Job Description

Position Type: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt Employee

Reports to: SSDN Senior Policy Manager

Location: Anywhere in the Southeast (AL, AR, LA, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and VA) United States with connectivity (phone/internet). Approximate work hours: 9 am-5 pm Eastern or Central Standard Time (flexible); 40 hours/week

Compensation Range: $50,000-$60,000 + robust benefits package, including 100% employer-covered  health, dental, disability, and life insurance, flexible leave policy, generous paid leave, and 401(k) Program. Location: This is a fully remote, work-from-home position. SSDN has no central office, but staff collaborate extensively via video call meetings and through periodic in-person convenings. Employees must furnish their own quiet, professional  home office space for conference calls. SSDN provides an IT stipend to cover internet and phone use, computer, software, and other home office supplies.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for coordinating and providing support to the SSDN Policy program. This position will coordinate regularly with local government staff, technical assistance providers, and other partners to support  local government engagement in state energy and climate policy. This position will coordinate collaborative efforts with SSDN’s members, their utilities, elected officials, nonprofits, business organizations, businesses, and other appropriate entities as defined by the members’ interests. This position will provide coordination for the policy program region wide, but will prioritize work in Virginia and the Carolinas. It’s expected that approximately 60% of this position’s time will be focused in Virginia and the Carolinas, with the other 40% focused on support for the other states supported by the policy program.

Core Responsibilities

The Program Coordinator works under the direction of the Senior Policy Manager and provides support across SSDN’s Policy Program, including engagement, research, resources management, communications, and administrative functions:

Engagement

• Serve as a point of contact for interest in SSDN’s Policy Program.
• Responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating frequent virtual meetings, webinars, and activities and adhering to structured schedules.
• Support meeting planning and logistics coordination needs for webinar-based training and in-person workshops.
• Support the Senior Policy Manager and Policy team with communication about available Policy Program activities and services to a broad array of audiences.
• Coordinate with SSDN’s members and partners to ensure they have access to the contacts, resources, opportunities, events, and materials they need to engage.
• Support the Policy team with direct engagement with members to provide technical assistance to increase awareness of and access to Policy Program activities and services.
• Support the engagement of technical assistance providers supporting local government members with 1:1 or small group support.
• Track engagement with communities and support in the development of progress reports and other performance metrics as needed for funder reporting.
• Support the planning, development, and implementation of in-person convenings.

Research & Resource Management

• Research discrete policy topics and processes (e.g., commission dockets) and report out on findings.
• Support the development of capacity-building  materials and similar related to member and policy program priorities.
• Support the research around the identification of funding, technical assistance, and other opportunities.
• Support outreach to new communities as opportunities arise.
• Update and maintain state-specific Member Resource Libraries as it relates to the Policy Program.

Data and metrics management

• Support the management of engagement data in SSDN’s Salesforce, maintaining up-to-date  records and tracking metrics of success.
• Coordinate with the Network Engagement Manager to update membership lists, contacts, and emails in Salesforce and Google Groups for all states that are a focus for the Policy Team.
• Support SSDN Database management and analysis using Excel , Google Sheets , and relational databases.

Communications

• With the Senior Policy Manager, create and execute regular policy brief emails to audiences and partners, using MailChimp to implement and manage contact lists.
• Provide design and development support for fact sheets and similar materials
• Facilitate peer exchange and development of materials highlighting best practices.
• Implement Policy Program website updates and blog posts.
• Support communications and other consultants with research, data, and connections to SSDN members and partners.

Qualifications

While no single candidate may embody all the qualifications below, an ideal candidate would possess many of the professional experiences and skill sets listed below.

Desired Experience

Bachelor’s degree and/or 1-3 years’ work experience equivalent in a similar position

• Experience working with local governments and/or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience working with local government sustainability, energy, and/or resilience policy is a plus but not required.

Desired Knowledge and Skills

• A developed understanding of communities in the Southeast and the specific needs they have related to climate and energy work
• Ability to manage multiple complex programs and projects and multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to work productively, both independently and with team members, in a virtual setting that is a collaborative and dynamic environment
• Ability to develop relationships and work across a diverse array of teammates, partners, and communities
• Proficient in digital and collaborative office tools including Google Suite, Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Office Suite, and Asana (or other work operating systems)
• Experience with Salesforce (or other Customer Relationship Management software) is strongly preferred
• Ability to generate and implement work products that take into account members’ diverse perspectives and changing conditions
• Demonstrated ability to conduct oneself in a calm and professional demeanor when dealing with multiple stakeholders
• An ability to translate complicated information and/or processes into simple, easy-to-understand information
• An ability to identify cultural differences and adjust communication and relationship development appropriately
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tie projects to grant requirements and tell a compelling story
• A successful candidate will have a strong attention to detail, be self-motivated, driven, and have the ability to be highly organized and systems-driven in their pursuit of goals

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About SSDN 

The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN) is a collaborative community that develops solutions to the South’s unique sustainability challenges. SSDN’s membership includes sustainability and resilience staff from across the South, who build knowledge and learn from colleagues in other areas about best practices to meet their community’s needs. Communities located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia working in all stages of sustainability implementation join the network to scale, accelerate, and implement sustainable best practices so that our region’s communities are equipped to adapt to and mitigate climate change. For more information, please visit www.southeastsdn.org.

SSDN’s Policy Program

SSDN supports dynamic policy engagement at the state level where members explore opportunities and cultivate relationships that allow them to impact larger systemic change needed to move sustainability priorities forward. Our State Policy Program convenes in select states around initiating policy shifts, capacity building on state policy and energy, and utility relationship building.

The SSDN Policy Coordinator will be employed by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), SSDN’s Fiscal Sponsor. USDN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to equal treatment of all employees without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or other basis protected by law.

How to Apply

How to apply: Applications (including resume and cover letter) will be accepted through this link on Breezy and reviewed on a rolling basis. Preference will be given to those who apply by January 02, 2024. When you apply you will be invited to complete an optional demographic questionnaire. This information is confidential and kept separately from your application and helps to ensure that we are reaching a diverse pool of candidates.

Job Categories: Sustainability. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: climate, remote, sustainability, and Virtual. Salaries: See posting for details.

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