Join us for a fulfilling career that offers remote work flexibility with the choice to work in Washington, D.C. Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
Health, dental, vision, HRA
Short & long-term disability, life insurance
Mental/physical/ergonomic reimbursements
Cell phone and internet support
Professional development funding
24 PTO days + 12 holidays + a Winter Holiday Break
Retirement plans + employer contributions
Organization
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is a nonprofit organization that envisions a carbon-free energy system that is safe, affordable, reliable, resilient and equitable. SEPA concentrates on the following areas to maximize impact: Transportation Electrification, Energy Storage, Resilience, and Emerging Technologies, Policy and Energy Equity & Inclusion. The search for equitable and inclusive energy solutions and a desire to provide members with key policy insights across these areas animates our work.
SEPA delivers value to our members through research, education, events, working groups, peer engagements, and member projects. We facilitate collaboration, develop innovative strategies and guidance to inform discussions about technology development and deployment and supportive regulatory and policy interventions. We seek to provide actionable solutions for our members and partner organizations. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.
Position
The Vice President, Research & Industry Strategy (R&IS), leads SEPA’s R&IS Department, a team of around 20 subject matter experts. These experts convene members and other stakeholders to identify and solve challenges to support and accelerate the clean energy evolution; research and study issues, regulations, and policies to produce educational and information materials as well as to develop and share policy insights; and develop, support, and bid on projects focused on implementing a range of clean energy solutions across SEPA’s focus areas. The VP reports to the Chief Strategy Officer and is a key partner, along with the VP, Membership, and the VP, Development, in developing and executing the strategy to grow SEPA’s reach, impact, and recognition through its work supporting and accelerating the clean energy evolution. The VP also collaborates closely with other internal colleagues, including Programs & Events and Marketing & Communications, to leverage organizational strengths in producing content and thought leadership that support SEPA’s vision of a carbon-free electric energy system.
The salary range for this position is $220,000 - $240,000 with the target being around $225,000 based on experience.
Organizational Strategy and Leadership
- Key participant in the Senior Leadership team’s ongoing strategic planning process and contributes to the development of SEPA’s strategic goals and objectives.
- Key participant in SEPA’s overall strategic planning process. Guides the evolution of R&IS functions to align with SEPA's mission and vision, ensuring consistency with the strategic plan and organizational success metrics.
- Aligns R&IS work with SEPA’s mission and vision, delivering impactful products that support members and advance the greater clean energy industry.
- Designs and leads cross-functional research and member-based efforts to explore solutions to forward the clean energy transition, with a focus on creativity, member value, and thought leadership.
- Collaborates with leaders of other departments within SEPA, to ensure coordination and support between teams and alignment on execution of organization’s mission with a focus on transparency, communication, member service, and organizational culture.
- Represents SEPA at industry events.
- Participates in SEPA’s Board of Directors meetings as appropriate.
Department Strategy and Leadership
- Promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
- Ensures that R&IS products and services are of the highest quality and demonstrates SEPA’s expertise and insights to members and other stakeholders; develops and ensures a consistent voice with respect to SEPA’s focus areas.
- Identifies key trends in the clean energy evolution and determines how these relate to SEPA’s mission and vision; shares trends and insights with the R&IS team and SEPA Executive leadership.
- Leads the R&IS annual planning process to identify specific projects that leverage staff expertise and address members' needs.
- Manages the day-to-day operations of the R&IS department; coaches, mentors, and provides professional development opportunities for the R&IS team.
- Ensures R&IS staff members receive timely and appropriate training and development and establishes and monitors staff performance and development goals.
- Mentors and develops R&IS staff using a supportive and collaborative approach; sets objectives and establishes priorities; creates accountability; and monitors and evaluates results.
- Leads and is responsible for SEPA’s Research Advisory Council.
- Leads R&IS efforts to collaborate with other teams, including Programs & Events and Marketing & Communications, to develop and present work products, updates, and insights at signature SEPA events and meetings, with member working groups, and through a range of channels, including social media, webinars, panel discussions, expert papers, etc.
- Coordinates closely with the Development team to identify and apply for funding opportunities consistent with SEPA’s mission, vision, and expertise.
- Develops and manages the assigned budget and resources, carefully evaluating return on investment from staff time and expenses; contributes to efforts in support of SEPA’s goal of revenue diversification.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of power sector and/or energy industry experience, with a preference for regulatory and policy experience focused on the state and/or federal level.
- A comprehensive understanding of the clean energy transition and the role that energy companies play in achieving sector, state, regional, national, and international decarbonization goals.
- Demonstrated commitment to member and customer service.
- Experience leading and managing complex, remote, and diverse teams.
- Accomplished author and presenter on utility and clean energy topics.
- Demonstrated success in delivering complex projects that address multifaceted issues, working across organizational boundaries, interfacing with senior executives, and working effectively with teams.
- Subject matter expertise related to utilities, renewable energy, emerging clean technologies, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, or grid resilience programs.
- 10+ years of relevant work experience, including at least five years of principal gift ($250k+) fundraising experience with grant funders.
- Proven success in winning government grants.
- Existing senior executive and C-Suite relationships within the energy sector.
- Entrepreneurial ability to develop alliances and coordinate shared interests of all parties.
- Experience interacting and presenting to a C-Suite and Board of Directors.
- Experience setting and managing/monitoring budgets.
- Experience in managing development projects, including problem analysis, and critical thinking with strong operational, analytical and management skills.
Attributes
- Forward-thinking and curious. You continually learn more about the clean energy transition and how SEPA can contribute to a clean energy future that is safe, affordable, reliable, resilient, and equitable. You seek out opportunities to understand complexities and to solve problems. You are interested and aware of the activities of members and other organizations.
- Effective communicator. Your communication is clear and direct. You have exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and the ability to translate technical content for non-technical audiences.
- Consensus and Team Builder. You are an adept consensus and team builder who excels at convening groups of people to explore challenges and problems and to identify solutions. You ensure that all voices are heard and that all perspectives are considered.
- Collaborative. You are excited to work with SEPA’s diverse members and stakeholders. You act as a “connector,” always looking to make connections between ideas and/or people to build something stronger in combination than either part on its own.
- Member-focused. You want to support SEPA’s diverse members as they lead the clean energy evolution. You can translate information, insights, and collaborative research opportunities into tangible benefits for SEPA members.
- Committed to Excellence. You deliver high-quality work quality products on time.
- Proactive and self-motivated. You think ahead, anticipate challenges, and take things from start to finish. You are able to determine what is working and what is not, and you take action to lead in the right direction.
- Flexible. With major changes occurring both internally and in the industry at large, you are able to adjust to changing priorities and operate effectively in a fluid and fast-paced environment. You are able to juggle multiple tasks, allocate and optimize resources, and manage timelines.
What’s Attractive to the Right Candidate?
- Your work will help accelerate our nation’s transformation to a carbon-free electricity system.
- You will enjoy working in a collaborative and highly supportive work environment with a great team of trustworthy and approachable colleagues. You will experience a culture driven by these organizational behaviors:
- Adaptability - Be flexible and capable of change to achieve maximum impact.
- Innovation - Drive new understanding & methods to grow ambitiously as an organization and as individuals.
- Comradery - Work hard and have fun.
- Humility - Start with questions, rather than answers. Explore all sides of an issue.
- Ownership - Think and act like owners of SEPA. Hold ourselves and each other accountable for our shared success.
- Transparency - Communicate honestly, frequently and openly.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
SEPA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer. Employment is based on personal capabilities and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected class as established by applicable law.
ADA Requirements and Disclaimer
This position description generally indicates the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act expected of an incumbent. This role requires the ability to use standard office equipment and learn new software applications as necessary. This is a largely sedentary role; however, some traveling may be required. This position description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of an incumbent. An incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
