Search
Senior or Managing Director, Inclusive Finance, Energy Access and Equity
Job overview and requirements
With the passage of the historic Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, Minnesota is primed to receive millions in clean energy investments. However, there is a need to ensure that this influx of funding and programs (1) adhere to the principles of Justice40 and are benefiting the communities most impacted by climate change, pollution, and systemic racism, and (2) supports economic and workforce development that leads to true wealth creation from the clean energy transition for these communities, who tend to be under-resourced and have so far been under-represented in the clean energy economy.
In support of this need, Fresh Energy is hiring for a full-time Senior or Managing Director of Inclusive Finance to join our Energy Access and Equity team. This position holds primary responsibility for creating and directing a new Fresh Energy program focused on building an equitable and resilient clean energy economy in Minnesota that supports job and wealth creation for all Minnesotans, with a focus on under-resourced communities; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, and those residing outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. The Senior or Managing Director will also work to expand and diversify funding resources for this program as well as identify new opportunities to advance Fresh Energy’s mission within the Inclusive Finance program area.
While the initial focus for this role will be supporting equitable implementation of federal funding opportunities, particularly related to the development of a clean energy finance authority or “green bank” in Minnesota from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, there will be ample opportunity to shape and craft this role based on the previous experience and interest of the eventual hire. Potential areas of additional work include assessing and supporting private capital deployment, market building, wealth creation, and workforce development in pursuit of ensuring a just and equitable energy transition. There is also opportunity to collaborate with our housing and energy program on affordable housing financing and funding energy efficiency and electrification solutions. Given the cross-cutting nature of clean energy finance, this role will work in close collaboration with other teams and departments at Fresh Energy, especially but not limited to our Buildings Department, Public Affairs, and Communications teams.
Our story
As experts in energy and climate, Fresh Energy understands that there are solutions within reach that can help us prevent the very worst damages of climate change. For nearly 30 years, Fresh Energy has been speeding Minnesota’s transition to a clean energy economy to ensure that our region enjoys good health, a vibrant economy, and thriving, equitable communities today and for generations to come. Our mission is to shape and drive bold policy solutions to create equitable carbon-neutral economies by 2050.
Fresh Energy has historically worked to decarbonize the electric power sector while also implementing and expanding energy efficiency solutions. In recent years, we have turned our focus to additional sectors of the economy that also require urgent decarbonization, such as buildings, transportation, and – most recently – heavy industry. Much of this work has taken place through our participation in the regulatory and legislative arenas, which continue to be important avenues for achieving progress on our carbon reduction goals.
Fresh Energy has also been on a journey to understand how its role in as an advocate for clean energy in Minnesota must expand from a mission of decarbonization to one of equitable decarbonization, that reduces not only our carbon emission but also existing health and wealth disparities across demographics such a race, income, and geography. Fresh Energy acknowledged the importance of this work through the creation of the Energy Access and Equity team in 2018, with an initial focus on ensuring energy efficiency and other clean energy solutions were reaching affordable housing properties, renters, and multifamily residences. Since then, the team has expanded to include internal organization culture, partnerships, and healthy and affordable transportation.
We are excited to expand again with the hiring of a new Senior or Managing Director of Inclusive Finance, who will create a new avenue of change within Fresh Energy that will get us closer to achieving our goal of a just and equitable energy transition through clean energy financing, economic development, and/or workforce development.
Compensation and benefits
- Starting salary range: $85,400 – $109,200 based on experience and role (Senior Director or Managing Director), with opportunity for compensation change based on performance, equity across the organization, strategy, and organizational budget
- Full-time, exempt position, working 40 hours per week, with the exception of Half-day Fridays. We believe in caring for others at work and at home. Fresh Energy is committed to keeping the workload in alignment with the true hours worked and respecting the space needed to take personal time to care for your wellbeing and your family members.
- 24 days of PTO (increases each year of employment), 15 paid holidays, and a flexible, family-friendly schedule; plus, Summer Fridays where the office closes at noon on Friday.
- We provide medical and dental plans, additional voluntary vision, short- and long-term disability, life, AD&D insurance, and 5 percent of annual salary contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan from your first day at Fresh Energy. Fresh Energy will contribute a match of 1:1 up to 3% of your eligible gross salary should you decide to contribute to your plan.
- In addition, we incentivize transit, biking, and walking, offering a dollar-for-dollar bus pass match, $1 for each trip to and from work by bike or walk, and an indoor bike storage area, as well as gym, and showers available for Fresh Energy staff as part of being a tenant of the Historic Hamm Building.
- Generous parental leave on your first day of full-time employment. Eligible employees are entitled to up to twelve (12) weeks of paid/unpaid leave under this policy. Fresh Energy will pay an eligible employee for the first six (6) weeks of leave with the rest of the leave being unpaid or being paid through the use of PTO. A full-time employee can carry over the eligible 80 PTO hours each fiscal year plus up to an additional 80 hours of PTO leave to cover the remaining 6-weeks that is not paid by Fresh Energy.
- All our employees are fully vaccinated for COVID19. We update our in-person protocols to safeguard the health and safety for all employees.
- We promote and sponsor individual and joint professional development workshops and trainings.
- We are intentional in co-creating relevant and inclusive flexible hybrid workplace. We foster a respectful, collaborative, and fun work environment. Learn more about working at Fresh Energy here: https://fresh-energy.org/our-team/working-at-fresh-energy/
- Current Fresh Energy policy allows a hybrid work schedule, with in-person presence encouraged two to three days per week with remote work. In-person presence may include meetings, conferences, or speaking engagements external to the office.
Essential responsibilities
A. Policy and Programs: A Senior or Managing Director role leading the new Inclusive Finance program within the Energy Access and Equity department, to shape and execute an advocacy strategy for implementing federal funding opportunities equitably and developing other financing solutions to build a just and equitable clean energy economy in Minnesota.
- Steer overall work specific to the Inclusive Finance program area, including identifying highest leverage opportunities and ensuring effective execution.
- Propose and conduct policy, economic, and/or financial analysis related to clean energy financing or funding opportunities, policy proposals, changes, and approaches.
- Make written and oral presentations to collaborators, financial institutions, policy makers, and other stakeholders as part of the program’s outreach and advocacy functions.
- In collaboration with the Communications department, create and publish reports, white papers, web content, e-newsletters, and other program information. When appropriate, work to optimize media coverage of program goals, activities, and successes; this may include media interviews as well as writing op-ed pieces, and also includes the recruitment and training of effective messengers.
- Represent the Inclusive Finance program in interactions with funders and regularly evaluate new opportunities for fundraising and reporting on progress.
- Serve as a deployable expert, working across programs, to ensure that clean energy transition is financed and structured in a way that builds wealth and jobs in the communities most impacted by climate change, including under-resourced communities, those of color, and those outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.
- Model and lead a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, identifying and implementing new strategies to better achieve Fresh Energy’s mission and imperatives through work between or across departments such as Clean Electricity, Energy Transition, Public Affairs, and/or Communications and Organizational Health.
- Effectively manage all resources under the Inclusive Finance program area, modeling a commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist organization.
- Support the creation and management of the annual budget for the Energy Access and Equity department.
- Regularly assess opportunities for new partners or collaborations outside of Fresh Energy that will advance the Inclusive Finance program area goals.
B. Participate in culture of collaboration and model our core values.
- Model organization values, see here: Core Values
- Shape and support organization-wide systems such as our culture of fundraising and performance review system.
- Exhibit a clear commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and provide leadership in continually advancing Fresh Energy’s commitment to equity and being an anti-racist organization.
- Work effectively in the context of your immediate team, the broader Fresh Energy team, and with external partners, enhancing collaboration by maintaining good communication, seeking and respecting diverse viewpoints, engendering trust, fulfilling responsibilities, and ensuring that all team members and their contributions are valued.
C. Other duties as discussed and in coordination between position holder and Lead Director, Energy Access and Equity.
Job qualifications
- Ability to self-direct and work independently once onboarded, while staying coordinated with Energy Access and Equity team and other staff
- Ability to connect with partners and build relationships among diverse parties, including steering meetings, influencing outcomes, and facilitating next steps, while working collaboratively and in an inclusive manner
- A strong commitment to ensuring a just and equitable energy transition
- Ability to develop and lead a program, with the potential to manage staff in the future
- Ability to conduct rigorous information-gathering and compile findings into easily digestible and compelling formats
- Experience or ability to present before leaders in the business community, philanthropy, municipal and state governments; and policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
- Preferred experience working in economic development, workforce development, finance, or similar role related to wealth creation and jobs development.
- Formal education or experience equivalent to a Master’s degree plus at least nine (9) years of experience, or a Bachelor’s degree plus at least eleven (11) years of experience at least one of the following: energy, finance (e.g. investment, lending, and/or other types of capital deployment), economic development, community development, housing, policy, business development, technology transfer, or related fields. Experience and ability to independently establish a new program and proactively identify and execute a policy strategy and fundraising opportunities will determine which role (Senior Director or Managing Director) the eventual new hire will fulfill.
- Planful and results-oriented.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Solid computer skills in Windows environment, including MS Office, MS PowerPoint, and Adobe.
- Team player who desires working in an environment where working as a team is valued and practiced.
- Demonstrated ability to perform well in fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends is required.
Our hiring process and timeline
- At your earliest convenience, please submit a resume and brief (one page) cover letter to our hiring team at [email protected]. Preference will be given to applications received by or before January 31.
- Our hiring team will request a virtual, first-round interview via Zoom in early February 2023. Our hiring team will also ask for a second-round interview in person later in February 2023.
- At the time of the second interview, we will ask for three references and up to two work samples relevant to this position, e.g., a professional writing sample, a presentation, a summary of your investment or financing portfolio for projects (especially those related to equitable or clean energy development), or other relevant materials.
- Due to national holidays and Fresh Energy’s week-long winter break between December 24 through January 2, we request your patience with the length of your application and interview process.
- Ideally the selected candidate would begin work in February or March 2023.
- Fresh Energy’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employer Policy reflect our commitment to ensure equality, treat everyone with respect, and promote diversity in the workplace.
