Transmission Fellow - Carbon-Free Electricity Program

Rocky Mountain Institute • Full-time • Remote (Colorado) • 5d ago

Job Description:

RMI seeks passionate early-to-mid career professionals to participate in the RMI Transmission Fellowship Program’s second year. The Transmission Fellowship Program trains new experts in the complexities of the US transmission system to advance the grid build-out needed to support an affordable, reliable power sector.

New fellows should bring a passion to get into the weeds about electricity transmission. Previous transmission experience is not required, but we expect fellows will bring diverse, existing skillsets to contribute to transmission work. We welcome candidates with a broad set of educational and work backgrounds.

RMI is hiring 1-2 fellows to stay at RMI. The other fellows will participate in the cohort from external organizations and will be recruited via another process.

Transmission fellows will learn basic-to-advanced power system fundamentals, regulation, policy, and economics through a combination of on-the-job learning and structured sessions. Fellows will spend ~90% of their time on project work. To complement their on-the-job work, Fellows will spend ~10% of their time participating in in-person trainings, e-learning using technical modules and facilitated discussions, peer-to-peer learning, self-study, and mentorship as part of a cohort-based training model.

Application instructions: In lieu of a cover letter, in 1-3 paragraphs, please briefly explain why you are interested in the transmission fellowship opportunity.

Responsibilities will depend on eachfellow’s host organization and may include:

SupportingRMIon projects to advance transmission expansion, or improve related market structures

Analyzingdatatodiscover new insights, challenges, and opportunities

Conductingqualitative analysisand interviews

Participatingin problem-solvingsessionstodefinenew approachestosolving sticky challenges

Synthesizingrecommendations into clear and compelling reports.

Engaging with external experts and stakeholders to advance project deliverables.

Conduct in-depth research and analysis on topics relevant to your team's focusarea, synthesizing findings into actionable insights and recommendations.

Contribute to the development of thought leadership and communicationmaterials, such as reports, briefs, and presentations, to effectively communicateteam insights, activities, and recommendations to internal and externalstakeholders.

Assistin coordinating team meetings, workshops, and events, includinglogistics, agendadevelopment, and participant communications.

Participate in partnerships with external stakeholders, including corporate partners,public actors, and/or community groups, to advance shared goals andobjectives.

Create innovative problem-solving approaches to drive project insights.

Utilize both quantitative and qualitative analysis or modeling techniques to assess the impact of various energy strategies and policies.

Contribute to presentations and participation in conferences,workshopsand other external engagements.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of relevant work experience OR a master's degree inapplicableareas such as: STEM, political science/policy, finance, business administration, environmental sciences, economics, etc. PhD candidates will alsobeconsidered.

Genuine passion for driving positive change in the energy transition space,demonstrated throughpreviouswork experience, academic projects, and/or extracurricular activities.

Strong interest in and understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the energy sector.

Project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

Communication skills, both written and verbal, can convey complex information clearly and concisely.

Ability and willingness to engage with technical material and provide qualitative and quantitative evaluation of existing initiatives.

Qualifications which may beadvantageous, but are not:

General background inenergy, climate, or environmental fields; and/or environmental or energy justice; and/or energy economics or energy project development

Grid modeling

Energyinfrastructureexperience(e.g.work at a utility, rural cooperative, etc.)

Political advocacy or lobbying experience, including in local/state/federal legislative fields

Experience working at state public utility commissions (PUCs) or a similar entity

Experience with or knowledge of regional transmission planningentities(RTOs, ISOs, etc.)

Facilitation and community engagement experience

Technicalexpertisein coding, computer modeling, data visualization, etc. (especially energy or financial modeling using Excel, Python, etc.)

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado. This role can be located from anywhere in the continental United States.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Compensation

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. You'll receive a competitive fixed salary of $73,000, reflective of the unique training focus and time-limited nature of the opportunity.

Benefits

We offer an array of benefits including:

Medical, dental, vision insurance

403b retirement match with immediate vesting

Group life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability

Optional voluntary life, AD&D and accident plans

Health savings or flexible spending accounts

Fertility and hormonal health support

Mental health and wellness support

Comprehensive leaves of absence (including generous parental leave)

Generous paid time off and sick leave

Paid sabbatical leave

Regional holidays with at least one extended break in each geography

Work from home and home technology allowances

Learning & development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning and an annual individual professional development budget)

Potential for bonuses and merit increases

Discount marketplace (gym memberships, pet insurance, etc.)

Hybrid / remote work options

Team retreats and geographic meetups

Rewards and recognition programs

Diversity

We know that the diversity of our teams makes us stronger as an organization, and RMI is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity as outlined in U.S. federal law. We prohibit discrimination against applicants, interns, and employees on the basis of any legally recognized basis, including but not limited to: age (40 and over), race, color, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, uniformed service member status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other applicable status protected by applicable law.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.