VP, Policy and Government Affairs

The New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC, a 501c6) and the New England Clean Energy Foundation (NECEF, a 501c3) are affiliated non-profit organizations founded in 2007 that have had a strong impact on the emergence and growth of a vibrant clean energy cluster in New England-and on national clean energy initiatives as well.

NECEC is the leading clean energy trade association in the New England region, representing hundreds of clean energy companies, while NECEF is the leading clean energy cluster development organization, researching and developing innovation, workforce and other related programs.

The New England Clean Energy Council's mission is to accelerate New England's clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies. The Council represents close to 400 member and affiliate member organizations, including clean energy companies, venture investors, major financial institutions, universities, industry associations, utilities, labor and large commercial end-users. The Council's ranks include clean energy CEOs, representatives from most of the region's top 10 law firms, and partners from most of the top New England venture capital firms.

The New England Clean Energy Foundation's mission, as a supporting entity of the New England Clean Energy Council, is to accelerate New England's clean energy economy to global leadership through innovation, education, workforce development, and research programs.

Working with their stakeholders, NECEC and NECEF develop and execute a wide array of programs in six strategic focus areas: Innovation, Growth, Education & Workforce Development, Adoption, Policy & Advocacy, and Research.

Position Overview:

NECEC and NECEF are seeking a VP of Policy and Government Affairs to coordinate and accelerate clean energy policies and programs across New England, combining state and regional policy planning, analysis, development and education, and to lead state, regional and national clean energy advocacy efforts.  

Start Date: Immediately.  

Responsibilities:

• Lead one of NECEC/NECEF's six strategic focus areas: "Policy & Advocacy".
• Serve as the main point of contact for all clean energy policy development efforts and programs at the state, regional and national levels, including: energy efficiency; renewables; research, development and innovation; transportation, fuels and grid; education; green house gas reduction strategies including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and others.
• Coordinate and manage all state and national government affairs efforts and relationships.
• Lead a volunteer policy committee of more than 70 executives from NECEC member, sponsor and affiliated clean energy companies. 
• Facilitate the design, implementation and visibility of NECEC state, regional and federal policy agendas.
• Significantly expand clean energy policy research, development, education and advocacy capabilities across the 6 New England states.
• Work in conjunction with the NECEC President, NECEF Executive Director and NECEC/NECEF Director of Operations, to integrate a "Policy & Advocacy" plan into NECEC's/NECEF's other organizational, financial and programmatic plans.
• Manage NECEC's policy efforts to grow NECEC senior team, board and corporate members relationships and impact on clean energy policies with the New England states and congressional delegation.
• Partner with NECEC state chapters and affiliates to develop local and state policy agendas, ensuring appropriate linkages between the federal policy agenda and any state or local policy agendas.
• Work directly with Congressional and Executive branches to educate members and staffers on the issues that are central to NECEC's policy agenda.
• Establish new and shepherd existing strategic relationships with policy and research organizations, aligned with common goals and related interests.
• Lead efforts to become proactive, rather than reactive, with all New England state legislatures.
• Respond quickly to new clean energy bills, amendments, legislative and regulatory hearings, news stories, and other rapidly changing policy events.
• Communicate effectively and professionally as an NECEC/NECEF representative in public forums with colleagues from research, policy, and other relevant communities.
• Develop relationships with policymakers necessary for clean energy policy and cluster impact.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for maintaining and/or expanding the NECEC/NECEF Policy & Advocacy funding base through private foundation and government grants.
• Establish and maintain key funder relationships in relation to NECEC's policy work.
• Direct, oversee, and conduct primary and secondary research relevant to the policy agenda.
• Identify current research, best practices and strategies for supporting NECEC advocacy and policy work, maintaining a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the clean energy industry.
• Orchestrate development of policy briefs and other written products.
• Ensure high quality of products and deliverables for state, regional and federal policy work.
• Manage the NECEC annual "Washington D.C. CEO Fly-in"-an advocacy trip with 50-100 clean energy CEOs and other industry stakeholders.
• Manage small group trips to Washington D.C. as well as in-district meetings with Congressional members, attended by clean energy stakeholders from around the New England region.
• Manage all third-party NECEC lobbyists.
• Manage policy interns and consultants as well as part-time, state-specific coordinators in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, to improve the ability to convene and activate clean energy executives across the New England states in clean energy policy and cluster development efforts. 
• Work with NECEC/NECEF Director of Operations to develop the Policy & Advocacy annual budget.
• Manage all Policy & Advocacy budgets, timelines and work plans.
• Work with the NECEC President and NECEC/NECEF Director of Operations to complete all state and federal lobbying-related quarterly and annual reports.

Qualifications:

• Comprehensive content knowledge of clean energy policies and regulations at the state, regional and federal levels is essential.
• Minimum of 7+ years experience in related position(s).
• Passion for the mission of NECEC and NECEF.
• Advanced degree in public policy, public management, law, or related/relevant equivalent experience required.
• Proven experience in legislative advocacy, policy development and practice, and policy research.
• Highly regarded in professional circles for skills and expertise.
• Effective leader and team member.
• Self-starter, comfortable shaping priorities and agenda within broadly-set parameters.
• Master at developing relationships across multi-stakeholder communities.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and manage major complex projects and multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently as well as a collaborative member of a team.
• Experience in effectively managing and supervising full and part-time staff, consultants, and volunteers.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in clean energy policy research and report writing.
• Demonstrated networking/partnership-building skills.
• Entrepreneurial spirit.
• Sense of humor.
• Willingness to travel across New England, and occasionally beyond the region up to 25% of the time.  

Compensation:  Salary range is commensurate with experience. This position is funded initially for 2 years.

To Apply:

Email a resume and cover letter to Trish Fields. Please include your salary requirements as well as 3 references with your submission.

New England Clean Energy Council and New England Clean Energy Foundation are equal opportunity employers.