Climate Programs Associate (Hybrid/Remote)

Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

401(k) retirement plan

LTD

STD

Life

Vision

Dental

FSA/HSA

PTO

Professional development allowance

Communication stipend

Job summary

Great Plains Institute is seeking a Program Associate to support climate and energy planning projects for local governments. The role includes technical assistance, equitable engagement, and developing resources on co-benefits of renewable energy and resilience.

Flexible work arrangement with some in-office presence in Minneapolis. The ideal candidate is organized, self‑driven, and collaborative, with 1–3 years of related experience and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of paid or volunteer experience with local or state governments, community organizations, renewable energy development, sustainability, or climate.
• Bachelor’s degree with environmental studies, sustainability, energy, or environmental justice is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; design/desktop publishing tools (InDesign/Illustrator/Canva) are beneficial.
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills are required.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, take initiative, and work with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist with program grants and other funding proposal development and reporting.
• Coordinate timelines, milestones, and deliverables with internal staff and external partners.
• Develop tools and resources for external stakeholders, including documents and presentations.
• Conduct data collection, analysis, and synthesis; perform web research; assist with surveys and interviews.
• Gather and analyze data using spreadsheets and GIS tools; prepare case studies and short reports.
• Coordinate external communications, calendars, and website updates; draft blogs or case studies.
• Provide additional programmatic support as requested by program managers and leadership.
• Lead project meetings and events planning, including scheduling, agendas, and notes; ensure diverse participation.

Skills

Local government experience

Community engagement

Strong writing skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

InDesign

Illustrator

Canva

Job description

Great Plains Institute is seeking a Program Associate to support climate and energy planning projects for local governments. The role includes technical assistance, equitable engagement, and developing resources on co-benefits of renewable energy and resilience.

Flexible work arrangement with some in-office presence in Minneapolis. The ideal candidate is organized, self‑driven, and collaborative, with 1–3 years of related experience and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.