About Sightline Institute

Founded in 1993, Sightline Institute is committed to making Cascadia — a region stretching from Alaska to northern California and the Pacific to the Rocky Mountain states — a global model of sustainability, with strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. Sightline is one of the region’s premier public policy think tanks, influencing legislation many times and media coverage hundreds of times each year.

In our programs on climate and energy, housing and cities, and democracy and elections, we identify and promote reforms that yield outsized improvements for the region’s people and places. We believe sustainability exists at the intersection of environmental health and social justice and have an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more at www.sightline.org.

About the Opportunity

Sightline is seeking a part-time Alaska-based contributor, located in Anchorage, to help advance pro-housing policy in that city. The ideal contributor is a skilled advocate and connector, someone with deep roots in Alaska’s policy and political landscape who can build coalitions, engage decision-makers, and help move housing reform forward. You don’t need to be an expert in housing policy coming in. What we need is someone who knows Anchorage, knows the players, and can get in the room.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with assembly members and other local officials, advocates, and other stakeholders who are relevant to housing policy in Anchorage.
• Lobby and engage public officials in support of pro-housing reforms at the local level.
• Identify and help cultivate coalitions and partnerships across political and ideological lines.
• Serve as Sightline’s primary point of contact and representative in Anchorage, attending meetings, hearings, and events as appropriate.
• Coordinate with Sightline’s Housing and Cities team to flag opportunities and align on strategy.
• Provide periodic updates on the Alaska policy landscape and progress toward shared goals.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Deep familiarity with Anchorage’s political and policy landscape.
• A strong existing network of relationships with local officials, advocates, and community leaders.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy, lobbying, coalition-building, or community organizing.
• Comfort engaging across partisan and ideological lines.
• Strong writing, interpersonal and oral communication skills.
• Familiarity with housing, land use, or urban policy is helpful but not required.
• Commitment to Sightline’s mission and values, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Compensation

This is an independent contractor (1099) position. We expect the work, which you would bill us for hourly, would average somewhat less than half time over the year, with peaks and valleys. Compensation will be negotiated based on scope of work and experience. This position does not include employee benefits. Sightline offers a competitive range of pay for independent contractors.

Location

We are seeking candidates based in Anchorage. Sightline is a virtual-first organization; this contributor will work remotely, with regular engagement in Anchorage and coordination with Sightline’s broader team.

To Apply

Please visit https://www.sightline.org/about/careers/ to submit your application.

Please submit a resume and a cover letter describing your experience in advocacy and relationship-building in Alaska and your interest in housing policy. We are less focused on formal credentials than on your track record of getting things done in Anchorage’s political environment.

Please assemble all application materials in a single PDF with the naming convention LastName_FirstName_Position. Please click Apply, fill out the form and submit your materials.

The position is open until filled. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis, and we will likely invite finalists to complete a work assignment that is designed to test their skills in the specific functions required for the position. We are looking to hire someone as soon as possible.