Are you an experienced people leader with intense curiosity and drive? Are you willing to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas? Do you have exceptional entrepreneurship, drive and the ability to manage projects? If yes, then join our growing Energy Transition Academy team!

Program Overview

We are seeking a Manager to support the development and launch of RMI’s newly created Energy Transition Academy (“The Academy). The aim of the Academy is to support partner efforts in the provision of curated information, training, tools, peer-to-peer problem-solving, and coaching networks. Collectively, we intend these resources to address the daily challenges of decision makers and practitioners in the clean energy transition. The Academy will primarily support senior- and mid-level energy practitioners in utilities, renewable and distributed energy companies, and regulatory bodies. It will also engage legislators, public officials, investors, and influencers who can enable the transition.

The Academy concept originates from requests and suggestions received directly from energy practitioners who we support and aims to amplify, strengthen, and build the necessary capacity and confidence needed to achieve a 1.5°C pathway tailored to the Global South. Initially, the Academy will focus on developing countries and emerging markets where RMI has on-the-ground operations, including sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and island nations. Over time, the Academy will expand to support the energy transition globally, with a focus on underserved communities. The Academy will focus on electricity system transformation in the context of the overall energy transition, with ancillary focus on sectors that interface with the electricity system such as the transportation and building sectors. The final design and service offering will be informed by a detailed assessment of target stakeholder needs and existing capacity-building efforts and platforms.

Position Overview:

Our Managers are creative project leaders who guide and manage team members to craft visionary yet practical solutions for our industry partners and research. Managers are RMI’s primary project managers, and work closely with and under the direction of RMI’s Principals and Managing Directors to design and execute projects.

• The Manager is sometimes an individual contributor but is most often responsible for managing and guiding more junior staff, particularly Associates and sometimes Sr. Associates.
• Has responsibility for managing projects and/or significant portions of initiatives. The Manager works with Principals and Managing Directors to provide mentorship, professional development, and project reviews of more junior staff.
• Contributes to strategy-level conversations about initiatives and RMI.
• Developed expertise in one area and are conversant in one or more additional areas. The Manager represents RMI externally at mid-level technical events and to small to mid-sized groups.
• The Manager is beginning to participate in business development and sometimes has a significant role in that area.

Core Responsibilities:

Managing projects to yield breakthrough insights and results

• With senior guidance, shape project strategies from inception to conclusion: determine change models, research methods, timelines, resource plans, communications plans, and stakeholder engagement.
• Determine how results will be measured and be accountable for project results, rigorously challenging and QC-ing findings from RMI teams and partners.
• Act as the lead relationship manager with project partners and stakeholders.
• Coach and motivate project team members and resolve any issues throughout project life cycle, including writing project-level reviews for junior staff
• Oversee teams that number between 2 to 25 contributors (internal and external).
• Regularly contribute to external interviews, videos, and publications to share project insights.
• Work hand-in-hand with our development team to develop funding strategies.

Provides thought leadership

• Develop strategies for scaling energy efficiency and/or renewables, domestically and internationally
• Lead and contribute to research efforts and publications
• Represent RMI as an industry expert at key conferences and other public speaking events

Additional Responsibilities:

• Apply principles of social innovation and facilitation to the design and delivery of collaborative multi-stakeholder processes
• Engage RMI geography teams and content experts to identify and integrate knowledge, experience, and expertise into Energy Transition Academy strategy and offerings.
• Support the design and development of program strategy
• Engage with leadership across RMI to achieve the programmatic and project needs of the Energy Transition Academy

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s level degree, equivalent, or higher, in sustainability, renewables procurement, environment, economics, engineering, geography, or energy-related discipline
• At least 5+ years of direct relevant experience
• Excellent time management, organization, entrepreneurship, and drive
• Demonstrated initiative and accomplishment in previous work.
• Familiarity with energy, climate, buildings and/or the electricity industry.
• Experience working among diverse groups with varying perspectives and/or facilitating challenging conversations.
• Willingness to plunge into unfamiliar disciplines and take risks by exploring and testing new ideas.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in consulting, project management, or other related fields.
• Experience with professional/peer/learning networks, communities of practice, or other types of collaborative processes to achieve scaled impact or solutions.
• Familiarity with user experience design, community building, and instructor-led design
• Experience with resilience, energy access, and/or productive use questions in a variety of geographies, markets, and systems and resource characteristics.
• Expertise with foundational utility, regulatory, and finance concepts
• Familiarity with relevant clean energy technology, minigrids, or energy system aspects.
• Familiarity with country climate action and commitments, and decarbonization science, scenarios, and pathways.
• Success in building coalitions for change, or achieving shared or community priorities or goals;
• Experience working with multi-laterals or other complex national or sub-national partners in energy work

Location:

These positions will remain remote through the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the situation improves, we are open for this role to be located at one of our offices in Oakland, CA; New York City; Washington D.C.; Basalt or Boulder, CO. There is also an opportunity to be located at one of our international offices in Addis Ababa, Beijing, or generally located in the Caribbean. This will be discussed further throughout the interview process.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $86,000 - $116,000, with the target range being about $90-$100,000. This is dependent upon experience that will be discussed and vetted through the interview process. This position also includes an additional 10% bonus target.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• 403b Retirement Options (5% match immediately)
• Generous paid time off
• Learning & Development opportunities
• Parental leave
• Life, AD&D, Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Commuter and Wellness Benefits

Diversity

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization. This ensures that we:

• Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.
• Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.

RMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About RMI

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.