Description

Organization Overview

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is a collaborative network, promoting energy efficiency to optimize energy generation and reduce consumption, create jobs and decrease carbon emissions in all Midwest communities.

At MEEA, we leverage our expertise to be the Midwest’s leading resource for our members, allies, policymakers and the broader sector to promote energy efficiency as the essential pathway to achieve a clean, affordable, equitable and sustainable future. MEEA serves as a technical resource, promotes program and policy best practices and highlights emerging technologies, all to maximize energy savings, reduce costs, improve resilience and lower energy burden.

Position Summary

The Policy Director will be responsible for MEEA’s local, state and regional policy initiatives, including developing and implementing advocacy campaigns, producing energy efficiency research and creating messaging and materials to support energy efficiency. Working with the Executive Director, the Policy Director will set the strategic direction for the Policy team, work with foundation and government funders and be a leading representative for MEEA with Governors, legislators, commissioners and state regulatory staff. The Policy Director will manage the MEEA policy staff in developing state specific advocacy campaigns, including identifying appropriate messages, developing political strategies and accessing necessary partners and allies. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Policy Director will work with Buildings, Market Solutions & Education and Membership, Marketing & Events staff to identify opportunities to connect policy efforts in support of those areas.

Additionally, the Policy Director’s work will be to advance energy efficiency policies at the regional, state and local levels; promote the value of energy efficiency to key thought leaders (legislators, regulators, commissioners, staff and advocates) and identify policy and regulatory best practices, trends and lessons learned from across the region and throughout the country. The Policy Director will help represent MEEA at various industry meetings, including NASEO, NARUC, NASUCA and MARC and will be expected to develop and foster relationships in the energy efficiency community that will advance the work of the MEEA.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all policy operations for organization
• Manage policy staff and lead workload management, strategy development and implementation, research and policy planning, fundraising, budgeting and grant reporting
• Manage educational and outreach activities to increase awareness and understanding of energy efficiency
• Provide technical assistance to state and local stakeholders on a range of policy topics across energy, buildings, industry and transportation sectors
• Develop research and advocacy materials, including white papers, blogs fact sheets, testimony and presentations
• Lead initiative to increase awareness of and support for energy efficiency with legislators, regulators, state energy offices and governor’s staff
• Represent MEEA externally to stakeholders, advocates, funders, MEEA members, media and the energy industry as a recognized expert
• Coordinate MEEA’s public communications on policy-related issues as state and regional levels

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be expected to have the following qualifications:
•B.A. or B.S. in public policy, energy policy, environmental policy, political science or a related field
•Advanced degree in relevant field preferred
•Minimum 8 years' experience in public policy/advocacy and strategic planning required, with significant staff management experience
•Knowledge of Midwest political landscape
•Strong facilitation and coalition building skills amongst diverse stakeholders
•Strong oral presentation and writing skills
•Knowledge of the energy industry, preferred
•Proven leader able to take initiative as well as work in a team environment
•History of strong project management experience with proven success with meeting deadlines and the ability to adapt to shifting priorities
•Ability to travel up to 30% of the time

Compensation

The Policy Director position starts at an annual salary of $95,000. Compensation for selected candidate will be commensurate with experience. MEEA offers a competitive employment benefits package.

Location

Civic Opera Building, 20 N Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL 60606

To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume to jobs@mwalliance.org with Subject: “Policy Director” by Wednesday, December 27, 2023. Candidates who do not submit both items will not be considered. Candidates considered for interviews may be asked to provide writing samples and references. No phone calls please.

MEEA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, gender, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability.