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Executive Co-Director - Strategy and Organizational Leadership
Community Power is looking for an executive co-director to implement Community Power’s strategic plan, liaise with the board of directors, and raise money to support Community Power’s ongoing success. This role is hybrid, requiring at least weekly in-person work in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but allowing time to work from home.
Important note: Community Power has a dual executive co-director model. The roles and responsibilities are roughly divided between community/government-focused work and internal operations management. Both lead the organization as a team in collaboration with long-time staff.
Organization Background
Community Power is a Minneapolis-rooted non-profit focused on local ownership of renewable energy, environmental justice, and democratic control of our energy system. We work with Minnesota cities and towns to educate community organizations, government officials and residents about the market and political structure of the energy system and how they can pull the levers of power when they know how, when, and where to use them.
$75,000 to $90,000 based on experience.
Organizational Leadership
- Facilitate or lead regular strategic planning with the board.
- Work with staff via weekly 1-1 meetings and additionally as needed to develop and align their work plans with the organization’s strategy (in-person meetings expected, especially during the first year).
- Support the Board Chair by helping recruit and orient new board directors, ensure clear communication between co-directors and the board, and prepare for quarterly board meetings.
Build Effective Teams
- Coordinate with staff to identify decision makers for key elements of the organization’s strategic plan through annual planning and regular check-ins.
- Co-develop an accountability structure for campaigns, projects, and tasks, identifying the owner of each task and the role of all participants.
- Assist staff in setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound, Inclusive, and Equitable (SMARTIE) goals related to their work plans and professional development aims. Design and implement regular feedback and evaluation systems for staff, contractors, and board members.
- Facilitate meetings of multiple or all staff to support the work, relationship building, professional development, and strong organizational culture.
Communications
- Oversee development of a communications strategy with staff that includes public comments, press interviews, the website, newsletter and social media. Coordinate with staff to identify the most appropriate roles for each task.
Resource Development
- Lead solicitation of new sources of revenue by (with help from program staff) searching for new funders, deciphering funder program designs and comparing them to Community Power work(plans), meeting funders, writing grants, and maintaining relationships with funders.
Co-Director Must-Have Qualifications
Uses Inclusive Leadership and Management Exercises confident leadership without asserting dominance by holding the organization vision while valuing divergent perspectives, using a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over,” and including others in decision-making. Able to clearly communicate the WHY and to hand off decision making in the best interest of the organization. Prioritizes a coaching and learning mentality.
Works Effectively with Others to Build Successful Teams Can guide a team in identifying roles and responsibilities to complete work, including who is the decision-maker, who will complete the work, and who needs to be consulted. Shows a clear understanding of the value of well-coordinated roles, and letting those closest to the work and with deepest knowledge hold responsibility. Facilitates teams that coordinate where advantageous and avoid duplicating each other’s’ efforts, supporting good cross-organization flow of information, especially related to relationships and knowledge of community partners. Fosters positive organizational culture and support systems for staff.
Aligns Communications with Values and Mission
Co-develops a strategy for external facing communications –– e.g. newsletter, statements, public comments –– that is grounded in Community Power’s stated values and mission. Helps board and staff integrate this strategy into their work, empowering them to make decisions in alignment with strategy.
Raises the Budget
Creates a plan for meeting the annual budget, with support from staff. Coordinates the staff team to maintain funder relationships. Writes grants, with assistance from staff and (optionally) a contract grant writer. The buck stops here.
Has a Grounding in Energy Systems or Climate Work This work requires nimble and strategic analysis of power dynamics in the energy sector, often in coalition or movement spaces. We don’t expect candidates to be experts, but we don’t think they can be successful if everything is new.
Community Power welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color), women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, gender-nonconforming, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.
If you’re excited about this position, but aren't sure you meet 100% of the requirements, please still feel welcome to apply.
Please send a cover letter addressed to Leticia Jones, Executive Co-Director, and a résumé to [email protected]. The subject line of the email should say “Community Power Co-Director Application.” Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Community Power is an Equal Opportunity Employer Community Power is committed to providing employees with a welcoming work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Community Power is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.
