Senior Director, National Partnerships and Federal Policy

Description

The Coalition for Community Solar Access (“CCSA”) is seeking qualified applicants for a Senior Director, National Partnerships and Federal Policy, to advance the interests of the community solar industry. The anticipated start date for this position is immediate. CCSA is a growing organization working to open, protect, and serve markets for community solar across the country.

The Senior Director, National Partnerships and Federal Policy will lead the development of national partnerships, federal policy and advocacy initiatives while working closely with CCSA’s Policy, New, and Community Solar Markets Teams. CCSA regularly works with congressional offices, federal agencies, and coalitions to advance the community solar industry through supportive federal programs, tax incentives, and legislation. The role will (1) guide CCSA’s federal initiatives and ensure that relevant federal developments are disseminated to members and across the organization, and (2) lead national partnerships and coalition development and management, with support from the CCSA Policy Team. The Senior Director, National Partnerships and Federal Policy will report directly to the President and CEO. CCSA is a fast-paced, mission-driven, collegial, and fun work environment. The ideal candidate will share CCSA’s mission to expand access to solar for all, and fit the fast-paced and self-starting culture.

Qualifications:

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills with strong technical knowledge of energy-related issues and experience engaging with federal policymakers.
• Strong experience in renewable and solar energy policy and with federal congressional and agency advocacy; preferably directly on behalf or within a renewable energy business or association.
• Ability to achieve policy and market goals through a variety of federal engagements including a combination of:
  • Congressional outreach and engagement
  • Federal agency outreach and engagement
  • Advocacy including written and informal
• Ability to speak to and work with both conservative and progressive constituencies.
• Ability to efficiently manage CCSA Member input within the organization’s Committee process; working alongside the policy team, members, and broader coalitions of local stakeholders.
• Ability to co-lead thought leadership development of policy positions of CCSA with both the President and CEO and CCSA Policy team.
• Ability to work within the trade association environment and representing industry interests to effectuate industry-beneficial outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Drive, manage, track, and engage through effective advocacy with federal legislation that impacts the Community Solar industry.
• Track and engage through effective advocacy with federal administrative agency actions that impact the community solar industry (IRA implementation, EPA’s Solar for All Program and Clean Energy tax credits, etc.).
• Lead outreach, engagement, and management of CCSA national partnerships and coalitions.
• Develop new and expand depth and breadth of existing community and distributed solar-focused federal opportunities.
• Work with and beside CCSA members in anticipating, developing, and advocating for policies that advance and expand community solar opportunities.
• Serve as lead staff for federal policy efforts with engagement from the CCSA Policy team.
• Manage CCSA federal and national partnership and coalition consultants.
• Manage and coordinate CCSA participation in FERC related proceedings in coordination with broader DER allies, with support of CCSA regulatory team.
• Serve as federal policy expert to federal agencies and legislative audiences.
• Lead and manage CCSA engagement with the Department of Energy NCSP with the support of CCSA regulatory team.
• Support development and execution of national communications efforts alongside CCSA Senior Director for Public Affairs.
• Support development and review of CCSA annual planning for federal advocacy and national partnerships.

Requirements:

• Minimum 10+ years working in federal policy with a preference for electricity, energy, or environmental work experience.
• Self-starter, with strong political instincts, and ability to work in dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Experience and tangible achievements developing and advocating for federal legislation and/or regulatory policy.
• Experience managing direct staff and consultants.
• Potential for ~20% travel.
• Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the United States.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range is between $150,000-180,000 with the opportunity to participate in an additional performance incentive plan. Salary will be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, and skills of the applicant, and alignment with market data.
• Comprehensive benefits include health insurance (90% premiums paid for employees and 75% premiums paid for dependents); 100% paid vision and dental insurance for employees and dependents.
• 3% retirement plan employer contribution.
• Company sponsored short-term and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
• Paid parental leave (eligible after 6 months of employment).
• 3 weeks paid vacation (at start) and 11 paid holidays.
• Professional coaching opportunities.
• A fun and collegial environment.
• Weekly all-hands company meeting keeps you engaged and connected to the organization and your team members.

Location:

• Washington D.C. Metro Area
• Flexible worksite – e.g. home or shared worksite.

Culture:

Our team members are passionate about expanding access to renewable energy solutions to every American energy consumer and are constantly striving to improve and better ourselves. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. If you will enjoy working in a growing organization with a collegial work environment, and in a fast-paced and self-starting culture, you are probably a great fit for our team!

Applications Process:

Please email Cover Letter and Resume to [email protected] with email header “CCSA Senior National Programs and Partnerships Director Application – YOUR NAME”.

Studies have shown that some groups of people, like women, are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we hire.

The Coalition for Community Solar Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Team Values:

• Focus on Results: We have clear and ambitious goals that drive everything we do on a daily basis. Every day we ask ourselves the question: will the actions I take achieve results that get me closer to my goals? If the answer is yes, then we push forward. Setbacks happen and not everything is in our control, but we focus on what we can control and move toward our goals one victory at a time.
• Foster Dialogue: We debate ideas, not people. We take the energy of our differences and channel it toward something that has never been created before. The problems we tackle are colorful and complex. To drive to the right decision, we believe in respectfully and productively debating ideas and leaving our egos at the door.
• Put people first: We prioritize the well-being of our team and take the approach of the “whole person”. We believe that we bring our best selves to our professional lives when we are balanced and taking care of ourselves and each other.
• Inclusivity: We deeply value diversity of thought, background, and lived experience – and through this is where our most transformative, lasting innovation grows. As our industry expands, we are committed to actively bringing new people, businesses, and localities into the fold, especially those who are traditionally underrepresented.
• Member Service: We represent the collective voice of our members, who want to see community solar expand and grow. We provide a valuable service to our member community, keeping them up to date on our campaigns and policy initiatives, which helps them plan and grow their businesses. We also serve members by amplifying their collective voice to expand their impact in the market.

Mission and Core Principles

The Coalition for Community Solar Access is a national Coalition of businesses and nonprofits working to expand customer choice and access to solar for all American households and businesses through community solar. Our mission is to empower every American energy consumer with the option to choose local, clean, and affordable community solar. We work with customers, utilities, local stakeholders, and policymakers to develop and implement policies and best practices that ensure community solar programs provide a win, win, win for all, starting with the customer.

CCSA’s Core Principles are a concise set of overarching principles that guide organizational vision, mission, core policies, and culture. CCSA’s elected Board is responsible for developing and maintaining the Core Principles, with at minimum, an annual audit. Process and decision making of Core Principles is done based on Board governance rules set out in the Bylaws of the organization.

• Opportunity: Open, expand, and protect competitive, sustainable community solar markets through comprehensive engagement in all aspects of community solar market design, enablement, and innovation.
• Access: Allow all consumers the choice to participate in and receive a tangible economic benefit from new community solar assets, and ensure those economic benefits are communicated and realized in a clear, timely, and transparent manner.
• Integrity: Guarantee community solar market rules create a safe, reliable marketplace for consumers to make informed choices for products that work for their needs.
• Value: Ensure project compensation is reflective of the full value of the locally-sited energy produced by community solar projects.
• Efficiency: Champion transparent, non-discriminatory, and evidence-based rules on siting and interconnection for expedient and fair community solar project development.