Director of Siting Policy

California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) is a trade association supported by 25 member companies involved in developing wind energy projects for the California market.  CalWEA seeks to grow the market for wind energy and to resolve regulatory and legislative impediments to efficient wind project development.  CalWEA serves on the Stakeholder Committee for the California-federal Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), an important initiative aimed at facilitating achievement of California's ambitious renewable energy goals while maintaining the state's high environmental land-use standards, which will result in a permit structure for wind projects across California's vast desert region indefinitely. 

The ever-changing regulatory environment and new demand of CalWEA's involvement in the DRECP process has created an immediate need for an experienced environmental professional to manage CalWEA's involvement in the DRECP process and to manage other ongoing policy and regulatory activities.

Responsibilities:

• Manage CalWEA's participation in the DRECP process -- develop CalWEA's positions and proposals and manage communications with state and federal government officials and other NGO stakeholders to achieve CalWEA's goals
• Manage CalWEA's activities on other siting-related policy issues
• Conduct limited research on siting issues
• Manage CalWEA's siting-related research projects and consultants
• Develop and manage external communications on siting issues
• Manage communications with CalWEA's siting-related membership committees
• Assist Executive Director in organizational management

Qualifications:

• Strong writing and speaking skills
• Strong organizational and management capabilities, at least 3 years of project-manager-level experience
• Experience with environmental review process for wind projects, including experience with land-use and wildlife permit applications
• Familiarity with wildlife agencies and environmental laws and regulations relevant to wind project siting in California
• Practical knowledge of wind project development process
• Bachelor's degree or higher; environmental sciences field preferred
• Available to begin work March 15; resident of California by August 2012

Reports to: Executive Director
Hours: Full-time (less than full-time may be considered)
Location: Must be California resident, location within the state flexible

Compensation: Competitive, based on experience and qualifications (please include salary requirement in cover letter). Benefits: Full health/dental insurance. Vacation policy: 2 weeks.

Applications Due:  February 22, 2012

To Apply: 

Please send resume, cover letter, at least 2 professional references, writing sample related to wind energy siting policy, and any inquires.  Please no phone calls. Applications will be reviewed by a search committee comprised of members of CalWEA's Siting Committee.