Rhode Policy Advocate

Rhode Island Policy Advocate

Green Energy Consumers Alliance is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower consumers and communities to speed a just transition to a zero-carbon world. We fulfill our mission by combining consumer-facing programs with public policy advocacy at the state level in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We have twenty employees in offices in Cambridge, MA and Providence, RI. We work in multiple clean energy sectors: renewable energy, heating, transportation, energy efficiency, grid modernization, and more.

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both internally and externally. We advocate for policies that bring the many benefits of clean energy to all, including communities that have been historically overburdened and underserved. We have a variety of funding sources – grants, commissions, contracts, donations, but our dominant source of revenue is earned income through our green electricity program.

The Rhode Island Policy Advocate will be a key person on our Advocacy Team, working to influence state-level legislative and regulatory energy policy, mostly in Rhode Island, and some in Massachusetts. The Advocate would be a registered lobbyist in the state of Rhode Island working on our behalf. Our work focuses on decarbonizing transportation, buildings, and electricity. The Advocate would report to the Executive Director and collaborate with highly qualified colleagues and allies.

The successful candidate will be effective at working with coalitions, legislators, and executive branch staff; knowledgeable about energy and environmental policy; curious; and determined.

The position could be either at the associate or coordinator level and will be determined based on the experience and qualifications of the chosen candidate.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Participate in and represent the organization in all relevant Rhode Island policy discussions, coalitions, advisory bodies, etc.
• Lead coalitions relating to decarbonization as assigned.
• Engage in advocacy on state legislative efforts and regulatory activity related to energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, renewable energy development, and equitable clean energy and climate policy.
• Lobby legislative and executive branches on organizational priorities and state climate policy.
• Work some evenings, particularly during the legislative session (January – June) to lobby the floor and attend hearings and events.
• Nurture and cultivate strategic partnerships with Rhode Island climate and energy stakeholders, including media representatives.
• Research and draft organizational positions on state climate and energy policy.
• Draft and present testimony at public hearings and meetings.
• Assist with member and prospect communications, especially related to advocacy with newsletters, web site material, social media, emails, blogs, webinars, and podcasts.
• Support organization events (i.e. renewable energy tours, annual meetings, etc.)
• Assist in grant writing and reports to funders.
• Occasional travel within Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
• All other duties as requested by the executive director.
• All of the above will focus on Rhode Island but will occasionally involve work in Massachusetts as well.

Qualifications Qualified candidates should have a bachelor's or master's degree in environmental or energy studies, public policy, or a related field and relevant work experience, preferably in the energy/environmental industry. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate:

• Passion for climate action;
• Knowledge and experience with public policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation, building, and electricity sectors;
• Roots in Rhode Island, meaning residence and familiarity with the geography, politics, and communities;
• Research experience, preferably in the energy field;
• Excellent interpersonal skills (I.e. confidence, diplomacy, etc.)
• Excellent written and oral communications skills;
• Skill in presentation composition and engaging diverse audiences;
• Analytical and technical capabilities (meaning, ability to understand economic/quantitative research papers), with close…