Climate and Renewable Energy Policy Associate

The Nature Conservancy • Clearfield, UT

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Climate and Renewable Energy Policy Associate will advance TNC Utah’s and the division program’s climate and renewable energy work through collaboration, effective communication, and building key relationships. S/he is expected to build external influencing networks and partnerships designed to broaden support in Utah and across the West for climate policy and renewable energy transition. The Associate will work closely with TNC staff, government entities, collaborators, and the corporate community to identify opportunities and develop strategies and alliances to build the enabling conditions that will eventually lead to meaningful greenhouse gas emission reductions. S/he will participate in working groups, partner convenings, and research projects internally and externally on topics like transmission, critical minerals development, and project siting. The Associate is responsible for setting goals, identifying metrics, and tracking progress towards TNC Utah’s and the division program’s Climate and Renewable Energy strategic plans. S/he will be responsible for communicating the collective vision and impact of our climate adaptation and mitigation efforts that span across functional areas and geographies. In collaboration with TNC philanthropy teams and TNC leadership, the Associate will participate in fundraising activities to increase financial support for TNC. The Associate will analyze TNC’s past and ongoing climate mitigation policy activities across 11 Western states, including Utah, to determine collective progress toward emission reduction outcomes. S/he will coordinate with other TNC policy and government relations staff to continuously evaluate emerging state and federal policy relative to TNC’s goals, Utah and division climate and energy program strategies, and external relationships.

The Nature Conservancy in Utah seeks a Climate and Renewable Energy Policy Associate to join our External Affairs team and enhance our efforts in Utah and the western United States to build support with policymakers, influential constituencies, and communities that ultimately leads to advancing climate policy and the transition to clean, renewable energy sources. Your time will be split 50/50 between the Utah External Affairs team and the Western U.S. Climate and Renewable Energy (CARE) program and will work with staff from the Utah and Western Division external affairs, communications, science, development and conservation program teams to execute climate and renewable energy strategies that align with TNC-wide goals. For Utah, you will provide strategy design and tracking, develop and advocate for policy and funding on the state and federal level, foster external relationships, facilitate internal and external outreach and communications, and engage in fundraising. You will support the Western U.S. CARE program by tracking and providing strategic support for state energy and climate legislation, state and federal regulations guiding renewable energy and transmission planning processes and deployment, participating in multi-state working groups and coalitions, and helping identify high-impact and mission-focused climate and energy policy solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years related experience or equivalent combination.
• Fluency in English.
• Experience presenting to and/or communicating with business, government or legislative staff and/or program leadership.
• Experience researching information from divergent sources and compiling it into a cohesive reporting structure.
• Experience with legislative, planning, policy, or corporate initiatives at two or more of the following levels: local, state, national or international.
• Experience working with corporate or NGO partners, and government agencies.

Nice To Haves

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated.
• Master’s degree appreciated.
• Familiarity with social, economic and political conditions and issues surrounding climate and clean energy in the United States, Western U.S., and Utah.
• Familiarity with: energy development, generation and storage; energy transmission; critical minerals; and project siting.
• Experience building networks or organizational capacity, facilitating informational sessions, increasing internal knowledge and capacity, and identifying key stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating projects in a decentralized organization, working across teams, operating units and functions to achieve optimal results.
• Outstanding written and oral communication, negotiating and organizational skills.
• Consistently demonstrate professional, positive, and approachable attitude/demeanor and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Advance TNC Utah’s and the division program’s climate and renewable energy work through collaboration, effective communication, and building key relationships.
• Build external influencing networks and partnerships designed to broaden support in Utah and across the West for climate policy and renewable energy transition.
• Work closely with TNC staff, government entities, collaborators, and the corporate community to identify opportunities and develop strategies and alliances to build the enabling conditions that will eventually lead to meaningful greenhouse gas emission reductions.
• Participate in working groups, partner convenings, and research projects internally and externally on topics like transmission, critical minerals development, and project siting.
• Set goals, identifying metrics, and tracking progress towards TNC Utah’s and the division program’s Climate and Renewable Energy strategic plans.
• Communicate the collective vision and impact of our climate adaptation and mitigation efforts that span across functional areas and geographies.
• Participate in fundraising activities to increase financial support for TNC.
• Analyze TNC’s past and ongoing climate mitigation policy activities across 11 Western states, including Utah, to determine collective progress toward emission reduction outcomes.
• Coordinate with other TNC policy and government relations staff to continuously evaluate emerging state and federal policy relative to TNC’s goals, Utah and division climate and energy program strategies, and external relationships.
• Provide strategy design and tracking
• Develop and advocate for policy and funding on the state and federal level
• Foster external relationships
• Facilitate internal and external outreach and communications
• Engage in fundraising
• Support the Western U.S. CARE program by tracking and providing strategic support for state energy and climate legislation, state and federal regulations guiding renewable energy and transmission planning processes and deployment
• Participate in multi-state working groups and coalitions
• Help identify high-impact and mission-focused climate and energy policy solutions

Benefits

• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.
• We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level