The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

The federal tax team is part of CBPP’s Federal Fiscal Policy department, which consists of highly skilled national policy analysts who work on a range of spending and tax policies. The federal tax team works to ensure that federal revenues are sufficient to meet national needs and are raised in progressive and economically sound ways — and that tax provisions affecting households with low and moderate incomes are well designed.

Climate change poses a greater risk to people in communities that have faced systemic under-investment. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes tax credits that allow (for the first time) tax-exempt entities like state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to receive funding through the tax code. These tax credits can make a crucial difference in the climate resiliency of marginalized communities. But the risk to these communities will only increase if they continue to lack the access to the IRA’s climate funding that is afforded to non-marginalized groups.

CBPP is seeking a Climate Policy Analyst to analyze federal guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate funding, particularly as it relates to maximizing the use of direct pay in historically marginalized or low-income communities. They will also help create policy reports and other materials, respond to and fulfill technical requests, and provide strategic guidance to partner organizations and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Work with CBPP’s experts to monitor, summarize, and influence administrative guidance about the IRA’s clean energy tax credits, especially as it relates to direct pay and making clean energy funding available to state and local governments, tribal governments, and territories. This may include researching and drafting public comments on proposed administrative actions and memos or public pieces advocating for changes to such actions.
• Work with the Deputy Director of Federal Tax Policy and the Lead Researcher for State Climate Policy to author or co-author reports, memos, blog posts, and interactive web tools on best practices for using IRA climate tax credits and other related topics, with particular focus on how such policies can benefit historically marginalized or low-income communities.
• Assist with reviewing the proposed text of new tax legislation related to climate and clean energy to identify opportunities to influence policymakers and lift up potential legislative improvements.
• Assist the Deputy Director of Federal Tax Policy and the Lead Researcher for State Climate Policy in responding to information requests from policymakers, the media, and other national and local organizations, often on tight deadlines.
• Attend coalition meetings and other events as needed to build productive working relationships with outside experts and policymaking staff and to collaborate on shared priorities.

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience in law, public policy, environmental or climate studies, economics, or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant work experience in law, public policy, environmental or climate studies, economics, or a related field.
• A commitment to CBPP’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated interest in tax, climate policy, and/or environmental justice and a desire to work on and learn about a wide variety of topics in these policy areas.
• Excellent qualitative research skills, including the ability to find and interpret sources such as academic studies, policy reports, and state legislative documents and clearly summarize their key takeaways in writing.
• Familiarity with legislative and regulatory processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences and synthesize data and research into clear, effective arguments.
• Demonstrated skill, experience, and interest in engaging effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and allies.
• Capacity to work on multiple tasks, often on a time-sensitive basis; strong task and project management skills; and a proactive approach to improving processes.

CBPP is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule of two in-office days (Tuesday and Wednesday) per week as well as the first Thursday of each month in our Washington, D.C. office.

This position reports to the Deputy Director of Federal Tax Policy.

Terms of Employment: Full-time; exempt. Two-year term position.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: The salary range for the role starts at $70,000 annually, with the exact salary to be determined based on total relevant experience. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP), and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

Please upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to CBPP’s mission.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.