Program Manager, Charging Smart (limited term role until July 2027)

IREC; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

IREC seeks a Program Manager to advance EV charging and local government engagement. The role focuses on permitting, planning, and utility coordination to accelerate EV adoption through the Charging Smart program.

You will work with municipalities, states, and partners to design and implement grant-funded initiatives. The position is full-time, remote (U.S.-based), and grant-funded through July 2027 with potential for extension depending on funding.

Qualifications

• Undergrad degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years in municipal/regional government affairs or renewable energy.
• Proven stakeholder outreach and program recruitment success.
• Strong writing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with a distributed team and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel and present at meetings.

Responsibilities

• Support the Local Initiatives team to advance EV charging adoption.
• Recruit communities and provide technical assistance for Charging Smart.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to remove local barriers.

Skills

Stakeholder outreach

Public policy

Technical writing

Customer service

Independent work

Public speaking

Networking

Transportation electrification

Education

Bachelor's degree in public policy, economics, planning, local government management, public affairs, environmental studies, or related field

Job description

Program Manager, Charging Smart (limited term role until July 2027)

About IREC

IREC is an independent nonprofit that builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. Our vision is a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. IREC develops and advances the regulatory reforms, technical standards, and workforce and community-based solutions needed to enable the streamlined integration of clean energy. IREC provides independent leadership and trusted clean energy expertise through three interrelated strategies:

• Workforce Development - IREC leads initiatives to build a diverse and qualified clean energy workforce while ensuring that clean energy workers have access to family-sustaining careers.
• Local Initiatives - IREC supports communities to develop policies and promote best practices that accelerate the equitable deployment of clean energy.
• State Regulatory Engagement - IREC represents the public interest in state regulatory proceedings and develops and disseminates best practices to ensure that distributed energy resources (DERs) can be equitably and efficiently integrated on the electric grid.

Program Manager – Charging Smart (limited term role until July 2027)

Type:Full-time; exempt. This position is grant-funded and currently contracted and budgeted through July 2027, with continuation contingent on future funding.

Salary: $60,000–$75,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications
Location:Remote (U.S.-based)

Reports to: Senior Director, Local Initiatives
Benefits:Health, dental, vision insurance, retirement contribution, paid time off, flexible work schedule

About the Position

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is seeking a highly motivated Program Manager to support the Local Initiatives team in achieving aggressive goals to increase the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging. The Program Manager will work with partners to recruit communities and provide technical assistance to local governments pursuing designation under the U.S. Department of Energy-funded Charging Smart program. You will work as part of a small, dynamic team to help communities reduce local barriers to the adoption of EV charging. You will focus on permitting and inspection, planning and zoning, government operations, utility engagement, and market development as well as other federal, state, and local EV and EV charging topics. You will also work with a broad coalition of other stakeholders, demonstrating thought leadership at both the strategic and tactical levels. The Program Manager will occasionally perform other duties and support other programs as needed to meet the objectives of a small and dynamic national nonprofit organization.

IREC team members collaborate primarily in a virtual environment, leveraging remote meeting, project management, and other collaboration tools to stay connected and on task.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Qualities for This Role:

Required:

• An undergraduate degree in public policy, economics, planning, local government management, public affairs, environmental studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• 2+ years of relevant work experience, preferably in municipal/regional government affairs, public affairs, the solar industry, EV charging, or other renewable energy field;
• Demonstrated success with stakeholder outreach and program recruitment;
• Strong interpersonal skills and clear, persuasive technical writing skills;
• Proven ability to provide high-quality customer service;
• Ability to work independently and with a geographically distributed team to meet deadlines (experience managing large groups of external stakeholders is a plus);
• Ability to build a professional network, travel (approximately [X]% of the time), and present effectively at local, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and other events;
• A demonstrated passion for transportation electrification or renewable energy;
• Willingness to be flexible, adapt to new technologies, learn, and shift course as needs arise;

Preferred:

• A Master’s degree in a related field;
• Experience managing federally funded programs;
• Knowledge of local and regional planning, community engagement, and permitting processes;
• Education or experience in EV charger deployment.