We’re seeking a full-time Energy Assistant Planner for this 2-year contract position. Details below. See the original posting here.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Energy Assistant Planner will assist with and manage a variety of energy outreach and planning activities, program analysis and data tracking, with a focus on community and stakeholder engagement in energy efficiency and renewable energy. This person will be a member of an eleven person team within the Environmental and Transportation Planning division of the Community Development Department, doing innovative and collaborative work with other city departments with a focus on renters, landlords, homeowners, businesses, schools, higher education institutions, community groups, non-profits and the local utility company and also including regional, state and federal energy agencies.

Primary responsibilities will be in three main areas:

Multi-Family Residential Energy Efficiency Pilot is a program currently being designed with MIT and the local utility (NSTAR) to try and overcome barriers to deploying energy efficiency in multi-family housing including: the split incentive problem, condominium common ownership challenges and financing issues. The Pilot will require collaborative work with NSTAR, community and business organization, residents, and energy efficiency contractors. Tasks include:

• Coordinate Multi-family Pilot programming, resources and communication.
• Track and analyze program results.
• Create Multi-Family Pilot marketing and outreach materials for print, web, and social media.
• Facilitate and organize outreach events, workshops, and meetings with residential property owners
• Track participation in a CRM system (Salesforce).
• Build coalitions and working relationships with lenders, contractors, and tenant/landlord organizations.
• Perform other duties as required.

Georgetown University Energy Prize (GUEP) is a national competition for small to medium sized municipalities to see who can reduce their energy use in the municipal and residential sector the most from 2015-2017 in order to win a $5 million dollar prize.  GUEP tasks include:

• Research and model the energy savings that could be achieved with innovative energy campaigns.
• Execute innovation energy campaigns to drive down residential energy use through efficiency and renewable energy adoption.
• Work with K-12 public schools on energy education and energy savings projects for school and home.
• Coordinate with other city departments on driving down municipal energy use.
• Manage quarterly GUEP reporting process and writing reports and press releases documenting progress.
• Create marketing and outreach materials for print, web, and social media.
• Recruit volunteers and community leaders to support the GUEP effort.
• Perform other duties as required.

Solar Market Pathways is a U.S. Department of Energy grant that the City of Cambridge and Boston applied for to develop a ten year solar deployment plan for our cities/region. Solar Market Pathways tasks include:

• Contribute to a stakeholder engagement process, including identifying and recruiting stakeholders and attending stakeholder meetings.
• Assist with a market segmentation data collection and analysis.
• Contribute to research on solar deployment programs in other cities and countries including policies, programs, financing, etc.
• Attend and report on the activities of a regional solar committee.
• Contribute to efforts to address solar deployment in sectors like rental housing, new construction, and utility area networks.
• Contribute to reporting and documenting Solar Market Pathways progress.
• Perform other duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

The Energy Assistant Planner should be familiar with energy efficiency and renewable energy technology, policy and community organizing, and data tracking and analysis.  Technical experience should include a basic understanding of energy efficiency and renewable energy equipment.  Ability to work with a wide variety of people, coordinate projects, and use diplomacy required.  Should possess excellent project management, organizational, communication, presentation, computer, writing and analytical skills.  Minimum of two years of related professional experience and a related Bachelor’s degree.

 Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and time management skills, and ability to multi-task while remaining organized
• Must be able to work independently, as a proactive team player
• Ability to explain technical information to lay audiences and comfortable with public speaking
• Experience building community partnerships and relationships
• Experience with campaign planning and community organizing
• Knowledge of the Cambridge community
• Understanding of energy efficiency and renewable energy technology and policy, especially Massachusetts policy and the Mass Save program a plus.
• Understanding of utilities, especially deregulated utilities and utility energy efficiency programs.
• Flexibility to work nights and weekends for events (as needed)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Volunteer recruitment, supervision, and training experience
• Desire to work with K-12 schools.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Requires travel to and through the City and adjacent cities. Driving, walking, biking, bending, squatting, reaching and standing for long periods.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  Work involved is both indoor in a profession office setting and outdoors for outreach opportunities.

RATE: $52,650/year + excellent benefits

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Internal applicants submit a job bidding form and 2 copies of both your resume and letter of interest; external applicants submit both your resume and letter of interest by 5pm on the closing date via email to employment@cambridgema.gov or Personnel Dept, Room 309, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139.  Fax 617-349-4312