Officer, Clean Grid & Energy

The Environment Portfolio at The Pew Charitable Trusts

For more than 30 years, Pew has been a major force in engaging the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with more than 250 professionals working at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world's remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. Pew's global environmental program focuses on science-based, nonpartisan, and sustainable solutions to help protect the planet and people. We work in partnership with governments, Indigenous rights holders, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, scientists, and other researchers to advance public policy so that nature and communities can thrive.

Since 1990, Pew has worked in North America, South America and Australia to protect large and critically important terrestrial ecosystems, including rivers and other freshwater resources, coastal temperate rainforests, interior mountain ranges, the northern boreal forests, Australia's Outback, and Chilean Patagonia. We work to ensure these natural systems remain bountiful, functioning, and resilient, providing essential ecological services such as clean air and clean water, sustenance and food security for local communities and more broadly for the welfare of current and future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, sociology, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to the loss of biodiversity.

In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Starting in 2005, Pew's ocean conservation program expanded around the world and played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas and creating large scale marine reserves around the world. Our work is grounded in the best available science and pursues domestic and international conservation measures that are long-term and provide permanent, durable protections for marine ecosystems. We also work to address systemic threats to the ocean, including from plastics, over-and-illegal fishing, seabed mining, and climate change.

Energy Modernization Project

The Energy Modernization Project aims to secure policies that help meet increasing energy demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by modernizing the transmission grid, accelerating adoption of distributed energy resources such as solar and batteries, and increasing clean energy generation.

Position Overview

In support of a national initiative to scale clean, distributed energy resources across American communities, the officer, clean grid & energy, will serve as a project manager responsible for operationalizing streams of work and resources. Reporting to the senior manager, clean grid and energy, the officer will collaborate with project leadership, to implement core research and policy deliverables that advance distributed energy resources. This position will work closely with a matrix team of colleagues, external consultants and internal divisions such as communications and government relations to manage the execution and track progress against deliverables. The officer will also play a lead role in coordinating a bipartisan leadership council of utility, regulatory and community experts that advise Pew's energy work. The officer will work closely with the state campaigns team to interpret findings from a scoping exercise and develop new campaigns in support of Pew's distributed energy policy priorities. A senior associate will report to this officer.

Located in Pew's Washington, DC, office, this position participates in Pew's hybrid work program with core days in the office and the flexibility to telework the remaining days. Staff also enjoy four telework "flex weeks" per year.

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that inspires excellence, values impact, encourages transparency, builds mutual trust, embraces and values diversity, and is collaborative, caring, and compassionate.

• Manage the day-to-day execution of multiple streams of work in support of a national distributed energy initiative. This includes tracking key results for a donor-funded project.

• Lead a group of experts that will serve as advisors to Pew's energy work. This includes virtual and in person convening, public engagements and strategic in-state events.

• Supervise external public affairs consultants in support of stakeholder events, media engagement, and activities in states. Collaborate on drafting materials and reviewing written content for third- party voices or Pew.

• Work with the senior manager and project leadership to identify and evaluate policy engagement opportunities in multiple states and develop strategies that lead to tangible outcomes on Pew's distributed energy policy priorities.

• Collaborate closely with Pew staff including communications, government relations, field operations, and others to execute and ensure coordination of project activities.

• Support project leadership with monitoring and managing resources to achieve objectives and maintain alignment with budget, particularly donor budgets.

• Develop and maintain broad substantive knowledge of power decarbonization and grid modernization policies to inform and advance program priorities.

• Represent Pew in key government meetings, coalition meetings, hearings and testimonies, public events, conferences, and with local media.

• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives.

Requirements

• Generally, eight years of applicable experience, including experience working in government, public policy or public affairs, or issue advocacy.

• Skilled at managing internal and external stakeholders, meeting deadlines, executive management, and organization.

• Possesses knowledge of the clean energy sector and related emerging issues.

• Aptitude to apply a non-partisan, evidence-based approach to projects and campaigns that require support across the political spectrum.

• Develops and manages productive and collaborative relationships with partners, contractors, external stakeholders, and colleagues, including communications, government relations, and additional internal support functions.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

• Prior to commencing employment with Pew, candidates who were registered to lobby in any jurisdiction must certify termination of previous registration(s) and provide copies of termination notices to Pew.

Key attributes and preferred experience

• Develops and moves projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy, and exercises sound judgement in problem-solving.

• Experience with state policy and regulatory institutions and processes is desired.

• Knowledge of clean energy and/or distribution grid systems is ideal, including energy storage, microgrids, community solar, virtual power plants, and distribution planning.

• Comfortable managing and meeting multiple deadlines and balancing short- and long-term goals, while maintaining attention to detail.

Travel

This position requires domestic travel to meetings and conferences, including up to 35% of the time during key periods.

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew's commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

Pew is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected characteristics.