Director, Energy

American Institutes for Research

5d•$170,000 - $203,000•Hybrid

About The Position

AIR is seeking an entrepreneurial Director, Energy to build and scale a new energy-focused portfolio aligned with AIR's mission to generate rigorous evidence and deliver high-impact services. Reporting into the AIR Growth Office, and with strong support and engagement from AIR's senior leadership, the Director, Energy will establish AIR as a trusted partner to federal agencies, foundations, utilities, and other public- and private-sector funders working across power generation and storage, grid interconnection, and energy markets. Within these areas, AIR brings distinct capabilities in education, workforce development, and community impact — applying behavioral and social science methods to the human dimensions of energy transition and system change. Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories. The role requires regular domestic travel for project work, funder engagement, and partnership development. About AIR: Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Requirements

Master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent in energy policy, economics, environmental engineering, systems engineering, or a closely related fields such as environmental studies or public policy.
11 or more years of progressively senior experience in the energy or climate domain, including work across research, policy, implementation support, consulting, or business development contexts, with preference for experience in one or more of the following areas: power generation and storage, grid interconnection, energy markets, or the workforce and community dimensions of energy transition.
Demonstrated success leading or contributing to winning bids across both federal and non-federal markets, including shaping opportunities, managing client relationships, and winning competitive awards.
Experience leading high-performing teams in a research, consulting, business development, or implementation support.
Exceptional communication skills, with an ability to convey complex information, and collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment.
Strong business development acumen and proposal writing experience.
Fluency in rigorous evaluation methods such as RCTs, mixed methods, implementation science frameworks, and economic evaluation.
Collaborative leadership style with a commitment to mentoring and team development.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis.
Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position.
Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

Responsibilities

Identify and pursue new funding opportunities across federal, non-federal, and commercial markets, including U.S. federal agencies, foundations, multilateral organizations, utilities, and other public- and private-sector funders.
Lead key components of the business development cycle, including opportunity identification, funder engagement, opportunity qualification, teaming and partnership strategy, proposal development, and advising on negotiation and project execution.
Contribute to the development and refinement of AIR's value proposition in the energy space, emphasizing evidence-based policy, rigorous evaluation, applied research, and learning partnerships.
Represent AIR externally through participation in energy and climate convenings, funder meetings, and policy forums in support of relationship development and portfolio growth goals.
Lead and develop a team of researchers, technical specialists, and project managers to pursue and execute energy work.
Mentor staff and support their professional growth through coaching, feedback, and development of technical and leadership skills.
Foster an entrepreneurial and creative team culture that is high-performing, collaborative, opportunity-focused, and energized by mission-driven work.
Contribute to the cultivation and sustainment of external partnerships with research institutions, energy-sector organizations, utilities, NGOs, private-sector partners, and government agencies that support portfolio and project goals.
Provide technical and analytic expertise on evidence needs in the energy sector, including evaluation of energy programs and policies, applied analytics, implementation research, and learning agendas.
Lead and contribute to publications, presentations, and policy-relevant products that demonstrate AIR’s technical strengths in energy and energy-related work.