Employment
Acadia Center is committed to a diverse work environment that advances goals to remedy racial, environmental and climate justice issues. We value a workplace of mutual respect, the ability to learn from one another and a team culture of inclusion, shared responsibilities and decision making. People of color encouraged to apply.
Acadia Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Acadia Center seeks to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, military service, and citizenship.
Open Positions
Director, Communications
Description
Acadia Center is seeking a highly motivated, strategic and experienced professional to spearhead the organization’s communications efforts, including media relations, social media and organizational materials. Reporting to the President and working with other executive team members and staff, the Director will ensure a clear and consistent brand in external communications, expand Acadia Center’s visibility and public relations, and manage the workflow between the communications, programs and development teams, ensuring transparency and efficient working processes. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by shaping and executing strategic messaging and communications that elevate our mission, strengthen our profile, and inspire positive change.
Key Responsibilities
- Establish specific communications goals for Acadia Center and develop comprehensive plans and strategies to reach them and measure progress.
- Create a comprehensive communications work plan to meet the communications goals of the organization, incorporating appropriate tactics to disseminate news, have a strong social media presence, promote webinars, speaking engagements for our diverse staff, and do extensive media cultivation.
- Train staff in branding and messaging, equipping them to be effective spokespersons for the organization.
- Build Acadia Center’s profile with the media, cultivating relationships and facilitating media coverage that amplifies our message and initiatives.
- Oversee the development of public-facing materials, such as monthly/quarterly newsletters, donor communications, determining priorities to promote and gather all information.
- Translate policy and advocacy work into persuasive messages; draft press releases, talking points, and op-eds to support advocacy; support coalition messaging.
- Manage websites and social media; produce digital content; track analytics to improve engagement.
- Collaborate with the Development and Programs team to create compelling fundraising communications materials and ensure high-quality donor stewardship.
- Participate as a member of the executive committee, helping to drive the strategic vision of the organization.
- Lead, coach, and support two communications team members to achieve excellence in their work.
- Liaison with industry communications, partner and grassroots organizations
Reporting
The Director, Communications reports directly to the President and CEO, providing regular updates on operational performance, initiatives, and challenges. The President and CEO will evaluate the performance of this position annually during a dedicated performance evaluation session. This structured reporting ensures clear communication and alignment with the organization’s strategic goals and priorities. This position will be responsible for the management of two staff and will serve as primary contact for other external communications contractors. The Director, Communications will be an integral member of key teams, including Executive Committee and Communications, PR and Marketing. Participation in these teams ensures alignment with organizational goals, facilitates cross-departmental collaboration, and supports strategic planning and execution.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in nonprofit marketing, PR and communications.
- Proven track record in building and maintaining press relationships and strengthening brand identity.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills.
- Strong understanding of social media strategy and best practices.
- Demonstrated ability to plan effectively, set goals, and meet deadlines.
- Excellent organizational skills and a results-driven approach to all tasks.
- Proven ability to manage, mentor, and motivate staff.
- Ability to thrive both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, persuasive in written and verbal formats.
- Strong networking, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Enthusiasm for Acadia Center’s mission and theory of change.
- Familiarity with climate and clean energy issues is desired.
Benefits
The salary band for the Director, Communications role is $88,000 to $101,000 annually. Acadia Center offers competitive compensation aligned with peer nonprofit organizations, with a salary based on experience and skill level. Compensation is based on factors such as education, work experience, field knowledge, and skill set. For exempt salaried employees, benefits include healthcare, dental, retirement, disability, and PTO.
Senior Policy Advocate, Northern New England
Search Open November 6, 2025, Until Filled
Position Description
Acadia Center is seeking a Senior Policy Advocate to focus on energy and climate policy initiatives in northern New England, particularly Maine and New Hampshire. The position will advance Acadia Center’s regional and state goals, including multi-state and cross-border efforts.
This role will play an important supporting role advocating for Acadia Center regional and state priorities to promote and implement energy and climate policy advances. These areas focus on clean energy, utility and power grid policy reforms, energy efficiency, and other climate change solutions. Forums include legislative and regulatory proceedings and public engagement work to communicate Acadia Center priorities, solutions and information. The position requires working with partner organizations and building coalitions; drafting public facing position and educational materials; media relations; developing analytical materials; and strategic program planning and coordination with Acadia Center teams.
Responsibilities include advocating for policy reforms, engaging with stakeholders, drafting materials, conducting technical analyses, public speaking and media work and building coalitions. Candidates should have a strong interest in public engagement, sustainable energy and climate issues, with at least five years of relevant experience preferred. Candidates should possess strong quantitative skills and a passion for climate action, energy justice and shaping climate advocacy in ways to resonate with the public. The position requires residency in Maine or New Hampshire and a willingness to represent Acadia Center in person.
Key Responsibilities
- Advance Acadia Center’s regional and state energy and climate policy reforms in northern New England.
- Research and prepare analytical materials that support Acadia Center’s program priorities and project
- Engage in legislative, government agency, community, public engagement, and outreach forums.
- Prepare policy, research, advocacy, and educational materials.
- Draft legislative and regulatory filings.
- Establish strong media relationships and incorporate public engagement strategies as a core part of our advocacy.
- Enhance engagement with community, housing, justice, consumer, and business voices.
- Represent Acadia Center on appointed boards and committees.
- Provide content and coordination with communications and development staff.
- Participate in and inform strategic discussions on regional and state priorities.
Requirements
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present information concisely and effectively to critical decision-makers and the public
- Experience and interest in shaping data and analysis to strengthen advocacy materials
- Proven ability to clearly communicate complex regulatory or technical concepts to a wide range of stakeholders, both in writing and verbally
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated capacity to build effective alliances to advance shared goals
- Commitment and enthusiasm for sustainable energy, climate, consumer and energy justice progress
- Interest in managing a diverse workload and participating with supervisors and teams in shaping work plans and schedules
- 5 years of relevant work experience
- J.D. or Master’s degree preferred
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) proficiency
Benefits
The expected salary range for the Senior Policy Advocate is $90,000 to $102,000 annually. The position is envisioned as either a full-time, exempt, salaried position or as a contract employee. Requests for flexible schedules will be considered. Acadia Center currently has a remote work policy that may be subject to revision. This position requires residency in New Hampshire or Maine with access to state policymaking forums. Travel to regional forums and internal meetings is expected. Acadia Center offers competitive compensation aligned with peer nonprofit organizations, with a salary based on experience and skill level. Compensation is based on factors such as education, work experience, field knowledge, and skill set. For exempt salaried employees, benefits include healthcare, dental, retirement, disability, and PTO.
Diversity and Climate Justice Commitment
Acadia Center is committed to a diverse work environment that advances goals to remedy racial, environmental and climate justice issues. We value a workplace of mutual respect, the ability to learn from one another, and a team culture of inclusion, shared responsibilities, and decision-making. Acadia Center is devoted to the values and ethics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). People from diverse backgrounds and identities are strongly encouraged to apply. You can read more about our values regarding DEIJ on our mission webpage here.
About Acadia Center
Acadia Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing clean energy solutions and climate policies that promote a livable climate and equitable economy. The organization collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and grassroots organizations to create innovative energy policies that address climate change and energy efficiency, focusing on electrification of buildings and transportation, clean energy transition, and resource management. Founded in 1998, Acadia Center engages in advocacy, technical analysis, and community-focused initiatives to drive regional and national action toward sustainable energy practices.
To Apply
To apply, please complete your application here. Phone calls will not be accepted.
Acadia Center offers a creative, respectful, and supportive work environment. Please contact us if you are motivated by the prospect of advancing a clean energy, low carbon future. Acadia Center invites applications from highly motivated people with experience in our issues.
Manager, Operations
Position Description
Acadia Center is seeking a dynamic, organized professional to serve as the organization’s lead operations coordinator and manager. This essential, core position is responsible for working with the president, staff and board to coordinate and overseeing the organization’s daily operations, corporate compliance, financial systems and basic human resources procedures. The position helps identify needs and improvements in expense reporting, file sharing, communications and other key aspects of organizational operations. The position reports to and works closely with the president to determine and implement priorities and is the primary point of contact supervising external bookkeeping, audit, IT and HR vendor consultants and serves as the president’s executive assistant. The role is ideal for candidates who are enthusiastic about Acadia Center’s mission and will enjoy playing a key role ensuring that the organization’s operational needs run smoothly so that it can deliver on mission
Responsibilities
- Support the president in overall management of the organization
Operations Management and Coordination
- Create, implement, and maintain processes and process improvement to drive operational efficiency across the team.
- Oversee and coordinate daily operations in office management, systems and expense tracking
- Serve as the primary point of contact for HR, IT, and Workplace processes, reporting, and compliance relating to recruitment, hiring, onboarding, performance management, professional development, office visits, and off boarding.
- Provide recommendations on external vendor needs in areas like IT, HR and financial accounting.
- Support the maintenance of the centralized file management system for using SharePoint and assisting in evaluating alternative file sharing systems
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align efforts and achieve organizational objectives including communications.
- Schedule and coordinate staff meetings, annual reviews, retreats, and board meetings, including reports, presentations and participant communications and logistics.
- Process mail and banking needs.
- Assist staff with booking and coordinating travel itineraries and following Acadia Center travel cost guidelines.
- Updating and maintaining Acadia Center’s personnel handbook, standard operating procedures and accounting manual, banking and file sharing
- Support board of directors functions.
Finance, Bookkeeping and Corporate Filing Oversight
- Act as primary point of contact with bookkeeping, benefits, bill pay, charitable registration vendor and IT service providers to the organization.
- Support the President and Development team to create donor and organizational financial reports.
- Support the Communications team.
- Ensure systems are in place for accurate expense tracking of day-to-day budget and finance tasks, including but not limited to, grant spending, oversee invoicing approvals and billpay systems, oversee setting up vendors, and matching expenditures to grants.
- With guidance from the President, lead the team’s annual budgeting processes, including gathering data, training on templates and other tools, and preparing reports to drive a consistent system of budget management.
- Process payroll and benefits; maintain schedules for administrative and personnel functions.
- Ensure insurance policies, leases and related obligations are up to date and in good standing.
- Ensure state corporation filings including charitable registrations are up to date and issues brought to the attention of the President.
- Maintain Microsoft Office templates such as PowerPoint, office stationery, and related documents.
- Manage subscriptions and conduct cost and service comparisons for software products and services including benefit programs.
Requirements
- Minimum 5-7 years’ directly related experience in project management, operations management, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and/or work experience.
- Previous experience in non-profit administration, particularly at a non-profit of Acadia Center’s size.
- Experience successfully managing budgets, including prioritizing and reallocating funds to make the best use of limited resources for strategic purposes.
- Familiarity with non-profit accounting principles (GAAP) and financial management a plus; familiarity with bookkeeping and basic financial reporting; experience with QuickBooks or NetSuite a plus.
- Outstanding problem-solving skills, including the ability to proactively identify obstacles and propose solutions or recommendations to overcome them. Strong organizational skills and proven ability to manage projects and relationships in a complex/matrixed organizational structure.
- Excellent computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint); Adobe
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Enthusiasm for Acadia Center’s mission and approach to equitable climate solutions
Benefits
Acadia Center compensation is highly competitive with peer non-profit groups and compensation levels are commensurate with the selected candidate’s experience and skill levels. This position may be structured as full or part-time and offers flex-time possibilities. The expected salary range is $62,500 – $80,000. Benefits for salaried employees include health care, dental, retirement, disability, and vacation. The position anticipates a hybrid office/home office schedule in the Rockport, Maine office.
Position Location: Preference for Rockport, Maine.
Reports to: President and CEO
To Apply
To apply, please complete your application here. Phone calls will not be accepted.
Diversity and Climate Justice Commitment
Acadia Center is committed to a diverse work environment that advances goals to remedy racial, environmental, and climate justice issues. We value a workplace of mutual respect, the ability to learn from one another, and a team culture of inclusion, shared responsibilities, and decision-making. Acadia Center is devoted to the values and ethics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. People from diverse backgrounds and identities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Acadia Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Acadia Center seeks to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, national origin, or ancestry, physical or mental disability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital or civil union status, military service, citizenship, or any other characteristics and traits protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Open Internships and Fellowships
Roger E. Koontz Fellow in Law and Climate Policy
Summer 2026
Posted: December 2025 – Position filled
Acadia Center is seeking motivated law and policy students to apply for its Roger E. Koontz Fellowship in Law and Climate Policy. The Koontz Fellow will work with Acadia Center staff – policy experts, researchers, attorneys, and communications professionals– on projects that directly impact the organization’s work. Depending on the work, the Fellow may have the opportunity to meet with policymakers, attend public meetings, and engage in coalition interactions. Projects will be assigned based on skills and interests and could include the following:
• Clean Energy and Community Engagement: Scoping issues for legal and policy review related to community and stakeholder engagement in the anticipated expansion of the region’s clean energy projects, power grid, and transmission, such as a review of the adequacy of current permitting processes to seek and engage community-level input.
• Energy Regulatory System Reform: Researching legal issues and policy solutions on issues involving the need to reform approaches to regional power grid and state-level utility planning, financing, and governance so that it advances clean energy, climate, consumer, and energy justice goals.
• Building Energy and Energy Justice: Using legal analysis to advance organizational initiatives on energy efficiency and building decarbonization to understand better the connections between energy equity and environmental justice issues and develop policy recommendations for housing and transportation/mobility.
• Legislative/Statutory Analysis: For example, examining state laws to assess agencies’ existing authority to advance policies to cap GHG emissions and trade emissions allowances.
• Regulatory Intervention Support: In policy dockets, rate cases, and other adjudicated proceedings before Public Utilities Commissions (PUC), provide legal support for ongoing regulatory interventions through discovery, interrogatory requests, testimony drafting, and more.
• Energy contract and procurement legal analysis and advocacy: in regional settings, such as multi-state procurements for offshore wind, or regional procurements for public policy transmission upgrades, help Acadia Center dissect and understand provisions of RFPs, contracts, and ISO-NE tariffs filed before FERC for their impact on costs, reliability, emissions reductions, equity, and beyond.
The position will also provide the opportunity to gain exposure to and understanding of climate and clean energy issues by drafting public comments, policy memos, or explanatory outreach materials, attending webinars, coalition meetings, and meeting with government officials and other stakeholder groups.
Candidates should possess a selection of the following skills:
• A strong interest in environmental, energy, or climate law and policy.
• An interest in the application of data, consumer, health, and equity analyses to law and policy.
• Interest in the role of energy efficiency and other clean energy programs, public policy, community,
state, and regional engagement, electric and gas utilities, buildings, and transportation energy use.
• Self-guided literature research, legal/docket research, conducting interviews, and preparing summaries.
• Knowledge of social media and digital media best practices is helpful.
• JD is preferred, MPP/MPA candidates are welcome to apply as well if they possess relevant legal experience.
The Koontz Fellow position is fully remote, though there may be possibilities for in-person connections near Acadia Center staff locations in Rockport, ME; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Hartford, CT; and New York City. The fellowship is expected to run full-time for 8-10 weeks in June, July, and August and can be structured as full or flex time. Acadia Center will provide a stipend of $8,000-$13,000 (full-time level) depending on factors such as educational level, background experience, and schedule. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other school or work support programs, such as those offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Diversity and Climate Justice Commitment
Acadia Center is committed to a diverse work environment that advances racial, environmental, and climate justice. We value a workplace of mutual respect, the ability to learn from one another, and a team culture of inclusion, shared responsibilities, and decision-making. We apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice values to our program and organization’s activities and encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply.
Honoring Roger E. Koontz, Esq. (1940-2021)
Roger Koontz had an illustrious career as one of New England’s leading energy attorneys. Born in a small town in rural Illinois, Roger attended a one-room schoolhouse, winning a National Merit Scholarship and graduating with a BS in chemistry from the University of Illinois. He obtained his JD at Yale Law School, beginning his career at the New Haven Legal Assistance Association before moving to Connecticut Legal Services, where he served as Executive Director. His strong interest in environment and energy issues led him to staff the Conservation Law Foundation’s Connecticut office and form the firm Silverstone & Koontz with his friend and public interest attorney, David Silverstone, in Hartford for 17 years. Later, as counsel to Tyler, Cooper & Alcorn, Roger represented nonprofit organizations and small power producers on energy and utility issues. In 2001, Roger came out of retirement to assist Acadia Center, then Environment Northeast/ENE, in its efforts to stop an attempt by Enron Corporation to transfer over 100 million dollars from two new, publicly funded state clean energy funds into a project owned wholly by an Enron subsidiary. Roger’s legal skills helped defeat the project, a startling blow to one of the nation’s most powerful corporations. Roger worked with Acadia Center for the next decade as Senior Counsel, where he left his mark on a wide range of clean energy and regulatory reform precedents. Roger was a beloved mentor and friend to numerous staff. We are grateful for his work and presence in our organization.
To Apply
Current law and policy students with an interest in environmental, climate, or energy law and policy are invited to apply.