Project Manager - Mississippi

We are a regional nonprofit consumer advocacy organization seeking a project manager to establish and oversee a new office. As the project manager, you will spearhead project objectives in support of energy policies that are affordable, equitable, and environmentally responsible. You will lead efforts to cultivate partnerships with diverse communities to increase their participation in energy regulatory policymaking that affects their lives. This work may include intervening in regulatory proceedings at the Public Service Commission, leading or supporting community education, and coalition building among local and regional organizations.

You will report to the Director of Staff and may supervise one position of outreach coordinator. You will assist in hiring an individual for this position. You will be responsible for ensuring project objectives are delivered on time and within budget. You will be supported in a collaborative remote environment with skilled team members. It is required that the person in this position reside within Mississippi.

Job Responsibilities

• Office & People Management
  • Establish and manage the local office of a regional organization.
  • Manage the day-to-day operations of the office with an awareness of potential risks and readiness to prevent or mitigate them.
  • Supervise the outreach coordinator and work collaboratively with team members.
• Project Management
  • Develop plans to meet project objectives and ensure their successful completion.
    • Plan and convene educational workshops and policy forums.
    • Develop and implement a communications strategy that entails conducting media outreach and assisting with content development for social media.
  • Meet project timelines and budget.
• Develop Subject Matter Expertise & Advocacy
  • Build your knowledge of key subject matter relevant to project objectives by participating in the organization’s educational workshops and learning labs, as well as participating in other professional development seminars and conferences focused on the relevant subject matter.
  • Research, analyze, and document issues, local impacts, and policy recommendations related to project objectives.
  • Initiate and maintain ethical and professional engagement with policymakers.
  • Advance and support regulatory and policy positions in adversarial spaces.
• Coalition Building
  • Cultivate positive relations to establish effective partnerships with diverse communities that support their participation in energy policies.
  • Work collaboratively with project partners to develop and advance an energy policy agenda.
  • On a recurring basis, long distance travel away from the local office to other cities and to the organization’s headquarters will be required.
• Administrative Compliance
  • Meet on a regular basis with the project consultant who will advise strategies for achieving project objectives within timelines and budget.
  • Submit monthly reports on the project budget and activities to the Director of Staff.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of project activities and expenses.

Job Qualifications

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with significant work experience in project management or Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least two years of experience in a policy field involving the management or coordination of the following work:
  • community education and participation in governmental decision-making;
  • research and data collection, as well as writing a report, fact sheet, policy paper, public comment letter or written testimony; and
  • engaging a governmental agency on a regulatory or policy matter.
• Experience leading or coordinating a project or team with high ethical standards and integrity.
• Ability to uphold and maintain confidentiality.
• Experience managing relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Slack, Zoom, and Adobe (Acrobat for PDFs).
• Commitment to completing all work tasks without the use of AI tools.

Skills

• Adherence to ethics, fairness, and honesty.
• Ability to take on challenges and contribute to positive change.
• Exceptional communications and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to cultivate respectful relationships with diverse groups and teams.
• Aptitude for working independently as well as collaboratively.
• Curiosity and interest in the history and current issues in the South at the intersection of race, poverty, energy, and governance.
• Knowledge of project management tools and methods.
• Ability to remain organized while working on multiple tasks at once.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

The Ideal Candidate will also have:

• Established relationships within Mississippi communities.
• Prior experience working in environmental, energy, and/or utility policy.
• Experience creating content for social media and/or working with local and national press outlets.

• Fully covered employee Health Insurance
• Optional vision, dental, and dependent coverage (employee paid)
• Retirement plan with 401K matching
• Earned Vacation starting at up to 15 days per year
• Earned Sick leave of up to 12 days per year (mental, physical, and family health)
• All national holidays as well as Juneteenth, Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras, and the Friday following Thanksgiving, plus Summer break (entire week off for July 4th) AND Winter break (one to two entire weeks off at year end)
• Compensatory time
• Cell phone stipend
• Hybrid work model (in office and remote)
• Funding for professional development
• Parental and sabbatical leave
• Friendly and caring work environment
• Flexible work hours