Senior Program Director

Building Power Resource Center

About Us:

We are a national resource hub for community organizations and government staff to utilize federal funds for leading edge climate policies in the buildings and power sector. We fund, strategize with, and connect our partners with the expertise they need to build real projects in their community. 

We recognize the game-changing opportunity of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for our communities, a clean energy economy, and the public sector. Billions of dollars are on the table for local and state governments. But, without the leadership of community organizations, unions, and climate groups supporting and challenging government to craft programs for working class communities, the energy transition will be marked by inequality and missed opportunities. By supporting collaboration between powerbuilding groups and government leaders, we develop ambitious policy frameworks and flex the organizing muscle needed to transform our vision into reality. 

We believe that successful models of co-governance can foster a coherent narrative of government helping working class people address their needs while rebuilding faith in democracy. 

 Our goal is to nurture the adoption of these policy and political models in dozens of places across the country in order to build the knowledge and capacity for implementing an equitable climate transition. More info here. 

The Role: 

A Senior Program Director directly supports community-based powerbuilding organizations and government staff on developing their policy agenda and implementing their campaign goals. 

We are looking for humble policy and campaign experts. The ideal candidate has significant leadership experience driving organizing campaigns from outside government and/or implementing policy programs from the inside; they can balance the ambition of the principled just transition we need with the pragmatism necessary for successful governance. We are looking for go-getters who are motivated by genuine curiosity, detail obsessed, rigorously mission-focused, enthusiastic about climate and economic policy, and outcomes-driven!

This is a great opportunity to work with the best organizers across the country and with ambitious government officials to model effective climate and jobs programs that could be replicated across the country. Senior Program Directors will report to the Executive Director, and work closely with her as well as BPRC’s Senior Advisors. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

50% Direct Campaign Assistance  

• Develop and maintain collaborative and rewarding relationships with all of our partners (leaders of community organizations, government staff, allies in national-network groups, and other technical assistance providers). 
• Provide significant support for a portfolio of campaigns by providing strategic, place-specific guidance on policy development and political strategy. 
• Identify relevant opportunities and aggressively support partners’ applications for federal, state, and city funding for their projects. 
• Recognize capacity or resource gaps in our campaigns, then facilitate support from other technical assistance providers.  
• Draft and give feedback on various campaigns' internal and public materials. 
• Maintain an organized system to track our work across jurisdictions so that we can regularly measure and report our progress. 

35% Policy Research and Resource Development (Learn and Develop System to Share Learnings)

• Develop relationships and cultivate a network of policy and technical professionals. 
• Analyze, develop, and refine model policy solutions in partnership with allied organizations and policy professionals. 
• Stay informed, synthesize, and translate values-aligned policy expertise about the clean energy transition for the building sector. 
• Develop educational and outreach materials, such as reports, newsletters or presentations to support BPRC’s goals. 

15% Strategic Planning and Organizational Development

• Regularly evaluate BPRC’s impact for strategic planning. 
• Identify lessons and structure opportunities for co-learning across our cohort of partners. 
• Support with identifying new jurisdictions and campaign opportunities for BPRC to support.
• Work with the Executive Director to develop a culture of transparency, collaboration, care, and joy. 

Qualifications, Skills, and Characteristics: 

• Minimum 8 years of work experience in organizing, campaigning, and/or policy; experience working in government is preferred;
• Significant senior leadership experience directing high-impact programs is required; 
• Experience building partnerships and being in accountable relationship; 
• Relational and collaborative spirit is a must; 
• Solid analytical skills, especially in the areas of assessing organizational strengths and weakness, identifying gaps, understanding political trends, etc;
• Excellent communications skills -- listening, speaking, and writing;
• Technical expertise on building decarbonization or the energy system is not necessary, but basic skills in policy analysis and a sharp understanding of the political dynamics and stakeholders in climate work is required;
• Nuanced understanding of the relationship between an inside and outside strategy for social change - and for this project, is oriented towards collaboration with governing partners as a way to support base building goals; 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage their time effectively, and create and complete work plans without much supervision; 
• Demonstrated commitment to values of equity and justice in their personal or professional life; 
• Willingness and ability to travel, about one a month. 

Salary and Benefits

This is a one-year position with a possibility for extension, and the salary range for a Senior Program Director is $130,000-$150,000. BPRC provides a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which include health, vision, and dental insurance; vacation, sick, and personal time off; a retirement plan; utility reimbursement and more. 

Equity Statement

BPRC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to a diverse workplace and providing continuous career development opportunities for our staff. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply or perform the essential functions of the job should contact yongjung@buildingresource.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.