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Job posting from our partners at PUSH Buffalo:

Community Energy Specialist

Independent Contractor - Request for Proposals

PUSH Buffalo is a member led community-based organization located on the West Side of Buffalo, NY. PUSH’s mission is to mobilize residents to create strong neighborhoods with quality, affordable housing, expand local hiring opportunities and to advance economic justice in Buffalo. Central to this mission is a theory of change grounded in issue-based organizing, leadership development, community control of resources, and democratically planned neighborhood development. In 2008, as part of a participatory planning process, PUSH designated a 30-block area on the West Side the Green Development Zone (GDZ). The GDZ is an alternative community development strategy that integrates sustainable design and construction practices; concentrated building retrofit investment and corollary training for jobs in the retrofit sector; community-based renewable energy projects; urban agriculture; stormwater management; and community planning and organizing toward the goal of building a sustainable and resilient community economy.

In 2014, New York State launched a sweeping clean energy reform agenda called Reforming the Energy Vision (REV). REV seeks to transform the state’s energy industry and regulatory structure, as well as to enable new forms of affordable distributed renewable energy generation and increase the deployment of energy efficiency. Regulatory and policy developments under REV, such as community net metering and community choice aggregation, present communities with unprecedented opportunities to engage in planning their energy future by deciding on procurement options and ownership models for renewable energy projects, while also improving energy affordability, creating living wage green jobs, and mitigating the environmental and health impacts of electricity generation and fossil fuel dependence.

In Spring 2017, PUSH will launch a new community energy planning initiative - REVitalize: REV is Action! - in the GDZ. We seek an experienced candidate to fulfill the responsibilities of Community Energy Specialist. This is an 8 to 10 month contract position.

Position Description, Qualifications, and Responsibilities

The Community Energy Specialist will lead community education, research, and planning efforts in the GDZ with the goal of developing a replicable participatory planning process and producing a comprehensive community energy plan.
The Community Energy Specialist must have excellent written and oral communication and analytical skills, must be well-organized and able to demonstrate cultural competence while collaborating in the community with PUSH staff and members, local residents, institutional stakeholders, as well as REVitalize project partners including NYS government officials. Applied knowledge of renewable energy and energy efficiency principles, practices, technologies, and business models is essential. Basic proficiency with email, word processing, and spreadsheets is required. Experience using web-based mapping platforms and software such as Loveland and GIS is desirable. Candidates with professional experience and/or educational credentials in one or more of the following areas will be strongly considered for the position - renewable energy and energy efficiency project management/development, policy research, law, urban planning, popular education, community organizing, or business and financial planning.

The Community Energy Specialist will report to the Director of Policy and Strategy and work closely with the PUSH member-led Energy Democracy and Community Development Committees. Compensation will be determined based on experience.
Preference will be given to candidates that have experience and competence with issues of economic, environmental, and racial justice, either professionally or through life experience.

Specific responsibilities of this position include:

• Design and implement a community education and engagement process that will result in the identification of community energy and resiliency needs, assets, and priorities in the GDZ;
• Create a community energy plan including capital projects, and identification of lessons learned;
• Research and identify innovative business models and strategies to finance, build and manage local energy projects that maximize the creation of local jobs and procurement opportunities for local clean energy contractors;
• Manage collaborative relationships with community residents, PUSH members, local businesses, institutional stakeholders (e.g., schools, first responders, banks), project partners, and consultants;
• Represent PUSH Buffalo and report on REVitalize project activities and lessons learned at meetings, conferences, and briefings with NYS government officials, as needed;
• Track all progress and challenges in meeting project milestones, goals, and deliverables.

How to apply:

Proposals must be submitted by April 21, 2017. Proposals should include a letter of application, resume, and contact information for two professional references. Proposals will only be accepted by email, and should be sent to:

Clarke Gocker
Director of Policy and Strategy
PUSH Buffalo
clarke@pushbuffalo.org

The letter of application will be a critical document for determining who will be interviewed for this position. The letter should be 3-5 pages and summarize relevant experience and skills. The letter should also discuss why the candidate is enthusiastic to assume the responsibilities of this position and achieve the goals of the REVitalize project.

Women, people of color, and people who identify as LGBTQ are strongly encouraged to apply!