POSITION TITLE: RAY Clean Energy Fellow/Fellow Level 1
DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: Federal and Local Policy Programs at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
REPORTS TO: Alexander Ratner, ACEEE
STATUS: Regular, Full-Time
LOCATION: Washington, DC, (virtual option)
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: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Mission. ACEEE works to transform and optimize how we use energy throughout the economy. We see energy efficiency as key to rapidly and equitably combating climate change while improving our economic well-being.
Core Values. ACEEE is committed to the social and economic needs of people and communities as we advance our environmental priorities. We research and promote evidence-based clean, efficient energy solutions that advance equity and health, ensure a just and inclusive clean energy transition, and encourage and empower people to make positive change through their choices. We highlight and address implications for communities that shoulder the disproportionate impacts of energy production and consumption and climate change, including low-income communities, communities of color, and environmental justice communities (i.e., those that historically suffer from environmental pollution and public health hazards).
ACEEE's local policy program works to scale up local-level equitable energy efficiency strategies. The program’s work includes local policy research, convenings, technical assistance to local governments and communities, and energy efficiency implementation work in cities. ACEEE’s federal policy program develops legislative proposals, builds stakeholder and policymaker support for them, promotes administrative actions under existing authorities, and analyzes existing and proposed policies and programs.
● ACEEE's organizational culture is team-oriented with a strong dedication to its mission. Staff work at an energetic pace in an entrepreneurial environment that emphasizes professional growth and development. There is a high degree of workplace flexibility, with an emphasis on results, making ACEEE a fun and fulfilling place to work. ACEEE is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion while weaving equity into our research and policy work.
POSITION SUMMARY
The RAY research fellow will conduct research, analysis, and outreach to support ACEEE’s federal and local policy work. ACEEE is working as part of a multiorganization-collaborative to advance the adoption of smart surfaces that can cool cities and reduce water runoff (e.g., reflective roofs, tree coverage, porous pavements). The fellow will contribute to the collaborative’s efforts by conducting research on federal funding opportunities that jurisdictions can leverage to fund their smart surfaces projects and helping cities obtain the funding. The fellow may also work on other federal and local policy projects, including on implementation of new federal climate programs. This is a great opportunity to join a collaborative team working on a policy
with proven real-world impacts. We are looking for a candidate who is excited by the mission of our organization, eager for research and outreach opportunities, and who is interested in pathways for advancement.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions/Major Areas of Responsibility
Assist in identifying federal funding opportunities to fund smart surfaces projects
Assist ACEEE staff and other collaborative partners in creating templates that jurisdictions and
community-based organizations can use when applying for funding
Help to identify potentially new or existing projects that may be ideal for expansion with federal
funding support
Specific Responsibilities of the Job
Perform assigned research activities such as investigating provisions of the American Rescue Plan
Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act
Liaise with other collaborative partners and federal government staff to understand the provisions
of each relevant program
Summarize and document the funding and application requirements for relevant federal programs
Identify potential template formats and work with ACEEE and other partners to develop final
template format
Assist jurisdictions in mapping out projects that align with grant program opportunities
Support other local or federal climate funding implementation projects and/or legislative activities
active during the fellowship period.
Participate in collaborative calls and other relevant meetings along with other ACEEE staff
Provide support for ACEEE team meetings including scheduling, notetaking, and other logistics
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 2 nd 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 Bachelors 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 in social, political, environmental, or natural sciences or engineering.
▪ An interest in the field of clean energy.
▪ Demonstrated capacity to work well and collaborate with others.
▪ Effective written and verbal communication skills.
▪ An eagerness to learn.
▪ Ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks independently and ask for guidance when needed.
▪ Coursework or experience in environmental science, energy efficiency, economics, or public policy a plus.
▪ Passion for advocacy, social and environmental justice, and environmental issues a plus.
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 ACEEE, who offers a competitive benefits package as well
as training and professional development opportunities. Salary is $48,000.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the RAY Fellowship Program, applicants must:
1. Complete the online application survey on the RAY Fellowship Program website: https://rayfellowship.org/apply
2. Follow the instructions on the linked application webpage to submit one essay response, one visioning response and one short answer response per interested position.
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
ACEEE is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. ACEEE is continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.