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Managing Director, Industry

Team: Energy Transition
Employment Status: FTE
Salary Range: $90,000 – $112,000
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota – Hybrid

Job overview and requirements

Fresh Energy is hiring for a full-time Managing Director of Industry to join our Energy Transition team. This position directs Fresh Energy’s Industry department, holding primary responsibility for steering Fresh Energy’s work to transition Minnesota’s industry and agriculture sectors away from fossil fuels and onto carbon-free electricity and/or low- or zero-carbon fuels, in service of advancing Fresh Energy’s strategic imperative to create a carbon neutral economy through high-impact integrated solutions. The Managing Director will 1) shape and drive the focus and priorities of Fresh Energy’s work in advancing innovative, high-leverage opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and spur an equitable energy transition across Minnesota’s industry and agriculture sectors, 2) manage the Industry team as full-time staff and/or expert consultants are brought on, and 3) work to expand and diversify funding resources for the department.

Our story

As experts in energy and climate, Fresh Energy understands that there are solutions within reach that can help us prevent the very worst damages of climate change. For over 30 years, Fresh Energy has been speeding Minnesota’s transition to a clean energy economy to ensure that our region enjoys good health, a vibrant economy, and thriving, equitable communities today and for generations to come. Our mission is to shape and drive bold policy solutions to create equitable carbon-neutral economies by 2050.

Fresh Energy has historically worked to decarbonize the electric power sector. In recent years, we have turned our focus to additional sectors of the economy that also require urgent decarbonization, like industry and agriculture. The data show that the industrial and agricultural sectors are significant sources of carbon pollution in Minnesota and in the U.S. and will also be the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that in 2020, these sectors accounted for a combined 35% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.—with 24% of emissions from industry and 11% from agriculture.

Fresh Energy launched our Industry department in 2022 to address this challenge. The department houses Fresh Energy’s work in both the industry and agriculture sectors of Minnesota, focusing on regulation, policy, and market transformation to accelerate decarbonization. It resides within Fresh Energy’s Energy Transition program alongside our clean transportation and building decarbonization work.

The Industry department advances the work on early decarbonization opportunities including clean fertilizer, green hydrogen, and clean steel. U.S. fertilizer production is enormously carbon intensive and 99% of fertilizers are made using fossil fuel. The local production of green fertilizer is an important first step toward industrial decarbonization—and Minnesota is poised to create a model of local production and rural economic development, all driven by renewable wind and solar power. Clean steel discussions are ramping up and Fresh Energy is at the table with our partners helping to shape and advance this work in Minnesota.

The Industry department also prioritizes helping Minnesota meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by advancing changes to industry and agriculture regulatory and policy structures. This includes pushing for state implementation of elements within the Climate Action Framework. The department also focuses on spurring innovative and equitable market transformation through implementation of federal investments from the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to equitably transition energy systems in Minnesota’s industry and agriculture sectors.

Reports to

Senior Lead, Innovation and Impact

Essential responsibilities

A. Policy and Programs: A managing director role leading the Industry department within the Energy Transition team to lead our advocacy in 1) assessing, selecting, and advancing the changes to industry and agriculture regulatory and policy structures needed to meet Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals, and 2) spurring innovative market transformation to equitably transition energy systems in Minnesota’s industry and agriculture sectors.

  • Steer overall work specific to the Industry department, including identifying highest leverage opportunities and ensuring effective execution.
  • Serve as point-person for relevant goals housed under Imperative 2 of Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework, guiding overall direction, outcomes, and results.
  • Serve as lead manager of all staff and expert consultants associated or linked with relevant goals housed under Imperative 2 of Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework.
  • Propose and conduct regulatory, policy, legislative, legal, technical, and financial analysis as related to policy proposals, changes, and approaches.
  • Make written and oral presentations to collaborators, regulators, policy makers, and other stakeholders as part of the program’s outreach and advocacy functions.
  • In collaboration with the Communications department, create and publish reports, white papers, web content (e.g. webinars, podcasts, etc.), e-newsletters, and other program information. When appropriate, work to optimize media coverage of program goals, activities, and successes; this may include media interviews as well as writing op-ed pieces, and includes the recruitment and training of effective messengers.
  • Represent the Industry department in interactions with funders and regularly evaluate new opportunities for fundraising and report on progress.
  • Serve as a deployable expert, working with the Imperatives Team, to ensure that the transition away from fossil fuels in the industry and agriculture sectors are accelerated by ending subsidies and other investments in fossil fuels and carbon-intensive infrastructure by 2030, while also supporting the workforce and communities most impacted by the transition.
  • Model and lead a culture of collaboration, identifying and implementing new strategies to better achieve Fresh Energy’s mission and imperatives through work between or across departments such as Buildings, Clean Electricity, Public Affairs, Communications, and/or Energy Access and Equity.
  • Effectively manage all resources under the Industry department, modeling a commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist organization.
  • Ensure that Fresh Energy’s advocacy campaigns are intentionally inclusive and appropriately engage under-resourced communities, rural communities, BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) communities, and other traditionally under-represented Minnesotans.
  • Support the creation and management of the annual budget for the Energy Transition team.
  • Regularly assess opportunities for new partners or collaborations outside of Fresh Energy that will advance the Industry department’s goals.

B. Participate in culture of collaboration and model our core values.

  • Exemplifying openness, humility, and continuously seek improvements in program, policy, workflow, organizational expertise, or individual skills.
  • Shape and support organization-wide systems such as our fundraising activities, career development, and performance review systems.
  • Work effectively in the context of your immediate team, the broader Fresh Energy team, and with external partners; enhance collaboration by maintaining honest communication, seeking and respecting diverse viewpoints, engendering trust, fulfilling responsibilities, and ensuring that all team members and their contributions are valued.
  • Model organization core values and culture such as practicing the coach approach, nurturing an entrepreneurial attitude, embracing a learning attitude as means to progress professionally, developing work autonomy, acting with honesty and integrity and collaboratively seeking ways to advance equity and justice. You can read more about our core values and mission here: https://fresh-energy.org/about-us.
  • Exhibit a clear commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and provide leadership in continually advancing Fresh Energy’s commitment to equity and being an anti-racist organization. You can read more here: https://fresh-energy.org/our-commitment-to-diversity-equity-and-inclusion.

C. Demonstrate capacity for growth and learning and engage with opportunities which support Fresh Energy’s overall mission and strategy.

Job qualifications

Demonstrable experience and passion for the subject area/matter, with an openness to learn about different perspectives or ideas, to grow within Fresh Energy’s culture, and to show commitment to climate action. An entrepreneurial drive/spirit that is balanced by humility, along with a deep appreciation of how to collaborate with fellow staff, partners, and opposing views is a must.

  • Demonstrated expertise in industrial and/or agricultural processes, stakeholder engagement, and policy design; an understanding of or experience working in Midwestern industry and/or agriculture is highly preferable.
  • A BS or BA plus at least twelve years of experience in energy, environment, policy, economics, technology, or related fields OR a MS or MA plus at least ten years of experience in energy, environment, policy, economics, technology, or related fields OR a JD or PhD plus MS or MA plus at least four years of experience in energy, environment, policy, economics, technology, or related fields.
  • Ability to develop and lead a program.
  • Ability to conduct rigorous information-gathering and compile findings into easily digestible and compelling formats.
  • Experience engaging, influencing, and working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders across different interests.
  • Experience presenting before regulators, policymakers, utilities, and other key stakeholders.
  • Experience engaging in regulatory, legislative, and administrative proceedings.
  • Planful and results-oriented.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Solid computer skills in Windows environment, including MS Office.
  • Self-starter who is able to work independently.
  • Team player who desires to work in an environment where working as a team is valued and practiced.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform well in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends is required.

Compensation and benefits

  • Starting salary range: $90,000 – 112,000 based on experience with opportunity for compensation change based on performance, equity across the organization, strategy, and organizational budget.
  • Employees of Fresh Energy foster a respectful, collaborative, and fun work environment. We host regular staff events and lunch and learns, and we are intentional in creating a relevant, inclusive, flexible hybrid workplace. In support of our cross-collaboration practice and our DEI commitment, we review our policies annually to seek alignment with the employee’s experience using the benefits.
  • Full-time Fresh Energy staff (40 hours per week) receive 24 days of PTO (increases each year of employment) from day one of employment, as well as 15 paid holidays and a flexible, family-friendly schedule. Additionally, on Fridays the office closes at noon. We are committed to keeping your workload in alignment with true hours worked and respecting the space needed to take personal time to care for your wellbeing and your family members.
  • Employees of Fresh Energy receive up to 12 weeks of parental leave eligible on the first day of full-time employment. Fresh Energy will pay an eligible employee for the first six weeks of leave with the rest of the leave being unpaid or being paid through the use of PTO. A full-time employee can utilize their bank of PTO to make up for the remaining six weeks of unpaid leave.
  • As an employee at Fresh Energy, you can also expect:
    • Medical and dental plans, additional voluntary vision, short- and long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance.
      • Fresh Energy contributes 50% toward staff health premium with dependents and 90% for single staff. For dental insurance, Fresh Energy pays 100% of an employee dental premium and contributes 50% for staff with dependents.
      • Cash contribution to employee’s FSA and HSA to promote health and wellness.
    • A 5% of annual salary contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan from day 1 of employment. An additional, optional 1:1 matching contribution to your 403(b) up to 3% of eligible gross salary.
    • A generous parental and family care leave for up to 12 weeks.
    • A one-time work-from-home stipend of $300.
    • A cell phone purchase allowance and an approved contribution to monthly phone fees.
  • Fresh Energy incentivizes transit, biking, and walking, offering a dollar-for-dollar bus pass match, $1 for each trip to and from work by bike or foot, and an indoor bike storage area. Fresh Energy pays 50% of the day’s parking for full-time employees coming into the office for work, and the employee pays the remaining 50% of the daily parking fee on a pay-per-use basis. There is also a gym and showers available for Fresh Energy staff as part of being a tenant of the Historic Hamm Building.
  • Employees will receive individual and joint professional workshops and trainings. Each employee is eligible for $1,000 per year to support professional development activities.
  • All employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. We update our in-person protocols to safeguard the health and safety for all employees.

Hiring Process and Timeline

  • The position will remain open until filled and we will review applications on a rolling basis.
  • Our hiring team will select finalists for an initial 45-minute interview via video conference.
  • Finalists will be invited back for an approximately 60-minute second-round interview in-person; at that time, we will ask for three references and two work samples relevant to this contract, e.g. a professional writing sample, or other relevant materials.
  • Ideally the selected candidate would begin work as soon as possible.
  • Fresh Energy’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employer Policy reflect our commitment to ensure equality, treat everyone with respect, and promote diversity in the workplace.

To apply

Email cover letter and resume to the Fresh Energy Hiring Team at hiringteam@fresh-energy.org with the subject line “Managing Director, Industry.” Please include cover letter and resume in one PDF document with your name as the title. No phone calls, please.