Brief Job Description:

The Climate Policy and Planning team in the City of Boston’s Environment Department is responsible for using regulatory, legislative, legal, and planning tools to advance Mayor Wu’s climate agenda and to support the work of the Environment Department in carrying out energy, resilience, and environmental justice programs and services. The Deputy Director of Climate Policy, Energy Transformation Transformation Program Manager will develop, implement, and support projects, policies, programs, and partnerships that advance the equitable transition to a carbon-free, resilient energy system.

The Deputy Director of Climate Policy, Energy Transformation will report to the Director of Climate Policy and Planning and work closely with the other teams in the Environment Department as well as other City departments that work on energy infrastructure, grid resilience and modernization, renewable energy, and energy justice issues. The Program Manager will play a critical role in implementing Boston’s 2030 Climate Action Plan and future energy planning processes. The Manager will provide as-needed technical support to the teams responsible for ongoing programs in the Municipal Energy Unit, including municipal facility decarbonization through the Renew Boston Trust; the City’s municipal aggregation program, Boston Community Choice Electricity; and renewable energy procurement. The Program Manager will also be responsible for maintaining relationships with and forming partnerships with energy utilities and regulators, as well as developing partnerships across the City, particularly with infrastructure and energy planners in the Planning Department and Streets Cabinet, as part of an all-of-government approach to equitable climate action. Under the direction of the Director of Climate Policy and Planning, the Program Manager will be responsible for leading and supporting a new portfolio of grid modernization and clean energy projects, ranging from policy initiatives to clean energy development and procurement.

• Manages relationships with energy utilities and regulators.  
• Advises on energy transformation planning, policy, and regulation. Develops the City’s knowledge base on this topic and increases baseline awareness among City staff who are executing components of the City’s Climate Action Plan related to energy.  
• Provides support, as needed, to the Municipal Energy Unit on ongoing initiatives, including the Boston Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) Program outreach and renewable energy procurement.
• Supports ongoing and growing programs, such as solarize programs for residential solar/storage installations.
• Facilitates strategy development for future municipal building decarbonization and electrification, including evaluation of the City’s performance contracting program and whether the City will undertake other models offered by Energy Service Companies for the City’s municipal building work.  
• Coordinates with the Planning Department’s infrastructure and energy planners on grid planning, including transmission, distribution system upgrades, and non-wire alternatives with utilities; and on thermal decarbonization initiatives, including the future of the natural gas system; the steam system; and geothermal and sewer heat recovery planning.
• Supports development and implementation of new energy transformation portfolio consisting of policy agenda (e.g., energy facilities siting) and programs/projects (e.g., PPAs).  
• Stays current with important related scientific and policy developments and conveys them in practical terms to Boston stakeholders. 
• Works with partner departments and agencies and external partners to implement community energy resilience projects and programs across the City, including the Planning Department, the Department of Emergency Preparedness, Boston Housing Authority, the Mayor’s Office of Housing, and other key sector stakeholders on community energy resilience work.  
• Identifies obstacles to improving community energy resilience by residents and businesses, small and large, and institutions and develops strategies to reduce those obstacles.
• Builds strong, collaborative partnerships with utility, business, institutional, non-profit, neighborhood groups, and resident associations to ensure that all parts of the Boston community, and especially the most vulnerable members of the community, have the support and resources necessary to develop community-driven resilience solutions and to improve their access to renewable energy and other distributed energy resources.   
• Establishes and manages partnerships and strategic alliances with key local and regional government stakeholders across diverse sectors, professional disciplines, and communities.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Five (5) to seven (7) of full-time or equivalent part-time experience in energy, climate, urban planning, law, engineering, or a related field and at least three (3) years of management experience. Additional experience preferred.
• A bachelor's degree is required.
• A J.D. or master's degree in energy, environmental science, urban planning, engineering, policy, or a related field is strongly preferred and may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience. Management experience may not be substituted.
• Experience working for or directly with investor-owned energy utilities is highly desirable. Experience working for an energy utility regulator may also be considered comparable experience. 
• Knowledge of relevant Federal and State laws (e.g., regional operation of the grid, state oversight of utilities and energy efficiency), federal, state, and local energy policies.
• Demonstrate experience and commitment to environmental justice and the needs of diverse urban communities. 
• Demonstrate passion and commitment to public leadership on environmental justice and commitment to city leadership on climate and equity.
• Demonstrate experience tackling complex problems with creative, effective solutions in a fast-paced work environment.
• Highly organized, with the ability to simultaneously handle many tasks, organize complex projects, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral & written communication & organizational skills, with the ability to write about and present complex policies, research, and ideas in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully within a team and share credit for high-impact work.
• Willingness to practice accessible, responsive, community-engaged leadership for residents of the City of Boston.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong commitment to integrity and inclusivity in the workplace.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to work with diverse interests and backgrounds.
• Energy, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and Google Suite.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/SalaryPlan/Grade: Non-Union/MM2-10

Hours per week: 35