The Organization
Energy Foundation’s mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. We envision a healthy, safe, equitable economy powered by clean energy. We believe a thriving clean energy economy can create sustainable opportunities, spur innovation, and protect our climate—for today and future generations.
Energy Foundation supports education and analysis to promote non-partisan policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency while opening doors to greater innovation and productivity—growing the economy with dramatically less pollution. For nearly 30 years, Energy Foundation has supported grantees to help educate policymakers and the general public about the benefits of a clean energy economy. Our grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, community, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, and more.
We are a complex, multi-site, multicultural nonprofit organization with big plans for the future. Under the leadership of our CEO, Energy Foundation has embarked on a major strategy refresh, a prioritized commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and rapid geographic expansion.
Our comprehensive approach advances energy efficiency and renewable energy in the power, transportation, and buildings sectors. Our programs focus on developing innovative policies and campaigns to help propel clean energy development in these sectors. The Venues team is a cross-disciplinary team of policy, communications, and campaign experts dedicated to advancing strong state and regional climate and clean energy policies. The Policy team works to deliver strategy and network support services to our issue-focused grantees and funding partners. And the Strategic Communications team develops powerful narrative and communications strategies designed to build support for our work regionally and nationwide.
Energy Foundation’s founding office is in San Francisco, CA, with regional offices in Raleigh, NC; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; and Las Vegas, NV.
Position Overview
The Senior Vice President, Programs (SVP, Programs) is charged with leading programs to fulfill Energy Foundation’s (EF’s) mission of securing a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. The SVP reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and is a member of EF’s management team.
The person in this role is strategic and collaborative, and has an interest in and passion for EF’s mission, values, and commitment to centering DEI.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The SVP’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Strategy development. Lead the development of EF’s program strategy, working with program staff, the board, and external partners to synthesize an ambitious strategy that integrates policy, campaign, and communications thinking across both venues and issues.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Advance EF’s DEI work through program strategy, management practices, and organization-wide leadership.
- Fundraising. Help secure the resources needed to advance EF’s program strategy in partnership with the Strategic Partnerships team, program staff, and the CEO.
- Staff management. Create a culture of strong management in the Program Team, working closely with the Vice Presidents of each team to ensure strong supervision with a focus on enhancing diversity and inclusion, performance management and individual growth, and mentoring and coaching.
- Cross-team collaboration. Coordinate with the SVP, Chief Operating Officer and SVP, Strategic Partnerships to ensure strong integration of program work with operations and fundraising activities.
- Organizational leadership. Serve on the organizational Management Team, develop organization-wide policies and decisions, and advance EF’s culture.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A minimum of 15 years of professional experience that includes significant program leadership, strategic planning, and management in the nonprofit advocacy space focused on public-interest issues, such as climate, health, justice, organizing, and campaigns.
- A minimum of 3-5 years of that professional experience in U.S. climate and/or clean energy policy advocacy.
- Demonstrated executive-level experience in strategic decision-making and management, preferably in a complex, multi-site, and multicultural organization.
- Experience participating in or leading DEI initiatives. A demonstrated commitment to contributing meaningfully to a workplace where equity and inclusion are core values in our internal and external work.
- Experience supporting fundraising from individual and/or grantmaking entities.
KEY ATTRIBUTES
- Solutions-oriented, equity-centered problem-solver who is committed to working collaboratively in a diverse, dynamic, and complex environment with a combination of local, regional, and national staff and partners.
- Curious and emotionally intelligent with excellent convening, relationship- and trust-building skills bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
- Excellent communication skills; ability to present complex information in inspiring and meaningful ways to a variety of audiences, including internal staff, funders, other stakeholders, and grantees.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to spend extended hours at the computer. This position may require moderate travel, when it is safe/advisable to do so.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
All EF staff are working remotely through the remainder of 2020. While we anticipate returning to our offices sometime in 2021, we will do so only when we can ensure the health and safety of our staff.
This position may be based in any of EF’s offices (San Francisco, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Chicago, IL; Raleigh, NC; or Washington, DC). Candidates already should be based in or willing to relocate to any of those regional locations, once it is safe/advisable to do so. The office environments include some shared workspace, some individual offices, shared kitchen facilities, with moderate noise levels and a collegial atmosphere. On occasion, there are activities or events after work hours.
How To Apply
EF is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
For questions about this leadership position please contact our search partner, Walker and Associates Consulting (a national strategic management consulting and search firm located in the San Francisco Bay Area), at ef@walkeraac.com.
Apply Online by October 15, 2020.