Reporting to the Director, Clean Energy Initiative, the Siting Manager, Clean Energy Initiative is a key member of the Audubon Climate Program. This position will help ensure the robust build out of climate-friendly renewable energy, transmission and storage projects that are appropriately sited and operated to minimize conflicts with birds and other wildlife, working closely with Audubon staff and members, industry, government agencies, and other partners.
The Siting Manager will be part of a team implementing Audubon’s Clean Energy Initiative and policies through federal, state and local renewable energy planning processes, siting and permitting policies and priority renewable energy projects throughout the Four Flyways. The emphasis of this work will be in Audubon’s priority states where clean energy development has the greatest potential to flourish and where conflicts with birds and the places birds need have the greatest need to be resolved cooperatively.
This position can be located in one of our 22 state or regional offices or in our Washington, DC, office.
- Supporting Audubon state offices and chapters to become advocates for responsibly sited and operated clean energy projects by engaging early with our expertise and science.
- Working closely with the Climate Program team, state office staff, policy and conservation leaders, communications leaders and our grassroots network of chapters and members to advance Audubon’s climate and clean energy objectives.
- Working closely with the wind, solar, geothermal, transmission and storage industries to resolve conflicts with birds to maximize conservation outcomes through reduction of emissions to save birds from impacts of climate change, and through avoidance, minimization and compensatory mitigation that conserves birds at scale.
- Representing Audubon with key internal, external, local, state, federal, public, and private sector partners and coalitions focused on clean energy siting and deployment policy.
- Research, write, and edit original reports and issue briefs on climate and energy policies.
- Work closely with Audubon’s communications team to tell the story of Audubon’s on-the-ground clean energy deployment work effectively communicating complex policy issues to non-technical audiences.
- Use both qualitative and quantitative analysis to make the case for policy interventions.
- 5+ years demonstrated experience in siting and conservation policies that apply to energy projects or related infrastructure on public and private lands.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with wildlife conservation issues, including methods for avoiding and mitigating conflicts between clean energy development and wildlife.
- Attention to detail, excellent time-management and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts creatively and with good science.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Outstanding policy analysis and research skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with use of spatial data platform for advocacy.
- Must be willing to travel as the job requires and possess a valid driver’s license.