planning timelines, documentation and trackers, and support weekly coordination structures to keep execution on track. 
• Prepare reports and presentations for leadership and stakeholders. 
• Conduct post-visit follow-up, including cross-team debriefs and stakeholder updates. 
• Support and contribute to process improvements. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Priority Initiative Leadership 

Responsibilities include: 

• Day-to-day project management of new initiative, with anticipated launch in early 2026, managing project plans, timelines and budgets. 
• Ensure alignment and visibility across CRES teams and key external partners. 
• Build and strengthen connections with CRES among investors, industry leaders and external partners to advance the initiative’s goals. 
• Maintain planning timelines, documentation and trackers, and supporting weekly and biweekly coordination structures to keep execution on track. 
• Prepare reports and presentations for leadership and stakeholders. 
• Conduct post-visit follow-up, including cross-team debriefs and stakeholder updates. 
• Support and contribute to process improvements. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement 

Responsibilities include: 

• Strengthen partnerships across the clean energy, policy, investor and corporate communities. 
• Support coalition engagement and cross-team initiatives aligned with CRES’s mission and priorities. 
• Engage policymakers, industry actors and community partners connected to external relations programming. 
• Represent CRES at briefings, convenings and partner meetings, ensuring consistent professionalism and organizational alignment. 
• Identify opportunities to elevate CRES’s presence among stakeholders and deepen engagement with targeted audiences. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Required Skills & Attributes 

• Political and policy alignment with CRES and its mission. 
• Exceptional project and workflow management skills, with the ability to lead complex, multi-workstream initiatives. 
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities. 
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate cross-departmental projects and work effectively with diverse internal and external partners. 
• Proven ability to support or execute field-based, multi-site or multi-stakeholder programming. 
• Strong financial acumen, including the ability to understand program budgeting, expense tracking and basic forecasting. 
• High degree of professionalism, resourcefulness and attention to detail. 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines. 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, business, political science, environmental studies or related fields. 
• Prior corporate work experience with exposure to business operations, investor relations, finance or organizational budgeting required. 
• Experience in external relations, partnership coordination, stakeholder engagement, government affairs or event execution preferred. 
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous priorities and deadlines required. 
• Familiarity with CRM platforms or partner-tracking systems preferred. 
• PMP or comparable project management certification is strongly preferred and considered an asset. 

Education and Experience 

This is a full-time, exempt position with salary range of $120,000 - $125,000 annually, commensurate with experience. 

• Excellent health, vision, dental and prescription drug insurance 
• Generous paid time off, paid federal holidays, plus additional office closures during the week of Thanksgiving and between Christmas and New Year’s Day 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 
• Retirement plan plus match 
• Paid short- and long-term disability insurance 
• Transportation benefit 
• Cell phone reimbursement 
• Hybrid work environment 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

CRES is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, national origin, disability or military status, and any legally protected characteristic.