Outreach Associate

The Clean Energy Business Network seeks an Outreach Associate based in Washington DC, ideally starting by late September to early October 2024. This is an entry-level position offering meaningful and rewarding work at a mission-driven organization. Join our small but mighty team to work at the nexus of climate, clean energy, diversity and inclusion, and business/economic development.

The Associate should have strong interpersonal skills and will collaborate with small businesses, federal officials, and state- and community-based organizations across the U.S. to:

• Foster equitable and inclusive opportunities in the growing clean energy economy.
• Advance climate and environmental justice solutions.
• Support American small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community organizations.
• Make federal government grant programs and policies more accessible to underresourced stakeholders.

The position involves a broad range of functions, including public outreach, events management, communications, policy tracking and development, technical assistance to small businesses and organizations, and administrative tasks. You will join a small, tight-knit team with a supportive and friendly workplace culture that offers significant opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Starting salary ranges from $55,000-58,000 plus roughly $10,000 in benefits including 401k and health insurance stipend.

To be considered, please email your cover letter and resume (each limited to one page) to cebn[at]cebn.org.

About the Clean Energy Business Network:

The Clean Energy Business Network is the small business voice for the clean energy economy, working to enhance opportunities for small and midsize clean energy companies through federal policy support, market and technology education, and business development assistance. We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that seeks to build bridges across all political spectrums. Our network spans more than 8,000 small business and community leaders across the United States working in a broad range of clean energy technologies and services. Most of the resources we provide are free and publicly available; we also offer affordable premium memberships offering higher levels of policy engagement and networking.

Many of the small businesses and communities we engage with do not have dedicated government relations staff, so CEBN fills a critical gap in bringing their perspectives to Washington. We demystify federal policies, make federal programs more accessible, and give stakeholders outside the beltway a voice in shaping clean energy and climate action. We have a subcontract with the U.S. Department of Energy to provide support to applicants and awardees of certain prize and grant opportunities, and also collaborate with other federal agencies to help cleantech startups and community organizations navigate and apply for funding resources to advance their energy innovation and economic development goals. We also produce flagship communications highlighting the benefits of the clean energy economy to the public and policymakers. Learn more about our impact and check out our 2023 and 2022 Annual Reports for examples of recent projects.

Job duties:

You would contribute to the following projects, with substantial opportunities for professional growth, leadership, and creativity as you learn. All workstreams are a group effort. You are not expected to have prior experience in all of these areas—training will be provided!

• Stakeholder Roundtables Coordination: Organize in-person and virtual events with state/local partner organizations across the country to bridge connections to federal funding resources and technical assistance programs. Identify relevant partners, convene regular planning calls, and coordinate with guest speakers. Draft registration pages and invitations, promotional materials, agendas, and presentations. (For examples, see this upcoming event invitation and these slides from a recent event.)
• Partner Engagement: Oversee partner engagement strategy, including meeting with current and potential partners to identify opportunities for cross-promotion of resources or collaboration on events. Participate in regular coalition calls to share intel and ideas on policy and communications. Serve as a professional representative of the organization before external audiences. Maintain CEBN’s Cleantech Ecosystem Resources List.
• Business Engagement: Help coordinate resources, events, and benefits provided to premium (dues-paying) members, including 1:1 support/research on policy or funding questions.
• Technical Assistance on Federal Energy Funding: Regularly curate opportunities and provide updates to CEBN’s U.S. Cleantech Funding Database—a nationwide database of funding opportunities for clean energy technology research, development, and deployment. Provide support to applicants and awardees to the U.S. Department of Energy programs (via CEBN’s subcontract with DOE), including reviewing prize/grant rules, facilitating group and 1:1 office hours with applicants, and producing events and communications regarding these opportunities. (For examples, see this event recap and prize blog post.)
• Communications: Develop material for weekly newsletters, blog posts, and email digests outlining policy and news updates, upcoming events, and funding opportunities for a broad audience of clean energy innovators and community organizations. Make technical and content edits to WordPress website. (For example, see this blog series.)
• Policy: Represent CEBN in meetings with policy offices in Congress and the Administration and accurately convey the organization’s policy priorities. Support the development of policy advocacy letters, policy summaries, and press statements.
• Metrics Tracking: Perform periodic maintenance/cleanup and reporting of metrics on CEBN engagement, such as website, emails, events, and stakeholder meetings.
• DEI Support: Contribute to an intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles across all project streams. Within all job duties outlined above, focus on reaching an inclusive range of stakeholders and reducing barriers to access.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Valid, current legal authorization to work in U.S.
• Located in or willing to move to the Washington, DC metro region, which includes Maryland and Virginia. (Even with flexible telework, your primary residence must be in the area due to where our organization is registered to do business and employ staff.)

Key attributes:

• Our work is fast-paced and dynamic. Candidates should be motivated, adaptable, and capable of quickly learning new skills and juggling multiple projects.
• The position involves substantial outward-facing engagement as well as internal coordination. The ideal candidate will have an outgoing personality and enjoy meeting and collaborating with others, balanced with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• The position involves a significant emphasis on supporting minority-owned businesses and stakeholder organizations. Prior experience engaging with minority-serving universities, student or professional groups, businesses, nonprofits, or community organizations is strongly preferred.
• A background in energy, economic development, stakeholder engagement, policy, business, or the environment is helpful but not essential, as you will learn about these topics on the job. If your area of study or prior employment do not align with these topics, please feel free to describe how you hope to leverage your experience and skillsets to the duties described above.

Workplace culture:

• Flexible schedules and accommodations for teleworking
• Beautiful, recently renovated office with a rooftop deck and new gym in McPherson Square, blocks from the White House
• Friendly, collaborative, team-oriented work environment
• Flat (not hierarchical) structure with significant opportunities for advancement, leadership, and creativity
• Constant on-the-job training and opportunities for professional growth

CEBN embraces a diversity of thought, culture, and background across our staff and broader professional community. We are an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and the needs of our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, political ideology, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.