The Program Manager, State Sustainability & Regulatory Policy serves on the Community Advocacy & Impact (CAI) team, whose job is to help REI, the nation’s largest consumer co-op, shape the future of the outdoors. Through national and local advocacy, community investment and philanthropy, and employee and member engagement programs, the CAI team pursues impact-driven work that delivers against the co-op’s quadruple bottom line, benefitting the business and the diverse communities the co-op serves.

Contributing to this work, the Program Manager will manage the co-op’s state and local government affairs practice and will be instrumental in advocating for policies that support REI's climate and sustainability goals. In particular, the Program Manager will evolve the co-op’s state advocacy strategy and execute in coordination with internal teams, vendors, industry associations, and NGO partners to advance its materials sustainability, supply chain decarbonization, clean energy agenda. They will support the co-op’s outdoor equity and outdoor recreation agenda. The Program Manager will empower internal stakeholders who serve as policy champions across our fleet of 185+ stores spanning 43 states, collaborating with store teams and field staff to create opportunities to advance our policy objectives wherever we operate.

The program manager must be an authentic, articulate, knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate for the outdoors and REI’s role in the outdoor industry and serve as a spokesperson for the company, with savvy in managing political relationships, partnerships, and policy matters that impact the company’s reputation both with key decision-makers and in the public’s eye. We are looking for a creative self-starter with a record of engaging constituents and a desire to impact meaningful change.

Build REI’s State and Local Policy Program

Guide REI’s state and local level government affairs work. In particular, evolve the co-op’s state advocacy strategy and execute in coordination with internal teams, vendors, industry associations, and NGO partners to advance its materials sustainability, supply chain decarbonization, clean energy agenda and to a lesser extent, its outdoor equity and outdoor recreation agenda.

• Serve as REI’s key point of contact with state legislators and their staff, administration and regulatory officials and other state and local government stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with internal business, sustainability, legal, and communications teams to ensure alignment between business priorities and public policy goals.
• Leverage relationships among policy allies in the multistate domain to enhance the Co-op’s external advocacy reach and effectiveness, support REI’s political profile and ensure the health of the outdoor industry.
• Coordinate with industry coalitions to monitor state legislative and regulatory landscape and give analysis and recommendations to REI Sustainability, Private Brands and Merchandising on potential impact.
• Represent REI on issues of sustainability policy and climate policy at public events and conferences.
• Monitor, evaluate and coordinate state & local policy agenda using technology and other educational tools including Smartsheet, Quorum, Sharepoint, OneDrive and Teams.
• Develop issue briefs, position statements, action alerts and other policy related content for REI policy engagement and campaigns.

Empower Internal Policy Champions

• In partnership with CAI team members, build an internal network of co-op staff interested in and capable of advancing REI’s policy agenda in order to bolster government affairs capacity across states where we operate.
• Develop training curricula, peer exchange and reporting mechanisms that socialize core government affairs priorities, strategies, and political positions.

Community & Government Affairs Team

• Manage grantmaking portfolio of nonprofit, trade associations and state business alliances to advance the co-op’s state and local policy agenda.
• As needed, project manage a variety of work that may relate to marketing campaigns, advocacy/policy initiatives, impact reporting, and local and national events.
• As needed, create content that elevates REI’s policy engagement and impact at local and state levels. Channels include REI stewardship report, co-op journal articles, the REI Cooperative Action Network, earned media, marketing campaigns and more.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in government engagement, political campaigns, community-organizing, advocacy work, legislative work or other related fields. Able to navigate complex government relations, business and community environments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of government agencies, state and local legislative bodies, as they relate to the outdoors, climate and sustainability. Ability to organize and manage simultaneous projects, timelines and budgets.
• Demonstrated success in establishing and leveraging partnerships. Must be able to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal departments and external contacts.
• Demonstrated success in interacting with nonprofits, for-profits and government agencies in identifying and achieving mutual goals.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills; solid instincts for building and conveying simple narratives from multiple data points; strategic thinker but not above taking on smallest of tasks.
• Collaborative work style. Win-win attitude, empathetic, big-picture, while at the same time flexible, pragmatic and results oriented.
• Comfortable with public speaking, both extemporaneous and prepared.
• College degree.
• Outdoor industry and/or conservation experience.
• Familiarity with public lands issues and in working with government stakeholders.
• Experience in leveraging multiple communications channels for raising awareness among stakeholder groups.
• Experience working with sophisticated CRM and technology tools for issue and bill tracking, advocacy and constituency management.

At REI, we believe the outdoors is for all. We are committed to becoming an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization. We know that there's strength in our diversity – that each employee brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives. Every day you are driving change, fostering a culture of respect, and knowing you're backed by benefits that support your whole life. To work towards this commitment and fulfill our brand promise of inspiring and enabling a life outside for everyone, we seek employees who demonstrate different ways of working, create a sense of belonging, and actvely listen and learn.

Pay Transparency

We are committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, REI provides a range of compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include a wide array of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic location or other relevant factors.

REI offers all regular employees a generous employee discount, access to health benefits, a retirement savings plan and accrued time off. Click here for a detailed overview of benefits plans by employee profile.