POSITION TITLE: RAY Clean Energy Fellow
DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
REPORTS TO: Stacey Paradis, MEEA Executive Director
STATUS: Regular, Full-Time
LOCATION: Chicago (3 days in office, 2 days WFH)
ABOUT THE ROGER ARLINER YOUNG FELLOWSHIP
In an effort to make the conservation and clean energy fields more equitable and accessible, the Roger Arliner Young (RAY)Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate environmentally-related career pathways for emerging leaders of color. The RAY Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors—one that, in our visions of the future, fully represents, includes, and is led by the diverse communities, perspectives, and experiences of the United States.
ABOUT Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Mission: The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is a collaborative network, promoting energy efficiency to optimize energy generation, reduce consumption, create jobs and decrease carbon emissions in all Midwest communities.
Vision: MEEA seeks an achievable pathway for all people and communities in the Midwest to receive the economic, environmental and societal benefits of energy efficiency and the larger clean energy economy.
Our States: MEEA oversees a 13-state region including Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
At MEEA, we leverage our expertise to be the Midwest’s leading resource for our members, allies, policymakers and the broader sector to promote energy efficiency as the essential pathway to achieve a clean, affordable, equitable and sustainable future.
We see energy efficiency as the least cost foundation of the clean energy economy, creating immediate energy savings, providing career pathways, reducing emissions, improving new and existing buildings and boosting Midwest business and industries. MEEA develops connections and engagement opportunities for a diverse group of organizations to collaboratively create practical solutions. MEEA serves as a technical resource and promotes program and policy best practices and highlights emerging technologies, all to maximize energy savings, reduce costs, improve resiliency and lower energy burden.
POSITION SUMMARY
MEEA has four external departments that support the organization to advance our mission. The RAY Clean Energy Fellow will have the opportunity to rotate through each key department (Policy, Buildings, Market Solutions & Education and Membership & Events) and directly experience how MEEA achieves those goals.
Be the trusted source and advocate for energy efficiency policy and programs in the Midwest.
Inspire active participation in the Midwest's portfolio of energy efficiency programs through public recognition of achievements and promotion of their impacts.
Develop and facilitate programs, training and services that fill gaps in the regional energy efficiency portfolio and support emerging technology programs.
Promote the benefits of energy efficiency through an expanding membership base and impactful communications with key stakeholders.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The RAY Clean Energy Fellow will rotate between four departments within the organization. Work assignments will vary between department, below is an overview of job responsibilities. RAY Clean Energy Fellow will work closely with each department director during their rotation.
Develop fact sheets, policy memos, testimony, public comments, white papers and other advocacy materials
Track regulatory and policy developments in MEEA’s 13-state region and help disseminate this information through MEEA’s policy newsletter
Assist in coordinating educational and outreach events to increase awareness and understanding of energy policy and the role of energy efficiency
Conduct research and assist with drafting MEEA research papers or presentations
Work with program partners to plan and schedule trainings and proactively seek out new opportunities to offer energy efficiency trainings throughout the Midwest. Trainings include Building Operator Certification, Building Science Training Series, Home Performance and Code Collaboratives
Assist with workforce development and trainings, including print and online marketing, developing and compiling target lists for direct program promotion
Travel to observe classes and audit instructors of energy efficiency training programs
Prepare general communications to MEEA members and larger audience
Assist with management of MEEA website and content development with staff web team
Assist in development and production of MEEA marketing for all printed and electronic materials, including annual report, fact sheets, blogs, research paper and presentations and conference and event related materials
Assist in development of MEEA Minute, MEEA’s monthly newsletter
Plan and coordinate MEEA webinars to ensure consistent content and promotion
Support development of MEEA’s social media program, including LinkedIn, Twitter and MEEA blog
Work on MEEA’s internal and external PR campaigns
Assist in managing and maintaining MEEA branding
Work with MEEA staff on white papers, fact sheets and other research; designing marketing collateral; and assisting in development of presentations
Manage MEEA’s speakers’ bureau, assisting staff to promote and secure speaking engagements
ADDITIONAL FELLOWSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to the responsibilities at the host institution outlined above, RAY Fellows will spend, on average, 2-4 hours per week (5-10% of work time) on the following:
Actively communicating and building community with their RAY Fellow cohort and previous RAY Fellows.
Meeting regularly with mentors both inside and outside the host institution.
Attending monthly professional development webinars, trainings, and other opportunities to build knowledge and skills as scheduled.
Developing a Personal Leadership Plan (PLP) in their 2nd year with the support of supervisor(s), mentors, RAY program staff, and their RAY Fellow cohort. The PLP will serve as a tool for self-reflection, planning, and assessing progress towards professional, personal, and leadership goals.
Preparing and leading an hour-long end-of-fellowship webinar highlighting their Fellowship experience.
RAY Fellows will also attend:
A 3-day Orientation Retreat in late Summer/Fall 2023.
A 3-day Mid-Fellowship Leadership Retreat in Fall 2024.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Eligible RAY Fellow applicants will:
- Come from a racial/ethnic background underrepresented in conservation and clean energy and demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Be no more than 1 year out of college and have a Bachelor's Degree by July 2023 (we are not considering individuals with graduate degrees at this time).
- Have not had a full-time job in conservation or clean energy.
- Have the ability to work in the United States and commit to the entire fellowship.
SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE
- A college degree by the time of employment, preferred include environmental science, political science, engineering. building science, urban planning or energy management.
- An interest in the field of clean energy, energy efficiency or conservation.
- Demonstrated capacity to work well and collaborate with others.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- An eagerness to learn.
TERM / LENGTH OF ASSIGNMENT
This is a two-year, full-time fellowship (one year with a one year renewal) starting on or after June 15, 2023.
COMPENSATION
The Fellowship is compensated and sponsored by Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, who offers a competitive benefits package as well as training and professional development opportunities.The RAY Clean Energy Fellow has a starting salary of $50,000. MEEA offers a competitive employment benefits package, including health, eye and dental insurance and retirement savings plans.
HOW TO APPLY/APPLICATION
To apply for the RAY Fellowship Program, applicants must:
Complete the online application survey on the RAY Fellowship Program website: https://rayfellowship.org/apply.
Follow the instructions on the linked application webpage to submit a resume or curriculum vitae, one essay response, one visioning response, one short answer response, and a letter of support.
Applications must be submitted to the RAY Fellowship Program no later than March 27, 2023. Transcripts and additional writing samples are not required.
If you have questions please see our FAQ page, any further questions about the application process can be submitted to ray@elpnet.org
MEEA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, gender, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability. MEEA is continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically excluded in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.