Senior Researcher, Energy Democracy Initiative (Remote)

A senior researcher on the Energy Democracy Initiative advances the mission and strategy of the initiative by leading research and deliverable projects (which can include maps, podcasts, and interactive features); authoring reports, blog posts, and other written content; proposing improvements to strategy and approach; reviewing grant proposals and reports; and networking with key allies and organizations to gain insights to improve ILSR’s energy work and to expand ILSR’s influence and perspective. Our key audiences are fellow climate and clean energy advocates, elected state and local officials, and the staff and leadership of relevant state and federal regulatory commissions.

The person in this role will report to the director of the Energy Democracy Initiative and will almost exclusively focus on ILSR’s clean energy work. 

If you’re excited about this position but feel you don’t meet 100% of the requirements, please apply. We are looking for exceptional candidates, not candidates who check boxes.

Required Skills

• Research –– you must be able to take on or develop a question about clean energy relevant to ILSR’s mission, to find and sift through relevant resources, to synthesize and summarize your findings, and (as necessary) to coherently communicate your findings in a manner accessible to our key audiences.
• Communications –– you must be able to coherently communicate research findings and analysis in a manner accessible to our key audiences.
• Strategic thinking –– you must be able to contribute to strategy discussions about ILSR’s mission of energy democracy, to reflect those strategies in the development of and in modifications to your work plan, and to competently and independently do your work.
• Time and project management –– you must be able to independently manage multiple simultaneous projects, to manage workload appropriately within working hours and based upon our strategic prioritization, and to communicate openly to address challenges.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity using ILSR’s typical software tools and the ability to flexibly adopt new ones as needed: Google Suite (email, calendar, docs), Dropbox, Microsoft Office, Zoom, WordPress.
• Familiarity with producing simple visual data using tools such as Datawrapper or Google Maps
• Ability to do simple edits to podcast audio (remove, replace, or insert a small segment) with software such as Adobe Audition or Audacity.

Preferred Experience

• At least five years of experience conducting research related to clean energy policy and economics
• Writing and other communications experience translating sometimes complex policy assignments for an audience with less technical expertise. 

Responsibilities:

Research (50 %)

• Lead research projects or areas of study (e.g. community solar) including identifying new areas of research and technical assistance, scoping and outlining ILSR work plans, and authoring reports
• Facilitate major Energy Democracy Initiative projects, such as the Community Power Scorecard, including the development of work plans, authoring research reports, and leading the team through project evaluation
• Crunch numbers of renewable energy costs, benefits, and potential and the racial disparities in clean energy

Website and Media Content Production (25 %)

• Co-produce the bi-weekly Local Energy Rules podcast, including reviewing audio, making minor edits as needed, screening transcripts, and creating show pages
• Research and author blog posts about ongoing and emerging energy stories
• Oversee development of interactive features including maps and toolkits, including learning relevant software tools

Team and Organizational Support (10 %)

• Participate in strategy-setting around areas of responsibility, and for the entire initiative as requested. Draft own work plan, with review from the Initiative Director.
• Collaborate with peers and provide mentorship for less senior program staff
• Review and comment on fundraising proposals or reports to funders
• Supervise interns, as needed
• Participate in regular one-on-one, team, and all-staff meetings
• Attend all-staff retreats

Media, Lobbying, and Networking (15 %)

• Present research findings and ILSR’s perspective via media interviews, webinars, or other public-facing events
• Author comments to state public utilities commissions and other local, state, and federal regulatory/legislative authorities
• Attend state or regional advocacy convenings and collaborate with allies on legislative and organizing proposals

Compensation:

This position is full-time and can be done remotely or based in an ILSR office in Minneapolis, MN; Portland, ME; or Washington, DC. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $68,150 to $80,850 depending on skills and experience.

This is a full-time, exempt, bargaining unit position with salary and benefits subject to collective bargaining, represented by OPEIU Local 12.

ILSR’s Energy Democracy Team Culture

• We believe in our vision to make community-owned, local clean energy available everywhere through a transition in power away from the status quo
• We make well-informed decisions that can change based on the evidence
• We take responsibility rather than assign blame
• We celebrate what we learn as well as what we accomplish
• We assume good intentions
• We work independently, but we collaborate intentionally