Remote Academic Advisor Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Overview

PowerLines is a national nonprofit organization that aims to modernize the utility regulatory system for American energy consumers to lower utility bills and grow the economy. It focuses on state public utilities commissions (PUCs), which play a critical role in determining how much people pay for utility bills, how utilities invest in different types of energy, and where new energy projects are built. These 200 commissioners oversee more than $200 billion in utility spending each year and have significant influence over the future of our energy system.

Rising utility bills are quickly becoming a national economic and political issue. In 2025, utilities requested a record-setting $31 billion in rate increases, double the previous record, while 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills. Meanwhile, the U.S. grid is experiencing the fastest rise in electricity demand in decades with the growth of AI data centers and manufacturing. Utility bills have become a defining national economic and political issue with a growing bipartisan set of policymakers voicing concern over these issues and conveying a desire to advance policy solutions to respond to these issues.

Recognized on the 2025 "TIME100 Next" list, PowerLines is rapidly becoming a go-to source and leader in informing the national discussion of this issue and has already shaped the conversation in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Politico, Bloomberg, CBS News, NPR, Marketplace, Financial Times, TIME, Vox, The Daily Mail, and MIT Technology Review. PowerLines is quickly establishing credibility as a nonpartisan expert on utility regulatory and energy affordability issues while reaching a bipartisan set of policymakers, including initial partnerships with the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, and Western Governors Association.

PowerLines is in a period of significant organizational growth and seeks a part-time Government Partnerships Advisor to strategically build relationships with policymakers at the state and federal levels and advance policy impact. The Government Partnerships Advisor(s) will advise PowerLines staff and consultants on building and managing bipartisan coalitions, developing relationships and establishing connections with a bipartisan set of policymakers, and engaging with other NGOs and advocacy groups. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced professional to shape the policy and partnerships trajectory of a rapidly growing organization working on one of the most important economic issues facing American households. You will help accelerate the organization's policymaker engagement and policy impact at a critical time.

In your application, please indicate how you would seek to support PowerLines' policymaker engagement efforts, including whether you would primarily seek to focus at the state or federal level, your capacity (number of hours per week or month), and your proposed compensation structure.

PowerLines is headquartered in Washington, DC. The Government Partnerships Advisor is a remote position.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with potential policymaker partners at the state and/or federal levels for PowerLines
• Conduct research and analysis of potential policymaker partners, policy issues, and policy opportunities
• Advise PowerLines on development and execution of partnership and policymaker engagement strategy
• Engage with coalitions, NGOs, advocacy groups, think tanks, industry, and other partners as needed
• Represent PowerLines at convenings, events, conferences, and other engagement opportunities as needed
• Provide additional support to PowerLines' partnership and policymaker engagement efforts as needed

Requirements

Role Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an experienced government affairs or government relations professional who has existing strong relationships with state and/or federal policymakers, with a track record of engaging on state and/or federal policy issues (particularly ones relevant to utility regulation), building coalitions, and engaging with a politically diverse set of stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in state and/or federal policy, politics, government affairs, government relations, or a related field, with a preference for experience with NGO, advocacy, government, or startup settings
• Experience with energy policy and utility issues is valued, but not required
• Experience building relationships with policymakers at either the state and/or federal levels
• An ability to build relationships with a politically diverse set of stakeholders, and ideally a proven ability to build bipartisan relationships
• Capacity to thrive in an early-stage, fast-paced, dynamic, and uncertain startup environment, including an ability to identify priorities, function independently, and operate with tight timelines
• A passion for advancing PowerLines' mission of modernizing the utility regulatory system to lower utility bills and grow the economy through a consumer-centered lens

Compensation and Benefits

• This role can be structured either as a monthly retainer or an hourly rate. Compensation may be based on skills, qualifications, experience, location, and other factors. 
• PowerLines welcomes proposals from both individuals and firms.

How To Apply

• Please include your CV/resume and a note that addresses the question of why you are interested in the Government Partnerships Advisor role at PowerLines, how you would engage in this role, your availability (hours per week or per month), as well as the requested rate. All materials submitted will be carefully read and considered.
• Priority consideration will be given to applications received by April 30, 2026, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.