Solar Policy & Program Manager

Type: Full-Time, Hybrid, must be located in the Tri-state area of New York City

Start: May 2024

 

About Solar One

 

Solar One is a 501c(3) organization that empowers communities in the New York City metro area to thrive in the face of the challenges brought on by climate change, and to embrace a world that is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. 


Originally founded in 2004 to manage Stuyvesant Cove Park, a two-acre native plant park and a small environmental education center, Solar One has grown into an award-winning organization with a thriving array of programs. Solar One's mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. We empower learning that changes the way people think about energy, sustainability, and resilience by engaging and educating a diverse set of stakeholders and beneficiaries.

 

Solar One is seeking an experienced solar energy professional to provide solar consultation to affordable housing providers in and around New York City, as well as policy research and advocacy to advance equitable solar goals.

 

Solar One's Here Comes Solar program employs creative strategies to expand access to the benefits of solar energy among communities of color and low- and moderate- income residents. Strategies include group purchasing campaigns; providing technical assistance to low-income cooperatives and affordable housing providers; securing financing for solar projects to overcome the upfront cost barrier; assisting with the implementation of the city’s Solar Where Feasible mandate; and helping building owners explore novel approaches such as solar canopies and community shared solar to increase their ability to benefit from solar energy.

 

As the Solar Policy and Program Manager, you will execute or coordinate a variety of activities including building owner engagement and consultation, preliminary solar design, solar site assessment, and contractor selection. You will manage relationships with partners such as the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the NYC Accelerator, affordable housing providers and community-based organizations. In addition, you’ll work closely with the Senior Solar Policy Analyst to advance policy goals that expand access to solar for the communities we work with. In this role you will help develop and communicate organizational positions regarding solar policies, share Solar One’s knowledge and perspective with advocacy organizations to help inform their positions, and help manage/build relationships with environmental justice, clean energy, workforce and affordable housing partners.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in making solar energy more affordable and accessible in New York City and beyond. As a core member of the Here Comes Solar team you will report to Solar One's Director of Solar Campaigns and will help shape the organization's broader strategy and work with colleagues and senior leadership to ensure program success.

 

Responsibilities include:

  • Educating affordable housing providers and low-income building owners about the benefits of solar energy.
  • Providing technical assistance to building owners including:
    • Evaluating buildings' solar energy potential and preparing financial savings estimates.
    • Consulting on incentive eligibility, financing options, and optimal solar system design.
    • Managing the installer procurement process on behalf of program participants.
  • Working with government agencies to facilitate solar on affordable housing.
  • Reporting on program performance and identifying opportunities and risks for the program as well as individual affordable solar projects.
  • Working with the team to constantly improve the solar technical assistance we provide with the goal of making solar more accessible to disadvantaged communities.
  • Work with Solar One and partners to develop policy positions and proposals to expand equitable access to clean energy in New York City and New York State.
    • Analyze current and proposed clean energy and workforce policies, and draft internal memos with recommendations for Solar One’s policy positions to advance our mission.
    • Draft external policy memos/position papers and proposals for distribution to partner organizations, coalitions and City/State policymakers.
    • Complete cost/benefit analysis for policy proposals.
    • Draft letters of support and op-eds regarding clean energy policies for Solar One
  • Represent Solar One by providing testimony at City and State hearings regarding clean energy policies and programs.
  • Identify opportunities for Solar One to contribute subject matter expertise to help inform partners’ advocacy efforts and to directly inform clean energy policy and program design

Qualifications and Skills:

The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of or interest in renewable energy and affordable housing. The candidate will have strong critical-thinking skills, project management experience, exhibit leadership, and be an effective communicator capable of managing relationships with colleagues and senior staff at partner organizations. The candidate will be a team player who values the success of individual projects as well as those of their peers and the organization as a whole.

  • Bachelor’s Degree preferred, Associate’s Degree required.
  • 3- 5 years of relevant work experience
    • Experience working for a solar energy company, affordable housing provider, or City/State government preferred.
  • Knowledge of solar technology and business models or interest/aptitude to gain such knowledge on the job
  • Strong communication skills including in-person, email, phone and video conferencing etiquette.
  • Strong leadership and organizational skills
  • Excellent creative problem-solving ability
  • Knowledge of multifamily real estate and affordable housing or interest/aptitude to gain such knowledge on the job
  • Knowledge of policy advocacy techniques or interest/aptitude to gain such knowledge on the job
  • Advanced MS Office and computer skills, particularly Excel or other spreadsheet software
  • Fluent/conversational in more than one language commonly spoken in New York City
  • Experience working with low-income communitie

 

Salary and Benefits: 

This position is Full Time / Exempt

Paying $68,000-$75,000 per year (salary based on experience)

 

Solar One’s full-time benefits include:

  • A work environment where your contribution is essential and celebrated
  • Training and professional development budget
  • Hybrid in-person/remote work schedule
  • Health care and well-being programs including medical, dental, vision, EAP
  • Life and disability insurance
  • 4 weeks of paid time off, increasing with tenure
  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • Summer Fridays (Friday half-days in the summer months)
  • 401(k) retirement savings

 

Solar One is an equal opportunity employer. Solar One strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of renewable energy and resilience and people in a rapidly changing world. Solar One recruits and employs through a lens of equity and encourages people of all races, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law to apply.