Project Manager - ESB Initiative

This is a remote position and will be based in Colorado. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. 

About the program: 

As part of the Electric School Bus Initiative, this position is funded through a utility transportation electrification plan allotment. The purpose of the funding is to:

1. Create a resilience center which can be provided with back-up power through a bi-directional electric school bus (ESB).

2. Develop a process for dispatching ESBs to the resilience center in times of emergency.

3. Document the solution to create a blueprint to replicate these systems in other communities impacted by PSPS events.

During PSPS events it is vital to establish emergency evacuation centers where impacted citizens will have access to food, shelter, and communications should they be required to leave their homes. To improve the resilience of these designated sites they should be equipped with reliable back-up power systems, preferably with ones that reduce negative environmental impacts and can be implemented cost effectively. A potential solution is to utilize electric school buses as emergency back-up power supplies, which can provide benefits particularly for disadvantaged communities most impacted by disruptions. As school districts electrify their fleets the availability of electric school buses (ESBs) in rural communities will become ubiquitous. Bus manufacturers are incorporating bi-directional (charge/dis-charge) capabilities into electric buses as a standard feature. Working with our school district and industry partners, the project will develop an ESB back-up power solution to serve critical loads within a designated resiliency center. This design can be used as a blueprint to enable similar installations throughout at-risk communities. An additional facet of this project is ensuring ESBs can be re-charged to maintain their ability to provide back-up power and provide transportation services. This will be accomplished by creating a resilient charging depot, capable of operating during a prolonged grid outage.

As an organization, WRI is working in six areas of focus centered in equitable approaches: Supporting school districts and transportation providers in accelerating the transition to electric school buses; collaborating with manufacturers across the electric school bus supply chain in preparing for the transition; working with electric utilities to improve interconnection and investments for electric school bus charging infrastructure, including supportive rates and tariffs. ; facilitating understanding of electric school bus business models and promoting the expansion of funding and finance options in the electric school bus market; engaging policymakers at the federal, state and municipal levels to reduce barriers to equitable school bus electrification; and centering communities in pursuing school bus electrification and work with community-focused organizations to help provide the tools and resources to make it happen. You can read more about the Electric School Bus Initiative here.

Job highlight: 

You will be responsible for integrating equity into your work.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Utility Engagement and Transportation Electrification, you will play a major role in supporting the implementation of an equitable national electric school bus fleet transition. You will lead project management and engagement activities with partners on a variety of projects looking to use electric school buses, associated charging equipment and infrastructure for resiliency and charging reliability. You will also manage external relationships with stakeholders to drive projects and align all entities in their development and execution. Key responsibilities in this role will include scaling lessons learned on one project to other similar projects to foster peer-to-peer learning.

You will be supported by the Electric School Bus Initiative’s Utility Engagement team alongside a cross-section of experts in school district assistance, bus-manufacturing, utilities, infrastructure, policy, and community engagement.You will coordinate WRI’s aspects of facilities design and construction projects to ensure all financial, administrative, contractual, and technical aspects of multiple projects are being executed, as required. You will provide technical assistance in troubleshooting charging infrastructure deployment issues through root cause analysis to enhance reliability, resiliency and charging operations. You will strengthen our knowledge of best practices in charging infrastructure technology, operation, maintenance and communications along with supportive, utility program design, utility electric vehicle rate structures, vehicle-grid integration programs, and use of electric vehicles for grid resilience especially in disadvantaged and under resourced communities. You will also manage external relationships with stakeholders like utilities, regulators, project developers, community groups, school districts and other customer types, and other stakeholders to drive projects and align all entities in their development and execution.

You will expand and apply your expertise through activities such as writing articles, preparing policy memos, and authoring technical analyses to be published as WRI knowledge products; developing quantitative and qualitative tools and resources for school districts, utilities, and other audiences; representing WRI at external meetings and events; organizing workshops and webinars; and through engagement with other experts within and outside WRI. You will also advise school districts and other stakeholders aiming to electrify school buses, shape regulatory and policy solutions, and provide insights to the US Energy team.

What you will do: 

Project Management (50%): -

• Explicitly center equity in all project aspects so that underserved communities directly benefit from the project outcomes
• Lead coordination of projects with grant partners and organizations to ensure alignment and achievement of goals
• Track and manage project-wide budgets
• Lead funding proposals and grant monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans in cooperation with internal and external colleagues
• Identify, collect, and analyse data to inform timely project reporting activities.
• Oversee smooth transitions from construction to commissioning and closeout
• Resolve field construction problems in coordination with project engineering staff, third parties, utility staff, site hosts, and other agencies as necessary
• Research, track and understand communications protocols used in bidirectional and monodirectional electric vehicle charging with the ability to train and educate internal and external stakeholders
• Devise project scope of work (SOW) and manage project schedules to adhere to project scopes, timelines and budgets
• Utilize asana, SharePoint and other Microsoft tools for project tracking

Outreach and Communication (30%): -

• Organize and lead external events, workshops, conferences and other project distribution or capacity-building activities to achieve project goals and address barriers to equitable ESB deployment
• Coordinate recruitment, outreach, and participant management for webinars, cohorts, and stakeholder convenings
• Represent the Electric School Bus Initiative and US Energy program in internal and external communications and meetings related to research engagements and other inquiries
• Collaborate and communicate with relevant team members across WRI's programs and international offices
• Support project coordination with external research partners and assist with other projects and activities

Administrative (20%):-

• Be an active team member of our Electric School Bus Initiative and ensure coordination with the other areas of the initiative
• Undertake project management responsibilities, including preparing workplans, administering subcontracts, and handling task management
• Lead tool and database management, as needed, including data collection and tracking
• Perform other tasks as assigned at various external and internal functions and events
• Delegate and provide guidance to junior staff on ensuring that tasks are done effectively

What you will need: 

• Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree in public policy, environmental studies, engineering, construction administration, renewable energy planning, transportation, , or a related field
• Experience: You have 5+ years of relevant professional experience in managing projects with multiple cross-functional stakeholders, such as infrastructure planning, outreach campaigns, community engagement, construction management, equipment procurement etc.
• Experience in electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation, deployment, operation and maintenance is required
• Experience with root cause analysis and lean six sigma (or equivalent training) is highly desirable
• Ability to work well in cross-functional teams, manage multiple priorities, and work under tight deadlines.
• Experience in consistent communication, creative problem-solving, and engagement with diverse stakeholders with potentially competing priorities.
• Experience managed some degree of planning, execution, staff oversight, and status reporting for significant initiatives.
• Ability to make independent, data-driven decisions in complex situations.
• Experience manages projects and programs from initiation to scale.
• Manage multiple projects and issues effectively.
• Languages: You have verbal and written proficiency in English
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: US salary range is between 84,000 and 95,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of May 9, 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter in addition to your resume.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities. 
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure
• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.