Southeast Regional Director- The Carolinas

ABOUT VOTE SOLAR

Vote Solar’s mission is to realize a 100% clean energy future through a solutions-driven, people first approach. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advances just and equitable clean energy policy in state legislatures and public commissions across the United States. Our expertise comes from a deep understanding of the legislative process, regulatory interventions, and the ability to identify and accelerate solar solutions. We are adept at bridging communities and bringing diverse stakeholders together to forge inclusive coalitions and winning campaigns. 

Our goal is to effect real, tangible change. And we have the track-record to prove we can do it: Twenty years in, our work has made it so that one in three people live in a state with a 100% clean energy commitment. We’ll not only expand that number, but ensure that more people can participate in holding utilities and decision makers accountable for greater equity and justice in our energy system.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE

Vote Solar is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including multilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

THE ROLE

Vote Solar is seeking to fill a key role on our campaign’s team. The Southeast Regional Director is Vote Solar’s voice in the region, and will be looked upon to bring Vote Solar’s social justice values, technical know-how, and consensus building skills to the region to move the needle to advance fair and expansive energy policies in the Carolinas. The Southeast Regional Director will develop and direct legislative and other public-facing campaigns in North Carolina and South Carolina

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Southeast Regional Director’s primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

  • Develop Vote Solar’s legislative & public-facing campaign strategy for both states. This will involve developing an understanding of solar policy needs and opportunities in target states across our five program areas of rooftop solar, community solar, utility-scale solar, grid modernization, and access & equity.
  • Strategically plan and execute comprehensive regulatory and legislative campaigns to advance solar policy, including hiring lobbyists and tracking budgets. 
  • Recruit solar champions through relationship building and education of key policymakers in the region.
  • Ensure that our work in the region advances socially-just energy policies and programs that will benefit underserved communities.
  • Leverage grassroots supporters and organizations as well as key influencers to turn solar’s broad popularity into effective political power. 
  • Build strong, authentic partnerships within coalitions to increase the effectiveness and inclusivity of our campaigns. Lead or participate in coalitions, existing and new, that are working on bold campaigns to improve energy and climate policy.
  • Ensure top-notch communications campaigns in the region by working with our internal communications team and coalition partners to plan and implement media and social media tactics to support campaign objectives.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT (50%) 

  • Work with other regional staff, including the Regulatory Director and the Deputy Program Director, to identify and prioritize annual campaigns and key partners.
  • Attend regular regional campaign and coalition meetings to identify how Vote Solar can meet its goals in the state and add value to the work being done by partners.
  • Work with the internal Communications team and the internal Access and Equity team to develop campaign strategies that build awareness of our policy goals and ensure equity and environmental justice is centered in planning and implementation of the campaign.  
  • Implement campaign strategies and manage external resources related to the campaign such as consultants and lobbyists. 

PARTNERSHIP BUILDING (40%)

  • Maintain and deepen existing relationships with partners in North and South Carolina by supporting shared campaigns and keeping an ongoing dialogue around future priorities. 
  • Work with the internal Access and Equity team to identify and build relationships with new partners in low-income communities, communities of color, or in communities that are situated far from centers of power. 
  • Build new relationships with decision makers at the state and local levels to improve awareness of our goals and to create opportunities for policy education. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE (10%)

  • Continue personal learning and contributions to organizational work on diversity, equity and inclusion. 
  • Work to embed equity in all organizational internal practices and culture, as well as our programs.
  • Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity.

REQUIREMENTS

WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED

  • 7+ years of relevant, combined education and experience. Of those seven, the candidate should have three to five years of experience in community organizing, advocacy campaigns, and/or stakeholder outreach work. 
  • Knowledge of the legislative process, and familiarity with the components of an advocacy campaign: lobbying, grassroots and grasstops organizing and media relations. 
  • Interest in energy policy and a proven ability to become conversant with policy details.
  • Experience building strong, trust-based partnerships and working in coalitions and finding common ground among diverse and occasionally competing perspectives.
  • Compelling communication skills, including the ability to speak in public and with media outlets.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple projects at once.
  • A personal commitment to building an inclusive and supportive work environment. 
  • Experience working with communities and organizations located far from political centers of power

OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OR WOULD BE EXCITED TO LEARN HERE

  • Expertise on solar or other energy policy and regulatory topics, particularly in the Southeast.
  • Experience working in agricultural or coastal areas. 
  • Expertise on climate policies, particularly related to the intersection of clean energy and climate change adaptation.
  • Strong relationships with regional stakeholders, especially environmental justice, frontline and traditional environmental groups as well as the solar industry.

MINDSETS

  • A personal commitment to being a part of an inclusive and just workplace, including a commitment to being on a journey with Vote Solar to develop personal, and inter-personal core competencies related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
  • Passion for building new capacity at a growing organization, and demonstrates tenacity in the face of challenges
  • Understanding that how we work (in collaborative, authentic partnership), is as important as what we work on

LOCATION

This is a fully remote position. However, the candidate must currently live in, or be willing to move to, North or South Carolina, with a strong preference for candidates located in and around Raleigh, North Carolina.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vote Solar staff have been primarily working from home and we are now beginning to resume work travel. When it is safe to do so, this position will require some national travel, although we will respect each person’s comfort level until COVID-19 is no longer a heightened concern. Workplace arrangements are flexible, including options to work from a co-working space or work from home.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $100,000-$105,000. Vote Solar provides full-time staff with a competitive package, including 4 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 4 days of personal leave and 16 paid holidays. We also offer 100% employer-provided health, dental and vision care for both the employee and dependents; a retirement savings plan and an employer match of up to 3.5%; and a paid parental and medical leave policy for all regular employees. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Vote Solar is partnering with RCG Talent Solutions to find our next Southeast Regional Director, Carolinas. Please follow this link to submit your application and direct all questions to openroles@rcgtalent.com. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

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