The Energy Infrastructure Director plans, implements and coordinates programs to support The Nature Conservancy’s Global Water and Lands Teams as it relates to renewable energy siting and technologies.
The Energy Infrastructure Director supports the development of our renewable energy siting and technology strategies, bodies of work, and work plans. S/he works with national and/or international government and business entities to further the Conservancy’s mission to responsibly site renewable energy infrastructure in a manner that supports people and nature. S/he monitors internationally negotiated agreements, legislative, administrative, and/or corporate initiatives and policies related to this mission, and creates a strategy of engagement to leverage these policies to advance The Nature Conservancy’s objectives. The Energy Infrastructure Director represents The Nature Conservancy before special interest groups, and engages key public and private officials to increase support for TNC’s system-scale energy planning and siting approaches.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Develops and administers programmatic budget, and ensures sound financial performance when carrying out objectives.
- Conceptualizes, leads, and/or reviews strategies, technical reports, thought-leadership and communications pieces
- Develops strategic partnerships with key governments, supranational institutions and industry stakeholders to advance The Nature Conservancy’s Energy & Infrastructure strategy.
- Works closely with The Nature Conservancy’s science staff to help design scientific research to ensure Energy and Infrastructure recommendations are both scientifically credible and economically feasible.
- Maintains an ongoing, in-depth knowledge of the energy sector to advise on the strategic expansion of the program.
- Duties include regular (1) contact with local, sub-national, country and multilateral officials, institutions and/or corporate representatives, (2) thought leadership, and (3) fundraising for TNC projects and priorities.
- Helps ensure that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
- Work checked through consultation and agreement with others rather than by directives of superiors.
- Ensures that program meets all lobbying, contractual and legal regulations and standards.
- Must be willing to travel up to 40% of time.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 7 years of related senior-level work experience in optimization and power system operation modeling, grid integration of renewable energy, cost-benefit analysis in energy siting, permitting and development, government consultation, capacity expansion planning, energy market pricing policies, energy market simulation, project finance, or corporate sustainability.
- Must have experience across multiple renewable energy technologies (particularly solar, wind and hydropower) and multiple geographic contexts (e.g. developing, rapid expansion, and developed economies).
- Demonstrated experience building strong relationships across an organization and with partners such as corporations, public agencies, governments, and private industry.
- Experience managing and supervising a large multi-disciplinary team and managing a program budget
- Experience in directing or participating in complex negotiations and presenting to and communicating with government officials, corporate executives, board members and others.
- Experience designing, implementing and directing multiple and multifaceted projects, setting deadlines and ensuring program accountability.
- Experience communicating complex processes and ideas effectively to a variety of audiences within and outside an organization.
- Fluency in English
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience integrating scientific results into public policy, environmental policy, regulatory advocacy, and public funding.
- Strong, existing relationships within country governments, the energy industry, and/or development banks.
- Experience interfacing at nexus of industry and government (e.g. energy regulator background).
- Knowledge of the role of development banks within country-level energy planning, specifically using energy build-out to accomplish other development goals within the country.
- Significant experience in public policy, environmental policy, regulatory advocacy, and public funding.
- Significant experience in business development, general management, management consulting, or project finance.
- Outstanding analytical and project management capabilities. Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement complex projects in an unstructured environment.
- Outstanding written and oral communication, negotiating and organizational skills.
- Independent and self-motivated with the ability to participate effectively in a remote team environment.
- Fundraising experience.
- Advanced degree in an energy-related field appreciated. Energy systems engineering backgrounds preferred.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated particularly Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese or French.
Salary is competitive.