Program Director, Midwest Campaigns (EF)

Energy Foundation - Chicago, IL; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Foundation in Chicago, IL, seeks a Program Director for Midwest Campaigns to guide strategies that build public support for clean energy and climate policies across the region.

The role involves designing multi-year campaigns, directing grantmaking, and coordinating with national and regional teams to create coalitions, educate policymakers, and accelerate policy progress.

Travel 6–12 times per year is expected; strong writing and fundraising leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years directing successful issue campaigns.
• Ability to synthesize multiple viewpoints into a clear strategy.
• Experience with policymakers and legislative processes.
• Strong fundraising track record.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee multi-year campaign strategies for the Midwest region, including funding allocations and public engagement.
• Manage the Midwest investment focused on building public and policymaker support for clean energy and climate policy.
• Lead the grantmaking process aligned with regional objectives and strategic plans.
• Collaborate with communications and policy experts to design and execute aligned program strategies.
• Inform and support funding partners, identify gaps in advocacy, and pursue new collaboration opportunities.
• Maintain relationships with grantees, policymakers, funders, and other leaders in the field.
• Produce high-quality written materials for boards, funders, and stakeholders.
• Evaluate impact of grants and campaigns; propose improvements and innovations.
• Oversee regional campaign consultants in priority states and coordinate across Energy Foundation offices.
• Travel 6-12 times a year for 1-3 business days as needed.

Skills

Campaign leadership

Strategic planning

Policy engagement

Fundraising

Public speaking

Job description

Program Director, Midwest Campaigns (EF)

Posted on January 29, 2020

Energy Foundation’s mission is to serve the public interest by building a strong clean energy economy. 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. We are a complex, multi-site, multicultural nonprofit organization with big plans for the future. Now into the tenure of a new CEO, Energy Foundation has embarked on a major strategy refresh, a prioritized commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and rapid geographic expansion.

For more than 25 years, Energy Foundation has supported grantees to help educate policymakers and the general public about the health and economic benefits of a clean energy economy. Our grantees include business, health, environmental, labor, equity, faith, and consumer groups, as well as policy experts, think tanks, universities, and more.

Our comprehensive approach advances energy efficiency and renewable energy in the power, transportation, and buildings sectors. Working together, our Policy and Public Engagement programs focus on developing innovative policies and campaigns to help propel clean energy development in these sectors, while our Strategic Communications Program develops powerful narrative and communications strategies designed to build support for our work regionally and nationwide. Our States and Regions Team is a cross-disciplinary team of policy, communications, and campaign experts dedicated to advancing strong state and regional climate and clean energy policies.

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 SUMMARY

The Program Director, Midwest Campaigns will guide the foundation’s strategies to build public support for clean energy and climate policies in the Midwest. Working in the region and in close partnership with campaign experts in both Energy Foundation’s San Francisco office and other regional offices, the Campaign Director will design and fund strategies that create the diverse coalitions and collaborations needed to meet the ambitious state policy goals in the power, buildings, transportation, and climate sectors.

REPORTS TO

Reports to the Senior Regional Director, Midwest, and is a member of the U.S. Programs team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and oversee multi-year campaign strategies for the region, including funding allocations, constituency building, and public engagement with an emphasis on priority states identified by the foundation.
• Manage the foundation’s investment in the Midwest region that is focused on building public and policymaker support for clean energy and climate policy using 501(c)(3)-appropriate tactics to educate and advocate.
• Lead the grantmaking process for grants associated with building public will and policymaker support for clean energy and climate policy advancement; make grant recommendations pursuant to annual strategic plans and regional objectives.
• Collaborate with the foundation’s communications and policy experts in electric power, buildings, transportation, and climate policy to design and execute aligned program strategies.
• Work closely with Senior Regional Director, Midwest and the Strategic Partnership team to inform and support funding partners with advice, identification of gaps in the advocacy field, and new opportunities for funder collaboration.
• Maintain and build collaborative relationships with grantees, policymakers, opinion leaders, funding partners, and other experts and leaders in the field.
• Produce top-quality written materials for a variety of audiences, including board members, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Generate and implement ideas for systems, program, and operational improvement.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with Energy Foundation peers and colleagues, particularly with a focus on meaningful engagement within Energy Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.
• Evaluate the impact of individual grants, initiatives, and broader campaigns.
• Support and engage in cross-sector collaboration and build a reputation internally as a thought partner in refining Energy Foundation’s strategies.
• Oversee and manage experienced state-based campaign consultants in at least three priority states across the region.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The ideal candidate is an expert campaign director with a minimum of 10 years of experience managing successful issue campaigns.
• Skilled in developing strategies that consider and synthesize multiple perspectives into a coherent big-picture strategy and workable plan, prioritizing investments, and evaluating progress.
• Experience working with policymakers and legislative bodies.
• Familiarity with clean energy and climate policy issues, particularly at the state level.
• Credibility in the field. Able to establish rapport internally and with funding partners, grantees, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated fundraising abilities.
• Strong writing and speaking skills. Able to present complex information in a meaningful way to the Energy Foundation Board of Directors, funding partners, and allies.
• Ability to develop and facilitate strategy across a network of internal and external partners.
• Desired experience with the following areas:
  • Grantee networks and existing experts engaged in clean energy advocacy.
  • The role of philanthropy and how foundation dollars impact policies and markets.

Other Requirements

Ability to travel 6-12 times a year for 1-3 business days at a time.

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 requires low to moderate levels of domestic travel.

The position is based in the Energy Foundation’s office in Chicago, Ill., though working from another location will be considered.

The Midwest Office is located on the historic “Magnificent Mile” of Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, IL. The office environment is in a shared work space with an open office, with moderate noise levels, a small conference room, shared kitchen facilities, and a collegial atmosphere. On occasion, there are activities or events after work hours.

Energy Foundation staff work in service of a clean energy future for all. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.