Senior External Affairs Manager

Trajectory Energy Partners Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Annual Professional Development Stiped

Employee Equity Plan

401k with company match

Paid Vacation, Sick, and Wellbeing

Job summary

Trajectory Energy Partners Inc. is seeking a Senior External Affairs Manager to lead community engagement and permitting for solar and battery storage projects, primarily in Illinois.

The role reports to the VP of External Affairs and collaborates with the Project Development team in a hybrid Chicago-based setting. The position requires deep experience in external/public/government affairs, strong relationship-building skills, and proven project management.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6–7 years of external affairs experience
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple projects and competing priorities
• Proven project management and organizational skills
• Keen attention to detail
• Experience in permitting work with local governments; preference for northern Illinois

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an overall external affairs strategy to support Trajectory’s solar and battery storage projects in state markets.
• Lead permitting efforts for Illinois and the Midwest.
• Educate local officials and host communities about solar and battery storage.
• Build relationships with elected officials, community leaders, and advocacy groups to advance origination and permitting priorities.
• Partner with developers in origination and permitting of solar and battery storage.
• Manage regional and/or community-level consultants for project needs.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of External Affairs on policy items.
• Travel including evenings for zoning hearings and local government meetings.

Skills

External affairs

Public affairs

Government affairs

Stakeholder management

Policy development

Project management

Permitting

Attention to detail

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Trajectory Energy Partners (Trajectory) is seeking a Senior External Affairs Manager to lead community engagement and permitting efforts for solar and battery storage projects across its pipeline, with a primary focus on the Illinois market. This will be a full-time position, reporting to the Vice President of External Affairs and working in close partnership with Trajectory’s Project Development team. Trajectory works with communities across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast to develop front-of-the-meter solar and storage projects, focusing primarily on distribution-scale projects. More information can be found at www.trajectoryenergy.com.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute on an overall external affairs strategy to support Trajectory’s efforts to develop solar and battery storage projects across its state markets.
• Lead permitting efforts for solar and battery storage projects, with a focus on Illinois and the Midwest.
• Lead Trajectory’s efforts to educate local officials and host communities about solar and battery storage.
• Support Trajectory’s project development work by building and maintaining relationships with elected officials, community leaders, and relevant advocacy groups to advance Trajectory's origination and permitting priorities.
• Partner with Trajectory’s developers in the origination and permitting of solar and battery storage.
• Manage a variety of regional and/or community-level consultants to assist with specific project needs.
• Work with the Vice President of External Affairs on external affairs and policy items relating to solar and battery storage.
• Travel is required, including attendance at evening zoning hearings and local government meetings.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 6-7 years of experience in external affairs, public affairs, government affairs, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple projects and competing priorities
• Proven project management and organizational skills
• Keen attention to detail
• Experience in permitting work with local governments, and experience with local government in northern Illinois is preferred.
• Knowledge of renewable energy development is helpful

Benefits at Trajectory

• Health, dental, and vision insurance contributions
• Annual Professional Development Stipend
• Employee Equity Plan
• Access to company 401k plus 401k employer match
• Paid Vacation, Sick, and Wellbeing days

Position based in Chicago, IL, or in the surrounding areas. This is a hybrid position with regular travel (25-50%) across Illinois to visit sites and meet local stakeholders and consultants. The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $140,000 commensurate with experience, plus a target annual bonus of 20%.