Policy Director

Policy Director – Decisions Maker Education & Engagement – East

About Advanced Energy United

Advanced Energy United educates, engages, and advocates for policies that allow our member companies to compete to repower our economy with 100% clean energy. We work with decision makers at every level of government as well as regulators of energy markets to achieve this goal. The businesses we represent are lowering consumer costs, creating thousands of new jobs every year, and providing the full range of clean, efficient, and reliable energy and transportation solutions. The U.S. market for advanced energy products and services reached nearly $375 billion in 2022. Together, we are united in our mission to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy in the United States.

If you’re an entrepreneurial, innovative, analytical, and thoughtful person looking to make an impact in the clean energy space, United might be the perfect place for you to share your talents. Team members at United are given the trust and responsibility to make big things happen, and myriad opportunities to learn new skills, explore new issue areas, and work with a broad cross section of the clean energy community. Being a team member at United also means working with a talented and diverse group of people, some who bring decades of experience spanning advocacy, philanthropy, clean tech, government and more—and our collaborative approach means we get to learn from each other, expert and novice, every day. And while our organization is fully remote, we are proud of the people-focused culture we have built and the connectedness of our team.

We work on serious issues, take our mission seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously.

Position Description

Advanced Energy United’s Decision Maker Education and Engagement (DMEE) team is currently seeking an experienced, strategic, and innovative Director to lead and scale up our decision maker education and engagement in eastern states (Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England) and to also lead our member company engagement with decision-makers in key venues including the national NARUC conferences, the regional NARUC conferences, and the national NASEO conferences.

We are seeking a leader who can work collaboratively across United and build on our successes to date to envision and implement decision-maker engagement strategies to expand markets for the advanced energy industry and to accelerate the clean energy transition.

The ideal candidate will be a motivated, self-starting professional with a background in clean energy policy, state public utility regulation, and successful advocacy. Candidates should be creative and flexible, with the ability to build and develop programs, execute strategies, and work in multiple venues with diverse stakeholders and decision makers. The successful candidate will have excellent leadership, communication and organizational skills and will be someone who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute customized educational sessions and forums for decision makers in eastern states to accelerate the U.S. transition to 100% clean energy.
• Manage member engagement with decision-makers at key national and regional conferences, including the national NARUCs, the regional NARUCs and NASEO.
• Manage and help hire a growing team of Associates and Principals.
• Creatively build and lead implementation of systems and processes to enhance program efficacy and maximize impact.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with key regulatory, legislative, and administrative decision makers and staff, as well as Advanced Energy United staff, members, and partners.
• Contribute to the success and direction of our rapidly growing team.
• Travel on an as needed basis (up to 15%) to targeted states for educational events and other efforts on behalf of Advanced Energy United.
• Manage/mentor/develop Associates, Principals and Senior Principals

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or Advanced degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, Law or Engineering preferred, or applicable comparable experience
• 7-15 years of professional experience and engagement in the clean energy sector
• Experience engaging with state public utility commissions strongly preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills required; candidates must be able to successfully develop and maintain genuine and productive relationships with members, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and other key contacts.
• Entrepreneurial approach, flexible attitude, and ability to operate independently, making decisions consistent with Advanced Energy United’s mission/vision
• Handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Experience managing/mentoring junior staff
• Ability to engage members, customers, and funders, and sell Advanced Energy United and its value proposition to those audiences
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal
• Intellectual curiosity, inquisitive nature, and excellent listening and problem-solving skills
• Performance-oriented individual with a strong work ethic, demonstrated initiative and commitment to achieving goals
• Candidates must be very comfortable working in an environment with remote colleagues, creating new projects, building their own calendar, and delivering on high expectations.
• A deep network of relevant contacts in the energy sector is a plus

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is regularly required to use hands and talk or hear. The employee is required to sit for long periods of time; reach with hands and arms; may need to balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, walk up and down stairs.

Job type: Full-time, regular (residence in the U.S. required)

Location: Remote (preference for candidates residing in our East Region)

Start date: October/November 2024

Salary: Starting at $110,000

Advanced Energy United Perks include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families

• Medical premiums covered for employees at 100%

• Flexible spending plans for health care and dependent care

• Profit Sharing opportunities, and annual merit-based compensation increases

• $50/month personal wellness reimbursement

• $50/month phone stipend

• Up to $200 reimbursement for home office set-up

• Accrued Paid Time Off, 11 Federal Holidays, and an annual end-of-year closure

• Parental Leave

• Tuition and professional development reimbursement

• 401(k) plan (with matching incentives)

• WMATA Transit Smart Benefits (DMV employees)

Advanced Energy United is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the job application, interview process, and/ or to perform essential job functions please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected]. We are committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice across our organization (“DEIJ”). We also incorporate these values into our mission of making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. We know that varied perspectives and a commitment to social justice are needed to succeed in making the United States an advanced energy economy. We commit to building and supporting an inclusive workforce that represents different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.