Operations Fellow

The mission of The DC Project is to advance economic and environmental justice by creating clean energy careers for people who need them most. The DC Project applies cutting-edge organizing tools and tactics to mobilize community interest in home weatherization, creating economic savings, environmental benefits, and new green jobs.

The DC Project is a "Think+Action Tank", testing and refining community-based demand creation methodology through its anchor program, Weatherize DC, and developing models that can be replicated in communities across the nation to ignite the home energy efficiency market and move closer towards an equitable green economy.

WeatherizeDC, the anchor program of The DC Project, works with hundreds of D.C. residents to mobilize one of America's greatest assets - community leadership - to unlock the promise of the home energy efficiency industry for creating environmental benefits and good green jobs. WeatherizeDC recruits, develops, and trains community leaders and volunteers from neighborhood groups, faith-based networks and campus activists to engage, educate, and activate their communities to convince homeowners to invest in weatherization. WeatherizeDC identifies homeowners interested in weatherization and passes them along to local home performance contractors, who deliver the home retrofit services.  

WeatherizeDC leverages the increased business it creates-through its community organizing efforts-for partnering contractors to ensure that new jobs created translate into career-track, sustainable-wage work for District residents who are most in need of employment.

Position Overview:

Operations Fellows will learn the ins-and-outs of not-profit management and organizational system design.  Fellows can expect to work on operational development strategies as the organization grows in projects and partners.

This will include assisting in the assessment, research, design, and implementation of operational systems conducive to a fast growing, fluid, and high-impact organization. Utilizing innovative IT solutions to improve on existing business processes and systems will be a critical component of this fellowship. In addition to system design, fellows will be called upon to assist in operational management, including financial, human resource, facilities, and vendor management.

Responsibilities:

• To assist the Operations Associate in managing Finances, IT Systems, Human Resources, and Facilities
• To contribute to the day-to-day office management and to be available for staff operational queries throughout the workday
• To participate in the development of operational systems from their conceptual stage through implementation
• To process invoices, receipts, and correspondences with Vendors
• To develop and execute organizational development projects
• To demonstrate knowledge and interest in environment, energy, labor, law, policy, workforce development, education, and/or non-profit development.
• To have the capacity to take initiative and to work independently as well as within a team
• To demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills
• To exercise strong organization skills, attention to detail, and an interest in problem-solving
• To draw on a general understanding of IT and demonstrate a desire to expand IT skills and knowledge.

Qualifications:

Students with Bachelor's Degree or Graduate Student are preferred, however exceptional undergraduates with relevant academic and professional focus and experience will be considered. Those with experience in business, IT / Computer Science, Systems Design, and Administration are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals who hold a BA or BS in similar areas may also be qualified. 

Compensation: Fellowships with The DC Project are unpaid. Previous fellows and interns have received academic credit or work study for their work with the organization. For more information related to this, please direct inquiries to your respective school. If you are not from the Washington, D.C. area, please explore housing options with relatives or friends as soon as possible.  If you are unable to find and fund housing, precluding you from participating in the Fellowship Program, please inform The DC Project via email.

Both full-time and part-time fellows are encouraged to apply. Full-time fellows are expected to work 40 hours a week. Hours and workdays are flexible. Part-time fellows are expected to work 10-20 hours a week. As with full-time fellows, hours and workdays are flexible. Start and end dates are somewhat flexible, with a preference for a September 15 or September 27 start date and a commitment of 2.5 months, or until December 10, 2010.  Please include your availability in your cover letter. 

To Apply:

Applicants should submit the following (include "Operations Fellow" in subject line) no later than September 3, 2010:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• 2 - 3 References
• A final product of your work, such as a writing sample or a system design (optional)

Use your application materials to explain your interest in The DC Project and its mission; please highlight any exposure you have to the Washington, D.C. community and the dates of your availability over the fall.  Your cover letter should explain the skills, experience, and interest that qualify you to fulfill the expectations outlined above.  If you are applying for more than one fellowship with The DC Project, please be sure to rank your interests.