New York is leading the nation in the fight on global climate change and the transition to a clean energy-powered economy. With the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act [PDF] 📷 (CLCPA), New York has codified the most aggressive climate change program in the nation with goals to produce 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030; reach zero carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2040; install 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035; 6 gigawatts of solar by 2025; and 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030. Additionally, the law creates the Climate Action Council, co-Chaired by NYSERDA, comprised of the leaders of various state agencies and authorities as well as legislative appointments to develop a plan outlining how the state will achieve an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050, and eventually net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy – all while delivering critical benefits to historically underserved and otherwise disadvantaged communities.

Most notably, the CLCPA sets a goal that 40%, and mandates no less than 35%, of the benefits from clean energy investments be directed to overburdened and under-resourced, disadvantaged communities. Accordingly, one of NYSERDA’s four strategic focus areas is on creating an inclusive clean energy economy. The Energy and Climate Equity team is spearheading efforts related to this focus across the Authority. To this end, the Energy and Climate Equity team collaborates with communities, government and industry to develop and implement affordable, equitable solutions across all aspects of NYSERDA's work, making sure New Yorkers who have been marginalized are at the center of planning for and benefiting from the transition to a clean energy economy. The person in this role will be in a critical position to help ensure the planning for a just transition is done in close collaboration with disadvantaged community stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities

NYSERDA’s Energy and Climate Equity department seeks a community-oriented relationship builder and group facilitator to lead the development and implementation of a statewide disadvantaged community stakeholder engagement program that promotes community-centered energy equity and climate justice across interagency and NYSERDA-led program planning efforts. The ideal candidate should be passionate about NYSERDA’s mission, demonstrate solid strategic and program development skills and have strong communication and interpersonal skills.  The candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Lead development of the strategy for disadvantaged community stakeholder engagement to ensure an inclusive clean energy economy across NYSERDA’s portfolio of programs and policy efforts
• Orchestrate NYSERDA’s engagement of frontline environmental justice, low-income and Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) community stakeholders to help center their interests in state energy program planning
• Serve as primary staff facilitator of inclusive, equity-focused strategic planning processes with disadvantaged community stakeholders, including a steering committee for and public meetings of a statewide stakeholder collaborative focused on inclusive and equitable outcomes from NYS clean energy investments
• Manage communications with disadvantaged community stakeholders related to advancing an equitable and just clean energy transition through engagement in energy program planning and development
• Coordinate the team’s training in best practices for inclusive planning processes and community-led program co-design, engaging consultants as needed to support NYSERDA equity program team’s leadership in this area
• Support equity capacity building planning and activities, helping document needs and gaps in stakeholder engagement, providing initiative summaries, reports, and analysis as needed and requested for internal planning purposes
• Manage consultants and contracts and assist with evaluation and selection of grant awards in support of the team’s goals
• Manage projects according to agreed-upon goals, budgets and timelines
• Translate stakeholder input and needs into action within NYSERDA’s programs
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in community planning, environmental justice, energy, or climate policy
• Bachelor’s degree
• Track record for building effective partnerships with diverse stakeholder groups
• Ability to successfully handle multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Genuine passion for issues related to climate change, equity and environmental justice
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to effectively translate technical information for a diverse audience and help elevate under-resourced, diverse community voices in state planning processes
• Proven ability to anticipate and articulate needs in advance, propose solutions, multi-task, plan ahead, and react positively to challenges and new assignments
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy along with well-developed organizational and analytical skills
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite
• Ability to travel up to 20%

Preferences

• Advanced meeting facilitation techniques incorporating multicultural and diversity, equity and inclusion competencies
• Experience leading democratic, collective decision-making processes to ensure inclusion, transparency and accountability to shared goals with demonstrated results
• Relevant experience leading state and/or community planning process from concept through to implementation to help advance meaningful, measurable outcomes
• Ability to balance social justice aspirations and with humility, patience and diplomacy to help develop organizational competencies and accelerate progress related to addressing structural barriers to participation by overburdened and under-resourced communities
• Understanding and direct experience within underserved and overburdened communities and ability to leverage existing networks and relationships to expand diversity and inclusion in state-level clean energy planning
• Experience working with state and local governments, community-based organizations and/or clean energy industry leaders
• Knowledge of issues and opportunities related to environmental justice, affordable housing, renewable energy, transportation, and regulatory processes
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability, curiosity, resourcefulness, and adaptability
• Advanced degree