Executive Director - Clean Energy

Maryland Clean Energy Center; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Clean Energy Center in Maryland is seeking an Executive Director to serve as the chief executive and administrative officer, guiding strategy, operations, financial stewardship, and external partnerships.

You will lead a diverse team, engage with state officials and industry partners, oversee programs and governance, and drive sustainable growth while ensuring accountability and mission success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in a relevant field.
• Significant executive leadership and relationship-building experience.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement and Maryland government officials.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations.
• Experience in project/structured finance and public or quasi-public governance.
• Strong governance, budgeting, and procurement experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead as chief executive and administrative officer, guiding all organizational functions.
• Build relationships with officials, agencies, utilities, and industry partners.
• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, audits, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with laws, ethics, and governance requirements.
• Report progress to the Board and implement Board directives.
• Develop strategic priorities and oversee programs and operations.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Financial management

Governance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) and is responsible for implementing the strategic direction, policies, and priorities established by the Board of Directors.

Under the oversight of the Board, the Executive Director provides leadership for MCEC's programs, operations, financial management, external partnerships, organizational development, and personnel in support of MCEC's statutory mission to advance clean energy, energy efficiency, and related economic development in Maryland.

This position requires an executive who is equally comfortable serving as MCEC's principal external representative while leading the organization internally. The Executive Director is responsible for setting the strategic vision, building relationships with government and industry partners, developing organizational capability, leading day-to-day operations, directing department leaders, ensuring sound financial stewardship, and maintaining accountability for organizational performance.

The Executive Director must demonstrate a commitment to MCEC's mission, engage with stakeholders, and be willing to operate at both the strategic and operational levels, transitioning seamlessly between executive leadership, organizational management, and hands-on execution as organizational priorities require.

Organizational Leadership & Administration

• Serve as the chief executive and administrative officer of MCEC, providing leadership for all organizational functions.
• Lead, manage, coach, and develop the organization's Directors and leadership team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide day-to-day leadership of organizational operations, ensuring alignment between Board-approved priorities and operational execution.
• Establish organizational goals, performance expectations, management systems, policies, and processes that support operational excellence.
• Direct organizational planning, resource allocation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Monitor organizational performance through key performance indicators and implement improvements as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and ethical standards.

External Relations & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as MCEC's primary spokesperson and representative.
• Build relationships with elected officials, state agencies, local governments, utilities, capital providers, workforce organizations, academic institutions, and community partners.
• Represent MCEC before legislative committees, public forums, and industry organizations.
• Host major MCEC education and engagement events like the Maryland Clean Energy Summit and Legislative Reception.
• Develop and implement the strategic priorities approved by the Board.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and performance of MCEC programs, financing initiatives, procurement support, and technical assistance offerings.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, organizational risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Report organizational performance and strategic progress to the Board.
• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, audits, grants, investments, internal controls, and financial reporting.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of public funds and organizational resources.
• Support long‑term financial sustainability through partnerships and funding opportunities.

Board Governance & Support

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors.
• Prepare Board materials, recommendations, and reports.
• Implement Board directives.
• Ensure compliance with Open Meetings Act, FOIA/PIA, ethics, and governance requirements.

Risk Management, Compliance & Ethics

• Provide executive oversight for human resources, procurement, information technology, cybersecurity, records management, enterprise policies, and ethics compliance.
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, legal, and reputational risks.
• Promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant executive leadership and relationship building experience in clean energy, finance, public administration, economic development, government, nonprofit, or related fields. Knowledge of tech commercialization is also relevant.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, and especially State of Maryland government officials.
• Demonstrated experience leading both strategic initiatives and day‑to‑day organizational operations.
• Experience in project or structured finance, portfolio management, and public or quasi‑public governance. Understanding of financial instruments used to finance clean energy projects.
• Experience with Board governance, personnel leadership, budgeting, grants, procurement, and organizational development.

Excellent public presentation, written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated executive leadership experience within Maryland's clean energy, economic development, public policy, or related sectors.
• Established professional relationships with key stakeholders across Maryland's clean energy ecosystem, including industry leaders, government agencies, legislators, utilities, and partner organizations.
• Knowledge of Maryland's energy policy, legislative process, regulatory environment, and funding landscape.
• Proven ability to build coalitions and effectively engage with state and local government officials, business leaders, and community partners.

Licenses and Certifications

Possession of a valid driver's license meeting the requirements of Maryland law, and other Maryland Clean Energy Center policies.

Physical Demands

Visual requirements for computer activities are essential. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to talk, hear, sit, walk, bend, stoop, reach with hands and arms, and use hands and fingers.

The Executive Director is expected to perform responsibilities with an appropriate sense of urgency while balancing strategic leadership with active operational management. Success requires the ability to lead in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment while representing MCEC with professionalism before the Board, government officials, partners, and the public.

Salary Range

MCEC offers a competitive executive compensation package commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications, experience, and demonstrated leadership capabilities.

The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, political affiliation or opinion, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

MCEC provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us to request assistance.