Public Affairs Associate

Bantam Communications is seeking a versatile, self-directed Public Affairs Associate to join our team and support our mission of accelerating advanced energy deployment across the United States. In this role, you will work across our Research, Campaigns, Advocacy, and Communications teams, owning assigned workstreams and shifting focus as priorities and capacity needs evolve. You'll get hands-on experience across the full arc of public affairs work: turning research into recommendations, developing materials, contributing to strategy, coordinating across teams, and serving as a knowledgeable point of contact for clients and partners on the engagements you support. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on variety, works well with limited day-to-day supervision, and is eager to grow as a well-rounded public affairs professional while helping bring advanced energy projects to life. RESPONSIBILITIES - Owns assigned workstreams from planning through delivery, setting the approach, prioritizing competing demands, and determining how to meet objectives with limited day-to-day supervision. - Operates as a cross-functional resource across Bantam's departments, supporting one or more teams at a time and shifting focus between teams as priorities and capacity needs change. - Analyzes and synthesizes research including stakeholder, policy-landscape, opposition, public-opinion, and media analysis, into findings and recommendations that inform campaign and engagement strategy. - Develops and adapts campaign, brand, and internal communications materials and collateral across formats, applying editorial judgment to align content with audience and objective. - Contributes to campaign and engagement strategy and exercises independent judgment in executing and adapting approach, messaging, and tactics to the specific permitting environment, audience, or partner. - Serves as a knowledgeable point of contact for clients and partners on assigned engagements, advising on operational and strategic matters within the role's scope. - Leads cross-functional coordination across research, campaigns, communications, and advocacy workstreams, determining sequencing and resource trade-offs, and managing dependencies across teams. - Designs, documents, and improves the internal processes and workflows that strengthen how the team's work gets done. - Uses AI tools such as Claude to strengthen and accelerate the work, including drafting, revising, and polishing materials and improving workflows, while applying judgment to review, refine, and quality-check outputs. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - 2 to 4 years of experience in public affairs, policy, communications, or related field - Experience with political, electoral, or issue-driven campaigns - Excellent written and verbal communication - Strong interpersonal skills and sound political and stakeholder instincts - Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams independently, with limited day-to-day supervision - Strong research and synthesis skills - Adaptability and comfort shifting focus across teams and priorities as needs change - Self-directed and effective in a fully remote environment - Comfort using AI tools in daily work and a willingness to adapt as the technology evolves - Genuine alignment with Bantam's mission to accelerate advanced energy deployment - Willingness and ability to travel occasionally (roughly once or twice per quarter) as project and client needs arise - Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Local, state or federal campaign experience strongly preferred - Familiarity with renewable energy, infrastructure, or permitting/land-use processes - Experience across two or more types of public affairs work such as research, communications, digital, and grasstops/grassroots campaigning - Proficiency with project management tools such as Monday.com - Prior consulting, agency, or client-services experience Applicants must be currently authorized to work…