Clean Heat Minnesota Coalition Manager

(Contract position)

The Clean Heat Minnesota coalition is seeking a Coalition Manager contractor to coordinate and implement the strategic direction for the Coalition in collaboration with the Coalition’s Executive Team consisting of representatives from COPAL, CUB Minnesota, and Fresh Energy. This is an existing coalition with ongoing activities. The Coalition Manager will provide focused support to the Coalition and also become the primary spokesperson of Clean Heat Minnesota.

The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 3-5 years of coalition management experience, including but not limited to: setting and implementing strategy, working in a coalition, project management, meeting facilitation, developing and assisting to implement a communications plan, budget and grant management, and organizing presentations. Experience with energy policy and regulation and an understanding of the strategic relationship between engagement and regulatory advocacy, as well as an understanding of the complexities presented by engaging within the regulatory arena at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is strongly preferred.

The Coalition Manager will be housed at Fresh Energy and will report to a supervisor at Fresh Energy, with direction from the Coalition’s Executive Team.

About Clean Heat Minnesota:
Clean Heat Minnesota is a coalition of approximately 40 organizations, including community-based groups, environmental justice organizations, clean energy organizations, consumer advocates, health groups, and more. Clean Heat Minnesota advances an equitable, people-centric vision for a Minnesota with clean, affordable, and safe heating and cooking. Emissions from fossil gas usage in buildings and industry are a significant source of Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions – and the state won’t reach our climate goals without addressing fossil gas use in buildings.

The Coalition aims to engage diverse communities, providing resources and information about clean heat options and sharing perspectives from underrepresented communities in regulatory decision-making processes. The Coalition’s work includes:

• Advocacy: Through the Coalition, members coordinate on advocacy, primarily through the PUC, inviting diverse voices and perspectives to participate in the regulatory process to more fully inform the scope, pace, and trajectory of the energy transition in the building sector.
• Grassroots engagement: Sharing resources and information about clean heat options and bringing perspectives from underrepresented communities into regulatory decision-making processes.
• Communications: Including the Coalition’s digital channels and earned media.

The Coalition is led by an executive team comprised of Fresh Energy, COPAL, and the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota (CUB).

Primary responsibilities of Coalition Manager:

The Clean Heat Minnesota Coalition Manager will be responsible for overall Coalition management and operations, in consultation with the Executive Team. They will provide thought leadership in guiding and implementing the Coalition’s strategy with responsibility for effective implementation and evaluation to achieve the Coalition’s goals.

The Coalition Manager will also act as a connector and lead relationship and trust development across the Coalition’s Executive Team and member organizations to build an inclusive and representative coalition. This individual will be responsible for representing the Coalition publicly with diverse audiences across venues and platforms, including via communications tactics such as copywriting for newsletters and the website, organizing events and giving presentations, and being the primary spokesperson for earned media.

The Coalition Manager will understand and have a strategic vision for the relationship between engagement within diverse communities and advocacy within PUC proceedings.

Responsibilities include:

• Coalition Strategy and Evaluation
  • With the Executive Team, evaluate the Coalition’s strategic goals, work plan, and activities; adjust if and when warranted.
  • Ensure the Coalition is achieving its work plan; call questions and lead resolution when adjustments are needed.
  • Coordinate the Coalition’s activities related to (1) grassroots engagement of Coalition members and (2) policy advocacy before the PUC.
  • Set communications strategy that complements and aligns with the Coalition’s policy strategy.
  • Track and highlight Coalition successes. Identify and work with the Executive Team to address gaps and needs.

• Coalition Management
  • Organize regular meetings, including but not limited to scheduling/calendar invitations, setting agendas, and preparing speakers and members for meetings.
    • Regular Executive Team meetings (currently scheduled bi-weekly)
    • Full Coalition meetings (currently scheduled monthly)
    • Policy/Technical Committee meetings (currently scheduled monthly)
    • Grassroots and/or Communications Committees (currently scheduled every other week)
    • Strategy meetings with the Executive Team to check in on goals and work plans and discuss necessary adjustments (at least twice per year)
  • Conduct one-to-ones with Coalition members as needed to build relationships, ensure meetings are productive, and set and accomplish Coalition goals.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact with any vendors, ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables.
  • Create and maintain a calendar of important milestones and deadlines.
  • Assist with compiling materials to support grant proposals and reporting.
  • Manage information and documents created by the Coalition.
  • Report out on coalition work and accomplishments via grant reports.
  • Help prepare grant proposals to support future coalition work.

• Coalition Member Engagement and Sub-Granting
  • Serve as the primary point of contact with Coalition members.
  • Work with the Executive Team to support the dissemination of sub-grants to Coalition members via an annual sub-granting program.
  • Support sub-grantees in fulfilling responsibilities outlined in their grant agreement; track metrics and activities throughout the grant year and work with grantees to develop an EOY report.

• Representing the Coalition and Coalition Communications
  • Serve as the spokesperson of the Coalition, represent the Coalition publicly and with members, and support Coalition members when they represent Clean Heat Minnesota.
  • Continue to introduce the Coalition to new people, organizations, and potential partners.
  • Work with Coalition partners to identify new methods of engagement at the PUC and in communities.
  • The Coalition Manager is not expected to represent the Coalition in PUC proceedings.

• Coalition Communications
  • Set communications strategy that aligns with the Coalition’s policy strategy
  • Coordinate and execute Coalition communications, including: copywriting for newsletters, the website, and social media; organizing events and giving presentations; news releases; and being the primary spokesperson for earned media.
  • Maintain a professional image and voice for the Coalition.
• Other duties as required

Qualifications:

• Ability and willingness to navigate the complex and nuanced regulatory and political dynamics that this Coalition must weigh and consider as the work is advanced, supporting the regulatory strategies developed by the executive team and Coalition partners.
• Some experience with the regulatory arena and energy policy, as well as an understanding of the complexities presented by engaging this arena, is strongly preferred.
• At least three to five years of previous experience as described above. The ideal candidate will have leadership experience with a similarly-scaled issue advocacy coalition or campaign, and will possess significant skills in coordinating and facilitating decision making for large, diverse coalitions.
• Knowledge of Minnesota’s energy and environmental justice stakeholders and PUC procedures is strongly preferred.
• Excellent communications skills (both written and oral), ability to facilitate meetings with diverse participation, comfort working with the press, and an appetite for being the primary spokesperson of the Coalition in outreach and communications.
• Experience in coalition coordination and project management.
• Appetite to connect energy policy to public communications for the Coalition and ability to communicate complex ideas in simple, compelling terms.
• Ability to uplift the work that’s happening within the Coalition and deepen relationships with partners.
• Interest in serving in this role for the long-term (multiple years).

Compensation:

• Total compensation for the initial scope of 24 weeks of work over 6 months will not exceed $45,000-$60,000.
• Contract extension is anticipated, pending performance evaluation and securing additional funding (deemed highly likely). Funding period for the ‘Clean Heat MN coalition’ project runs from November 1st to October 31st.
• Payment of services will be based on agreed upon deliverables/milestones, a signed invoice with approval from main program contact.
• Invoices will be paid monthly for work completed in the preceding month. Invoices should include line item descriptions of activities and deliverables.

Implementation Considerations / Administrative Support:

• Access to Host Organization’s IT support as well as Zoom and Microsoft Teams accounts and one Host Organization email account. Contractor is required to provide their own equipment or computer to perform their contract.
• Access to an account for contact management, such as Salesforce or EveryAction.
• Access to the host organizations office and meeting facilities.
• Completion of a 1099.

How to Apply:
Email cover letter and resume to Clean Heat Minnesota via Fresh Energy at hiringteam@fresh-energy.org with the subject line “Coalition Manager.” Please include a cover letter and resume in one PDF document with your name as the title. No phone calls, please. This contract position is open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning April 14, 2025.