Team Description:
The mandate of the Community team at Climate United is to create effective on-ramps for underserved communities for Climate United products and services, ensuring an equitable clean energy transition. This team will ensure that Climate United reaches its equity goals (60% invested in Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities; 20% rural communities; and 10% in Native communities) through effective community engagement and accountability strategy. The team will center beneficiaries in our program and product design, create and maintain relationships with trusted community infrastructure for capital deployment, and create community feedback loops to both listen and iterate based on shared learning.
Location: Remote within US
Responsibilities:
• Conduct culturally tailored outreach, develop feedback channels, and support project development in Native American communities across the United States.
• Build and maintain respectful, trust-based relationships with Tribal Nations, Tribal councils, and community leaders to facilitate collaboration and mutual understanding.
• Provide early-stage technical assistance including sharing information about Climate United financing options and connecting projects to other funding sources such as philanthropy to projects in Tribal communities.
• Support the Investment team with feedback surrounding the design of financial products design specifically serving and targeting the needs of Tribal communities.
• Develop and implement strategies to ensure that outreach efforts are culturally sensitive and aligned with the traditions, values, and governance structures of different Tribal communities.
• Research best practices in Tribal engagement and share any evolving regulations, norms, and opportunities with the broader Climate United team.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with Tribal organizations, nonprofits, and government entities to enhance outreach efforts and expand Climate United's presence in Native communities. • Conduct comprehensive needs assessments to understand the specific challenges and opportunities in Tribal communities related to clean energy adoption, and tailor outreach strategies accordingly.
• Develop and implement systems for tracking outreach activities and outcomes in Tribal communities. Analyze data to measure the effectiveness of outreach strategies and make data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with Tribal governments to navigate federal, state, and Tribal laws and regulations related to energy projects, ensuring compliance and respect for Tribal sovereignty.
• Develop and pilot innovative outreach programs tailored to the unique needs of Native communities, incorporating feedback from community stakeholders and adjusting strategies as necessary.
• Organize and facilitate community meetings, listening sessions, and educational workshops in Tribal communities to provide information on clean energy technologies and gather feedback on Climate United's programs.
Other: • Support the cross-functional work of the Community Team, which includes impact measurement and management, capacity building, pre-development grantmaking, as well as stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Be a positive contributor to our high-performing, self-starting, no-ego, mission-driven culture.
• Engage with colleagues on the team and across the organization on special projects as needed.
• Be flexible and responsive to new opportunities as they arise.
Required Qualifications:
• 5+ years of experience working in community organizing, lending, economic or environmental justice, or a related field, particularly within Native American communities. • Deep understanding of Tribal governance structures, sovereignty issues, and the historical and cultural contexts of Native American communities.
• Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills, with experience presenting to diverse audiences including Tribal councils, community members, government officials, and industry stakeholders.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills, with experience developing long-term outreach strategies and aligning them with broader organizational goals.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and experience working with diverse populations, particularly within Native, low-income, and rural communities.
• Experience navigating federal, state, and Tribal regulatory environments related to energy projects.
• Passionate about the mission and work of Climate United, Calvert Impact, and our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Has a well-rounded set of professional skills and is comfortable in an entrepreneurial, flat working environment.
• Has a customer service orientation (respectful, responsive) in all aspects of work, including with internal and external people and partners.
• Is a self-starter and can drive large and complex projects and programs from start to finish in coordination with a broader team.
• Is proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and is systems-minded.
• Is intellectually curious, combined with a good sense of humor, high integrity, and team orientation ("We" vs "I" mentality).
• Is an effective and respectful communicator and listener, both orally and in writing, with strong proficiency in English (fluency in one or more Native languages is a bonus, but not required).
• Has a positive, "can-do" attitude focused on implementing solutions.
• Is willing to travel up to 25%, including a variety of conferences and engagements with Tribal and local communities.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge of lending experience as it relates to clean energy technologies (such as solar, wind, and energy storage) and their applications in Tribal settings.
• Experience working directly with Tribal Nations on economic development, energy projects, or sustainability initiatives.
At Climate United, we're excited to hear from candidates who are passionate about our mission. While you might not meet every qualification listed, if you meet most of them and are enthusiastic about the role, we encourage you to apply.
