Senior Industry Specialist, IICM

Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development•Minneapolis, MN

9d•$74,000 - $84,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Industry Specialist supports the Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management Program by advancing the policy, market, utility, financing, and stakeholder conditions necessary to accelerate industrial innovation and decarbonization across the Midwest and beyond. The position leads policy and regulatory analysis, develops strategic resources and recommendations, and manages complex project workstreams that support industrial transformation. Working collaboratively with GPI staff and external partners, the Senior Industry Specialist serves as a subject matter expert on industrial decarbonization, industrial energy affordability, utility innovation, and technology adoption. The role translates complex technical, economic, regulatory, and policy issues into practical strategies and actionable guidance for policymakers, utilities, industry leaders, researchers, and other stakeholders. The Senior Industry Specialist will play a key role in identifying barriers, developing solutions, and supporting the implementation of strategies that help emerging technologies and industrial transformation efforts move from concept and demonstration to widespread deployment. The Senior Specialist will monitor legislative, regulatory, utility, market, and technology developments; identify opportunities for new initiatives and partnerships; and represent GPI through meetings, workshops, conferences, webinars, and other public engagements. The Senior Industry Specialist will be expected to work both independently and with colleagues on projects. The successful candidate will be able to complete various work elements from conception to completion in a timely manner and follow direction that may be detailed or minimal. The ideal candidate will have the ability to work collaboratively and constructively with project participants from diverse backgrounds, interests, and points of view; exercise good judgment in a variety of situations; maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities; utilize effective methods for time management and prioritization of tasks; and possess the ability to identify and address urgent and important needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Hours may be flexible and are typically Monday through Friday during the business day; some nights and weekends may be required. Some travel will also be required.

Requirements

Five or more years of experience in public policy, energy, climate, environmental policy, or related field.
Ability to translate and communicate complex scientific, technological, economic, and policy issues to diverse lay audiences.
Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
High attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
Excellent time and deadline management, project management, and team relationship skills.
Demonstrated willingness and ability to work collaboratively and effectively with very diverse individuals and institutions, including those with different backgrounds and political perspectives, with which you may personally disagree.
Demonstrated experience contributing to and leading complex policy research, project workstreams, or multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with policymakers, industry, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and other external stakeholders.
Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute and its Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management Program.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of, or prior experience with, climate, energy, and/or environmental issues is a plus.
Experience with additional research, visualization, or design platforms (e.g., ArcGIS, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools) is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead analysis of legislative, regulatory, utility, financing, and market issues affecting industrial innovation, industrial energy affordability, and technology adoption.
Monitor emerging state, regional, and federal policy developments and assess implications for industrial stakeholders and GPI initiatives.
Identify market, regulatory, infrastructure, and institutional barriers to the deployment of innovative industrial technologies and develop strategies to address them.
Evaluate opportunities for policy innovation and stakeholder partnerships that can accelerate industrial transformation.
Develop reports, roadmaps, policy briefs, fact sheets, case studies, presentations, and other resources that communicate complex technical and policy topics to diverse audiences.
Translate findings from technical studies, pilot projects, and stakeholder engagement activities into actionable recommendations and scalable market strategies.
Synthesize lessons from industry, utilities, government agencies, and research organizations to support practical industrial decarbonization solutions.
Support proposal development and strategic planning through research, analysis, and identification of emerging opportunities.
Lead assigned project workstreams from planning through completion, including research design, work plans, timelines, stakeholder coordination, and deliverable development.
Collaborate with project managers and teams to ensure projects reflect current policy, market, regulatory, and industry conditions.
Support implementation of industrial decarbonization strategies by helping to develop policy, utility, financing, and market frameworks.
Contribute to the development of new projects and initiatives that advance GPI’s industrial innovation and carbon management objectives.
Build and maintain relationships with state agencies, utilities, industry representatives, nonprofit organizations, Tribal Nations, academic institutions, regional organizations, and other key partners.
Design and support stakeholder engagement activities, including workshops, roundtables, interviews, advisory groups, and collaborative planning processes.
Facilitate discussions among diverse stakeholders to identify common challenges, opportunities, and pathways for industrial transformation.
Foster collaboration across sectors to advance technology deployment, infrastructure development, workforce readiness, and policy implementation.
Serve as a recognized resource on industrial innovation, utility innovation, and related policy issues.
Represent GPI at conferences, webinars, working groups, stakeholder meetings, and other public forums.
Communicate emerging trends, market developments, and policy insights to internal and external audiences.
Help strengthen GPI’s leadership role in advancing industrial innovation through strategic engagement, knowledge sharing, and partnership development.
Coordinate cross-program collaboration within GPI to identify opportunities for shared learning and integrated project development across GPI’s broader industry portfolio.
Track and communicate emerging developments affecting industrial innovation.
Participate in Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management team meetings and other programmatic activities.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Vice President of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management.