Welch Environmental Innovation Fellowship

~ Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science and the support of 1.4 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. ~

NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws. Today, our staff of more than 450 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy and communications experts, and others, work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Livingston, Montana and Beijing.

The Center for Market Innovation (CMI) is team of private sector-trained, market-focused professionals within NRDC's Urban Solutions Program that works collaboratively with private sector, as well as public sector and other NGOs to help demonstrate the potential for market based solutions that offer both strong profit potential and better outcomes for people and the planet.

CMI focuses on energy, shelter, water, and food because these are the building blocks of life and also hold the greatest potential for transformative environmental market opportunity.

For further information about NRDC, please visit our website. 

Position Overview

CMI is seeking an 18 month fellow who will be a critical part of our team, with a focus on applying financial and analytical skills to support our work in advancing the business case for a comprehensive approach to retrofits of existing multifamily residential building that benefit both residents and owners.

The fellow may also have opportunities to use his/her analytical skills and cross sector expertise to support initiatives that promote green finance solutions across energy efficiency, clean energy, green stormwater infrastructure and sustainable, local food systems.

This role provides an opportunity to contribute to a comprehensive strategy covering publicly and privately owned properties to help drive greater investment and support for efficiency and other environmental and quality of life improvements in the affordable multifamily housing sector.

The selected candidate will work with a team of experts, leading research and strategies to increase access to energy efficiency benefits to affordable multifamily homes. This role expands on outputs that have been developed through our Affordable Multifamily Demonstration Project, with a goal of advancing and accelerating the development of this asset class.

This Project demonstrates a scalable model emphasizing replicable financing mechanisms, making the economic case to developers and building owners, stakeholder engagement and decision-making processes for energy efficiency, renewable energy and resiliency investments and financing.

The Affordable Multifamily Demonstration Project works closely with NRDC's Energy Efficiency for All initiative which targets affordable multifamily housing with a 12-state campaign to secure at least $80 million in additional utility investments, empowering state and national networks of advocates, and engaging building owners in the fight for an equitable share of funding resources.

Through the Project we are working with a set of private and public partners to work with a range of investors with diverse risk appetites, including CDFIs, tax credit investors, impact investors, PRI and commercial capital, to design, identify and implement effective financing mechanisms.

In addition, the Fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to financial analysis and research in other market-based initiatives on an as needed basis including green finance for renewables, water infrastructure and sustainable food.

The selected candidate will receive an 18-month fellowship with CMI commencing in February 2016. This will be a full-time staff position based in NRDC's New York office.

Responsibilities 

The Welch Environmental Innovation Fellow will: 

• Work with both internal and external team members to provide detailed analysis of cost effective energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality opportunities, and a financing assessment to report the project recommendations and support the development of communication materials and strategies. 
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to develop and research publications and presentations aimed at increasing owner demand in the affordable multifamily homes sector.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to refine and update a financial tool to determine the investment return of various efficiency measures.
• Help develop and manage collaboration across organizations to support the use of NRDC produced resources aimed at increasing awareness of strategies and benefits of incorporating energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality as an integral part of affordable multifamily capital improvement and comprehensive urban solutions plan.
• Support the development of financing mechanisms to accelerate the adoption of efficiency measures in the affordable multifamily sector as well as other building sectors. Work may also include bundling energy efficiency/renewable energy with water efficiency or stormwater-related improvements.
• Assist with the execution of other initiatives of the CMI team, with an emphasis on landlord/tenant collaboration opportunities, and development of various energy efficiency and clean energy financing mechanisms. 

Qualifications 

We are looking for a financial sector professional with strong quantitative, analytical and communication skills, an understanding of green finance and a passion for triple-bottom line (people, profit, planet) approach to effecting positive and scalable change. In addition, the ideal candidate would have: 

• At least three years of relevant work experience in finance (including at CDFIs).
• Superior quantitative skills with advanced excel modeling skills. 
• Demonstrated excellence in both verbal and written communication, including ability to transform complex analytics into a simple, visual, spoken, or written story to influence decision makers.
• A flexible, can-do attitude with demonstrated ability to excel in a dynamic and fast paced environment, working both independently and as part of a team, to meet tight deadlines while maintaining superior quality.
• Familiarity with sustainable finance concepts and metrics. 
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple issues.
• Passionate about data and metrics. Quantitative reasoning skills, including the ability to work with numbers and to summarize data into graphical and tabular forms.
• Strong presentation skills. The ability to present, explain and discuss results of analyses to effectively drive fact-based decision making within all levels of the organization.
• Masters Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance, or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with and passion for environmental and social equity issues (particularly around energy, food, water and housing) are a strong plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the real estate industry, particularly the affordable multifamily housing sector, including knowledge of multifamily architecture typologies and building science and like LEED / high performance retrofit processes is a plus. 
• Familiarity with energy efficiency and renewable energy financing mechanisms and strategies for multifamily buildings is a plus. 

Compensation: We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience. 

To Apply 

• Please click below: "Apply Here!" 
• Once you complete the initial application page, please attach a formatted copy of your cover letter and resume.
• Please include salary requirements in your cover letter.
• No phone calls or faxes please.
• Please reference where you saw this posting. 

~ NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NRDC is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. ~