The Great Plains Renewable Energy Strategy Director manages and promotes the Great Plains Renewable Energy Strategy to ensure the rapid deployment of renewable energy that is low-impact for habitat and species. This includes promoting appropriate siting of wind development through implementation of The Nature Conservancy’s Sight Wind Right (SWR) strategy; supporting the development and advancement of the organization’s work on distributed renewable energy; and promoting the strategic development of mitigation solutions designed to offset unavoidable impacts to habitat from wind and solar development. The individual works closely with state chapter staff of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and renewable energy leads in the North America Region, External Affairs, and Corporate Engagement to engage external audiences in the region, including partner organizations, the private sector, and federal, state and local governments. The position may be based in any of the 9 states of the Great Plains Division.
The Great Plains Renewable Energy Strategy Director coordinates and manages chapter and Great Plains Division efforts to advance TNC’s renewable energy deployment strategy by identifying Division-specific priority activities, facilitating a community of practice, supporting knowledge exchange, and connecting the Division’s strategy with other business units of the Conservancy, as appropriate. The individual is also expected to work in coordination with the North American Region, External Affairs, and Corporate Engagement teams to identify and build external networks and strategic partnerships with local and state government, the private sector, non-governmental agencies, academia and professional and trade associations to help form a broader, diverse coalition that supports low-impact siting of renewable energy. Responsibilities also include identifying research priorities related to renewable siting; tracking policies and decisions that directly affect TNC’s renewable energy goals; building and facilitating internal networks; coordinating meetings, events, and presentations; and coordinating and supporting state and regional fundraising efforts designed to fund the strategy. Travel up to 30% is required.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Serve as the lead staff person for the renewable energy strategy across Great Plains Division, including coordination with regional and global efforts.
- Coordinate with staff across 15 operating units on the Sight Wind Right strategy, including messaging, fundraising, science, and communications, as well as facilitate regular science reviews to ensure inclusion of appropriate and relevant scientific information.
- Promote an active network and community of practice among TNC staff across the Wind Belt to promote use of energy siting best management practices.
- In coordination with state staff, design, coordinate, and implement state policy initiatives related to distributed renewable energy.
- Plan and implement listening sessions with state agency partners across the division to compile feedback on SWR strategy, low-impact wind map, and associated efforts.
- Support the division and state chapters by responding to requests by partners for research, subject-matter expertise, and assistance drafting public comments, factsheets, and communications with industry and partners.
- As needed and in coordination with other relevant TNC business units, represent TNC to a variety of constituencies and stakeholders (public, private, government, NGOs, academia), especially at the division and region level, and engage these groups in developing and implementing strategies that advance the deployment of renewable energy with minimal environmental impacts.
- Coordinate strategic communications at the regional level with target audiences to promote support for habitat friendly renewable energy siting.
- As requested, assume state-specific responsibilities such as contract management or a stakeholder analysis.
- Experience with legislative, planning, policy or corporate initiatives at two or more of the following levels:federal, state, or municipal.
- Experience working with, presenting to, and communicating with partners, government agencies, government officials, business, academia, professional and trade associations, media and the private sector.
- Experience with strategy development and in developing and maintaining partnerships, coalitions, and collaborations.
- Experience in verbal and written communications skills.
- Experience being a team player with strong listening, collaborative and diplomacy skills.
- Fluency in English.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Knowledge of and subject matter expertise related to renewable energy, especially wind and solar, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wind Energy Guidelines, ecology of Great Plains species, and sustainability.
- Experience presenting to and communicating with elected officials, executive-level individuals within the corporate sector, and other key decision-makers.
- Fundraising (both public and private) experience.
- Experience building networks or organizational capacity, facilitating informational sessions, increasing knowledge sharing, and identifying key stakeholders.
- Strong time management, organizational and prioritization skills.
- Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience preferred.
To best position the selected candidate for success, the location of this position will be based within a Nature Conservancy office and in close proximity to an airport within the Great Plains Division. The division consists of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Iowa. Additionally, Denver, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois locations will also be considered.