The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a national research and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, seeks a motivated and entrepreneurial leader for our State and Utility program.
State officials have the opportunity to establish policies that support energy efficiency, decarbonization, and a more equitable economy, including regulating many of the utilities that distribute the energy used by households and businesses. ACEEE’s State and Utility program works with interested stakeholders, state officials, and utilities to develop and analyze the best energy efficiency policies and strategies for the communities they serve, particularly for communities, businesses, and households historically overburdened and underserved by states’ current systems. From supporting our partners in states with expert analysis, technical assistance to state officials and utilities, cutting edge research, and evaluation of state and utility efficiency and equity efforts through scorecards, the State and Utility program is at the forefront of accelerating innovative approaches to improve energy efficiency, reduce climate pollution, and advance equity across the power, buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors of our economy.
Position Description:
As the State and Utility program director, you will lead, inspire, and support a team to shape our research and policy agenda at the regional, state and utility levels. We collaborate with and convene stakeholders including utilities, government leaders, community-based organizations, energy efficiency implementers, and non-profit advocates. In this high-profile role, you will manage the budgets and processes of the program, lead some fundraising efforts, engage with other organizations and your colleagues, convene focused conference programs and stakeholder discussions including ACEEE’s Energy Efficiency as a Resource conference, the premier national event on utility energy efficiency policy and programs. With support from the senior director for policy and through close coordination with ACEEE’s other programs, you and your team’s work will empower people, establish policy, enhance programs, and enable action toward an equitable and thriving economy.
What’s Attractive to the Right Candidate?
- Your work will help shape state and utility policies on a national scale, accelerating the deployment of energy efficiency and decarbonization, and creating a just transition as economies shift into more sustainable production methods and products. Your team’s research, advocacy, and technical assistance will create the policy foundation that leads to greater economic prosperity, energy equity, and environmental protection for all people.
- We are a mission-driven, collaborative, entrepreneurial organization that offers workplace flexibility and professional development. You will find your colleagues to be friendly and pleasant, and the work to be intellectually stimulating.
- ACEEE offers competitive compensation, based on qualifications and experience, with opportunities for career development. The budgeted salary for the position is $117k to $145k. Benefits include ACEEE’s generous package of health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage; a 403(b) retirement plan; transportation and bike share benefits; three weeks of vacation in the first year and four weeks thereafter.
- We may consider full-time remote work for the right match of skills and experience, but candidates who live near DC may enjoy a hybrid work environment at our DC office. ACEEE will provide dedicated office space to employees who come in three or more days a week and offers hoteling options.
Organization Overview:
A national nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., ACEEE conducts independent analysis and develops transformative policies to build a vibrant and equitable economy that uses energy more productively, protects the environment, and promotes the health, safety, and well-being of everyone.
ACEEE is America’s national center of expertise on energy efficiency. We actively participate in debates on energy policy, clean air, and climate change, and are nationally recognized for leadership in energizing energy efficiency policies for utilities, buildings, industry, transportation, appliance and equipment efficiency, and agriculture and rural communities. Our research, analysis, and advocacy are widely relied on by policymakers, business and industry decision makers, consumers, media, and other energy professionals. We contributed provisions to all major federal energy legislation since the 1980’s, provide guidance and support to federal agencies and presidential administrations, and engage on energy efficiency policies and programs in over three dozen states and numerous cities. Our research and partnerships have also helped launch over a dozen other organizations and campaigns.
ACEEE is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion while weaving equity into our research and policy work.
Core Responsibilities:
- Develop, articulate, and implement a strategic vision and work plan for the ACEEE State and Utility program.
- Supervise State and Utility program team members; mentor staff in their work and career development; coach them to achieve program goals in a timely way.
- Oversee large research and advocacy projects to advance energy efficiency at the state level and with utilities, with a focus on policies and program opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce climate pollution, and deliver equitable outcomes for historically overburdened and underserved communities; ensure project deliverables stay on schedule and within budget.
- Fundraise in support of the research and policy agenda and work of the State and Utility program in close coordination with the director of development and ACEEE executive team; administer the State and Utility program including budget and schedule management.
- Build and cultivate relationships with policymakers, program implementers, donors, community-based organizations, companies, trade associations, labor, researchers, and other stakeholders; incorporate input from these stakeholders to guide the work of the State and Utility program and lead technical assistance for these groups.
- Represent ACEEE in external discussions on program and policy issues through speaking roles with media and in conferences, roundtable discussions, legislative and regulatory hearings.
- Further ACEEE’s reputation as an influential voice on energy efficient and equitable programs and policies through outreach, presenting ACEEE research, writing memos, submitting formal comments, and engagement with media.
Qualifications:
- 15 years’ experience working in an advocacy, utility, or policy-making capacity preferred with demonstrated ability to translate research findings into policy action and center the leadership of historically overburdened and underserved communities. Experience with state and utility energy efficiency and equity policy and programs strongly preferred.
- Superb personnel and project management skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
- Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, coaching, fundraising, and relationship management experience including demonstrated success managing key external relationships.
- Effective convening and collaboration skills with proven meeting leadership and facilitation abilities.
- Persuasive written and verbal communication skills, with extensive experience in public presentations, testimony, and interaction with the press preferred.
- Knowledge of utility ratemaking, corporate management, and/or finance a plus.
- An advanced degree in a relevant field preferred.
Attributes:
- Champion for the mission. You understand the big picture, know what is important to stakeholders, and what best serves the mission.
- Effective communicator. You are a superb writer, thinker, and listener. You are able to organize and deliver complex information to a variety of audiences in a credible and accessible way.
- Organizationally agile. You seek out and respect other viewpoints while sharing your insights in an effective way. You effectively work across agencies and organizations to build long-standing relationships.
- Talented relationship builder. You have a proven track record of getting results by building strong relationships and partnerships. You are proactive, approachable and responsive. You listen to and respect the views of others.
- Skilled project manager. Whether it’s something that requires a quick turnaround or a long-term commitment, you take full responsibility from start to finish organizing the response in an efficient and effective way. When you say you’ll get back to someone, you do. You bring order to competing priorities and keep things running smoothly.
- Commitment to equity and justice. You understand the importance of advancing social and racial equity within teams and organizations and within the field.
- Entrepreneurial. You understand the big picture and seize opportunities as they arise. You are intellectually curious and keep up-to-date with current industry, market and policy news and research.
Location and preferred start date: Starting in August or as soon as possible. This position is located in Washington, DC or can be remote for the right candidate.
Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary range is $117k-145k. ACEEE’s generous benefits package includes health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage; a 403(b) retirement plan; public transit and bike share benefits; three weeks of vacation in the first year and four weeks thereafter.
To Apply: We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences. Use the link below to use the Paylocity Recruitment portal. We do not accept phone calls.
Please let us know how you heard of this opening.
ACEEE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability. ACEEE is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in its organization and encourages applicants with diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply.