Executive Summary

The Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA) is a bold response to the climate crisis. This first-in-the-nation initiative is bringing together Cambridge companies, institutions and residents in an ambitious, multi-year campaign to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while improving the reliability and comfort of participating facilities. The CEA—a non-profit, public-private partnership—promotes rapid, large-scale implementation of energy efficiency and clean energy. With multiple projects moving forward in Cambridge, the CEA is receiving attention across the country and internationally. Key collaborators in this endeavor include the City of Cambridge, NSTAR Gas and Electric, foundations, universities, nationally known energy experts, leading Cambridge businesses, and energy, environmental and housing non-profit organizations.

The organization currently operates with a team approach; a small staff, active board members, knowledgeable consultants, and committed volunteers who are experts in energy efficiency, finance, community outreach, and wholesale energy markets are developing the program and organization. CEA seeks a leader to guide this outstanding team, filling the Executive Director position. The Executive Director will build this organization into a fully operational national model for introducing and implementing energy savings programs and thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change.

Background

CEA is a large-scale program first initiated in 2007 to implement massive energy efficiency and clean energy generation throughout the city of Cambridge. Cambridge, Massachusetts is a multicultural community of slightly over 100,000 people located within 6.5 square miles, directly adjacent to Boston. The city is characterized by a unique mix of cultural and social diversity, intellectual vitality, and technological innovation. The community is home to renowned universities and has become a major center for biotechnology with over 100 companies, as well as nurturing a growing cluster of businesses focused on energy innovation and entrepreneurship.

The City is committed to a strong environmental agenda and has been a long-time municipal leader on climate change and sustainability. In 1999, the City Council passed a resolution to join the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP), a resolution that committed the City to prepare a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, set a target to reduce emissions, develop and implement a plan, and monitor the results. In December 2002, the City Council adopted a Climate Protection Plan that sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010. (http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/env/climate/climate.html#clim).

Responsibilities/Duties

The Executive Director will report to the President of CEA, who serves on the Board of Directors. The proposed responsibilities include:

1. Building a high-functioning organization, including:

• Recruiting, energizing and directing a small staff
• Establishing and, as appropriate, amending operational standards
• Creating and implementing CEA’s annual budget
• Creating/reviewing an annual work plan
• Leading and collaborating on the organization’s revenue and fund-raising activities
• Developing relationships with the Board of Directors
• Becoming familiar with the Cambridge context—city government, major nonprofit and educational as well as commercial organizations, city politics, community groups, the history of the municipality, and especially its energy policies—as a basis for playing a highly visible public role in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the municipality.

2. Creating and implementing a community-wide energy/climate program to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases; major components in this challenge include:

• Establishing realistic goals for program implementation keyed to the reduction of energy consumption and use of clean energy in the City of Cambridge
• Developing private and public sources of financing to serve the program
• Implementing and refining CEA’s community-wide campaign to reduce energy consumption and expand the use of clean energy
• Managing contracts with consultants and energy service companies
• Establishing monitoring and verification protocols to confirm energy savings achieved
• Ensuring quality control in programs and services
• Building strong, collaborative relationships with the City’s energy consumers and other stakeholders including the City administration, major universities and hospitals, businesses, schools, public and affordable housing agencies, the local utilities (electricity and gas) and their contractors, financial institutions, community-based organizations, home and property owners, and tenants.

Qualifications & Experience

Among the attributes sought in the successful candidate, the following stand out:

• Strong leadership qualities in both the organizational and public spheres.
• Sophisticated understanding of public policies and political processes.
• A compelling public presence to promote the values and goals of the CEA.
• Good familiarity with contracting for services.
• An open, optimistic personality with strong listening and collaborative disposition and skills.
• Highly energetic and enthusiastic about the mission of the organization.
• Relevant advanced formal education and management experience.
• Energy policy experience/working knowledge is an advantage.

Compensation

The salary is market competitive for similarly situated non-profit organizations and benefits will likewise be commensurate.

Location

The CEA office is conveniently located in the heart of Inman Square, Cambridge, MA. It is accessible by public transportation and public parking is also available.

To Apply

Inquiries, nominations or referrals, and resumes with brief cover letters, should be directed in confidence to the search committee at work ☺ CambridgeEnergyAlliance.org. with a subject line of “Executive Director – Your Name”. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Cambridge Energy Alliance website for more information about the organization and its activities

The Cambridge Energy Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates in this search.