Regional Director, Midwest

ABOUT VOTE SOLAR

Vote Solar's mission is to realize a 100% clean energy future through a solutions-driven, people first approach. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advances just and equitable clean energy policy in state legislatures and public commissions across the United States. Our expertise comes from a deep understanding of the legislative process, regulatory interventions, and the ability to identify and accelerate solar solutions. We are adept at bridging communities and bringing diverse stakeholders together to forge inclusive coalitions and winning campaigns. 

Our goal is to effect real, tangible change. And we have the track-record to prove we can do it: Twenty years in, our work has made it so that one in three people live in a state with a 100% clean energy commitment. We’ll not only expand that number, but ensure that more people can participate in holding utilities and decision makers accountable for greater equity and justice in our energy system.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE

Vote Solar is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including multilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

THE ROLE

The Regional Director, Midwest will develop and direct legislative and other public-facing campaigns in Minnesota and Michigan. This role manages the campaign strategy and implements the “outside game” of our regulatory and legislative efforts. Successful candidates will understand what it takes to design and execute a campaign strategy, to independently identify campaign goals and priorities, and to work closely with partner organizations and stakeholders to actualize the vision and mission of Vote Solar. The work will often involve balancing multiple competing priorities across different states, so a strong sense of impact and an alignment with Vote Solar’s values will help somebody succeed in this work. The Midwest team is small (four people total) so you will work closely with the rest of the team to coordinate multi-prong strategies aimed at drafting, passing, and implementing good, equitable solar policies. This position reports to the Deputy Programs Director, Midwest.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Regional Director, Midwest’s primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

CAMPAIGNS DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION (40%)

• Develop Vote Solar’s legislative & public-facing campaign strategy for key states within the region. This will involve developing an understanding of solar policy needs and opportunities in target states across our five program areas of rooftop solar, community solar, utility-scale solar, grid modernization, and access & equity.
• Strategically plan and execute comprehensive regulatory and legislative campaigns to advance solar policy, including hiring lobbyists and tracking budgets.
• Ensure that our campaigns in the region advances socially just energy policies and programs that will benefit underserved communities.
• Closely collaborate with Vote Solar’s Midwest Regulatory Team to develop public-facing campaigns and engagement strategies around regulatory efforts in key states.

COALITION BUILDING (35%)

• Recruit solar champions through relationship building and education of key policymakers in the region.
• Leverage grassroots supporters and organizations as well as key influencers to turn solar’s broad popularity into effective political power.
• Build strong, authentic partnerships, following our Just Partnership Principles, within coalitions to increase the effectiveness and inclusivity of our campaigns. 
• Lead or participate in coalitions, existing and new, that are working on bold campaigns to improve energy and climate policy.

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY (20%) 

• Work with Vote Solar’s Communications team to develop strong campaigns outreach, in conjunction with coalition partners.
• Implement media and social media strategies and tactics to support campaign objectives.
• Ensure top-notch communications campaigns in the region by working with our internal communications team and coalition partners to plan and implement media and social media tactics to support campaign objectives.
• Engage with members of the press and at times serve as a spokesperson for the organization.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE (5%)

• Continue personal learning and contribute to organizational work on diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Work to embed equity in all organizational internal practices and culture, as well as our programs.
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity.

REQUIREMENTS

WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED

• Applicants should have knowledge of the legislative process, and familiarity with the components of an advocacy campaign: lobbying, coalition building, grassroots and grasstops organizing and media relations. 
• Interest in clean energy and energy justice policy and a proven ability to become conversant with policy details.
• Experience working in coalitions and finding common ground among diverse and occasionally competing perspectives.
• Compelling communication skills, including the ability to speak in public and with media outlets.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects at once.
• Comfortable working in a remote team setting, with demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and driven. 

OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OR WOULD BE EXCITED TO LEARN HERE

• Expertise on solar energy policy and regulatory topics, particularly in the Midwest.
• Strong relationships with regional stakeholders, especially environmental justice, frontline and traditional environmental groups as well as the solar industry.

MINDSETS

• A personal commitment to being a part of an inclusive and just workplace, including a commitment to being on a journey with Vote Solar to develop personal, and inter-personal core competencies related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
• Passion for building new capacity at a growing organization.
• Understanding that how we work (in collaborative, authentic partnership), is just as important as what we work on.

LOCATION

This position will be remote, but ideally be based in Minnesota, with other locations within the Midwest considered. This position will report to the Deputy Programs Director, Midwest, and will work closely with Midwest teammates based in Chicago and Detroit. This position will require some regional travel making proximity to transportation hubs an important consideration as well as light national travel. Workplace arrangements can be flexible, including options to work from home or at co-working spaces.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $104,000 - $109,100. At Vote Solar, we work hard to ensure that our compensation is equitable internally and aligned with our compensation philosophy and defined job levels. In order to ensure equitable compensation across roles in the organization, we do not negotiate new hire offers.

Vote Solar provides full-time staff with a competitive package, including 4 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 4 days of personal leave and 16 paid holidays. We also offer 100% employer-provided health, dental and vision care for both the employee and dependents; a retirement savings plan with an employer contribution of 3.5%; and a paid parental and medical leave policy for all regular employees. 

OUR VALUES

At Vote Solar, we have co-created the following shared Values and work hard to live into them every day:

• Trust - Without Trust, We Can’t Succeed
• Authenticity - We Hold True to What and Who We Stand For
• Versatility - We Adapt Our Approach, But Never Our Values
• Compassion - People First, in Every Aspect of Our Work
• Inclusivity - We’re Strongest Together

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send a letter of interest and resume to Vote Solar. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that all qualified applicants may participate in the application process. Please inform Adrena Lambert at alambert@votesolar.org of accommodation requests at the time of application.

Application Process Note: Vote Solar is required to enroll in the E-Verify Program to verify employment eligibility of certain employees. Candidates who receive an offer may be required to complete this step depending on their state of residence.