Rural Energy Campaign Manager

The Rural Energy Campaign Manager will manage Clean Wisconsin’s active campaign to build rural support for large-scale solar and wind energy. Taking direction from the campaign team, the Manager will engage with rural communities to understand their concerns and share reliable information about the benefits of large-scale renewable projects. The Manager will serve as Clean Wisconsin’s primary representative on the ground in rural communities, foster strong relationships with rural community leaders, develop a comprehensive understanding of community concerns, activate renewable energy champions, develop educational materials and act on scientific research. The Manager will also serve as a leader and coordinator of several collaborative efforts working to improve understanding, support and outcomes in renewable energy siting in Wisconsin. Clean Wisconsin is seeking applicants who are familiar with and credible in the state’s rural communities. This is a full-time position based in our Madison office with the option to work remotely up to two days per week. Join our team of passionate environmental advocates and experts!

Responsibilities

Campaign management

• Report to and collaborate with the climate, energy & air program director to execute a successful campaign strategy.
• Convene and facilitate campaign team meetings and assume primary responsibility for ensuring implementation of campaign team decisions.
• Take primary responsibility for implementing grants and reporting, and support the director with ongoing fundraising.

Relationship-building

• Work with partners to advance the Farmers for Solar initiative, including building and tending relationships with rural landowner champions and organizing educational opportunities.
• Tend relationships and organize opportunities for grassroots-support visibility.
• Attend, and as appropriate, participate in, local meetings where solar or wind are on the agenda.
• Orchestrate small group dialogues, focus groups and educational opportunities in rural communities.
• Tend relationships with renewable energy developers.
• Develop an understanding of local conditions and concerns related to renewable energy, and work with the campaign team and partners to address them.
• Work with program staff at Clean Wisconsin to coordinate between key renewable energy project stakeholders and relevant state agencies.
• With support from other Clean Wisconsin staff, strengthen relationships between Clean Wisconsin and rural and upstate communities to foster collaboration on clean energy and open doors to other environmental topics.

Communication

• Work with the climate, energy & air program director and communications team to craft effective messages and recruit appropriate local messengers to promote solar and wind energy community benefits.
• Work with communications team to share examples of economic benefits from renewable energy projects.
• Work with science program to summarize and share the latest science on wind and solar energy technology related to health; partner with health-sector leaders to share information.
• Work with communications department to implement social media, earned media, video, and other communications strategies to advance the campaign.
• Speak at local public meetings and hearings, some of which may be contentious.
• Promote the organization and its rural energy efforts at speaking engagements, fundraising events and other venues.
• Maintain open and effective communication with other environmental organizations and partners, representing Clean Wisconsin and providing leadership and support through ongoing collaborative siting initiatives.

Smart siting and policy

• Building off Clean Wisconsin’s science research and community insights, advocate to guide renewable energy siting to maximize co-benefits.
• With campaign team and rural partners, cultivate opportunities for community-minded renewable energy policies.
• Work with campaign team to monitor and address local ordinances related to renewable energy.

Required skills and experience:

• Familiarity with (or eagerness to learn about) large-scale solar and wind energy, and Wisconsin’s rural/agricultural community values.
• Ability to translate technical issues into the language of laypersons and compelling messages.
• Demonstrated ability to forge strong relationships of trust with rural communities, partner organizations, decision makers and stakeholders.
• Skill and cultural competence in working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Ability to be a spokesperson to the media, to other advocates and within appropriate governmental forums.
• Strong writing, listening and oral-communication skills.
• Ability to perform in a multi-task environment and to prioritize work requirements; ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a long-term vision.
• Ability to interact effectively, appropriately, and compassionately with staff and colleagues.
• Proficiency and comfort with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook and Zoom (or equivalents).
• Experience in policy advocacy is a plus.
• Willingness to travel throughout the state (mostly the southern half) on a semi-monthly basis.

Traits:

• Commitment to advancing solar and wind energy at scale in Wisconsin.
• Interest in the complexity of rural communities and openness to hearing different views.
• Commitment to understanding and acting upon community values around renewable energy and addressing environmental injustices.
• Discretion and sound judgment.
• Team player.
• Flexibility and creativity.
• Sense of humor.
• Commitment to help create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

Required Education:

• An undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.

Compensation:

Salary range for the position is $55,000-$65,000, commensurate with skills and experience. Benefits package includes health and dental insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 6% employer match, paid vacation, life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance.

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Be sure to include the subject line “Rural Energy Campaign Manager.”

Initial interviews will proceed on a rolling basis. For best consideration, please apply no later than August 15.

Clean Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization with offices in Madison and Milwaukee. Our mission is to combat climate change and pollution in our air, water and land, and to ensure a healthy future for every Wisconsin community. Clean Wisconsin is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our work and in our hiring practices. We value a team with different perspectives, educational backgrounds, and life experiences, and we prioritize diversity on our team. If you have any doubt about whether you might be qualified for this position and you think you have something special to contribute, we encourage you to apply. We encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Please also see our statement on diversity, equity and inclusion.