Employment

Acadia Center’s energy efficiency and building decarbonization program draws from two decades of successful leadership creating and expanding energy efficiency and building decarbonization policies and programs in the northeast. Acadia Center has led efforts to adopt “all cost-effective” energy efficiency policies supported by transparent stakeholder boards, which over the past years has produced large increases in efficiency program budgets and savings. The organization further is advancing efficiency and whole building electrification retrofits to phase out fossil fuel use. Advancing energy efficiency policies comes at an exciting and pivotal time as the contribution efficiency can make to decarbonization, consumer, equity and environmental justice goals must grow substantially in the coming years.

The Director, Energy Efficiency and Building Decarbonization, will lead Acadia Center’s work to sustain and expand the reach of efficiency programs and policies. The ideal candidate will bring a track record of experience and expertise on energy efficiency and the sector’s evolution with a background on: 1) energy efficiency as a low cost energy resource for distribution systems and power grids; and 2) energy efficiency as a tool for accelerating building decarbonization and reducing emissions from residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, and will lead work to bring these policies into the Next Generation of Energy Efficiency and Building Decarbonization.

Position

The Director, Energy Efficiency and Building Decarbonization, will play a leadership role developing, managing, and coordinating program goals, outreach, analytic and policy work. Acadia Center supports a creative and team-oriented culture, and this position will work with the President/CEO, program staff, our data and analysis team, and staff responsible for communications, development and environmental justice. The position will:

• Coordinate a regionally focused strategic plan to develop and advance the program’s goals and support our team’s efforts to advance policy opportunities and priorities related to energy efficiency and building decarbonization, at the state, regional and inter-regional levels.

• Identify data and information needs to advance energy efficiency, electrification, weatherization, and ending use of fossil fuels in a manner that addresses energy justice.

• Apply analytic and technical skills to identify and prepare data-driven information that informs policy recommendations/advocacy and serves as a bridge between technical experts and community activists.

• Serve as a thought-leader in influencing the direction and evolution of energy efficiency programs and support the functioning and structure of stakeholder energy efficiency boards/councils.

• Represent the organization in external proceedings, including before public utility commissions (PUC), state energy offices, energy efficiency boards, and environmental agencies, as well as with media.

• Conduct engagement and build and strengthen networks with diverse organizations and voices, including environmental groups, environmental justice organizations, utilities, state agencies, housing and other groups.

• Draft public comments and prepare public facing materials and communicate policy issues with media, the public, donors, and foundations.

• Stay apprised of policy best practices and technology trends within the energy efficiency and building decarbonization space.

Key Qualifications

The ideal candidate would possess significant experience in all these categories, but we understand and expect that some candidates will have more in-depth experience in particular areas than others.

• Experience in designing and/or evaluating state-level energy efficiency and electrification policies.

• Familiarity with specific policy concepts such as acquiring energy efficiency as a competitive, low-cost energy resource.

• Deep knowledge of building sector decarbonization challenges and best practices.

• Technical proficiency on electrification issues, energy efficiency program design, implementation, and evaluation, benefit-cost analysis, and building science, including for residential, commercial and industrial, and other customer categories.

• 6+ years’ relevant work experience in a consultancy, public agency, utility, NGO or other relevant setting

• A sense of ambition and urgency to address the climate crisis in a manner that will spur economic, consumer, public health and environmental justice benefits for all.

• Facility with communicating highly technical information to non-technical audiences to best meet policy, advocacy and community needs.

• Ability to identify, shape, and frame compelling communications about our projects and why they matter for use in external reports and development materials.

• Experience working in a team structure, coordinating staff to achieve goals, and managing projects to support team operations and execute goals and strategies.

• Strong interpersonal skills and interest in engaging with staff and diverse external parties.

• Experience and enthusiasm for building coalitions and diverse external relationships and engaging in complex conversations about racial, socioeconomic, language-based, health and economic disparities.

• Existing network of professionals within state, regional, and national energy efficiency and building decarbonization spaces preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree required; relevant master or professional degree preferred.

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position. The expected compensation range is up to $105,000 – $120,000.

Benefits include health care, dental, retirement, disability, and vacation. Final title and salary will be dependent upon the candidate’s level of experience.

To Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter of interest, resume, at least two professional references and an example of your writing and communications skills to careers@acadiacenter.org. Please insert Energy Efficiency in the subject line and indicate where you saw the posting in the body of the email. Phone calls will not be accepted.

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.