Senior Officer, Outreach (Rural) - Climate United FUND

About Climate United

Climate United will use funding from the EPA under the Inflation Reduction Act to rapidly deploy low- and zero-emission products, technologies, and services to all American communities in order to (1) reduce GHG emissions and other forms of air pollutants; (2) bring direct benefits to American communities in the form of energy security, energy savings, cleaner air, and quality jobs; and (3) transform the capital markets so they can drive an equitable clean energy transition at scale. Visit Climate United (weareclimateunited.org) for more information. Climate United will focus its investments in Distributed Power Generation and Storage, Building Decarbonization and Electric Transportation. Calvert Impact, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (“Calvert Impact”), is the sole member of Climate United. The successful candidate will be employed by Calvert Impact or one of its subsidiaries.

Team Description:

The mandate of the Community team at Climate United is to create effective on-ramps for underserved communities for Climate United products and services, ensuring an equitable clean energy transition. This team will ensure that Climate United reaches its equity goals (60% invested in Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities; 20% rural communities; and 10% in Native communities) through effective community engagement and accountability strategy. The team will center beneficiaries in our program and product design, create and maintain relationships with trusted community infrastructure for capital deployment, and create community feedback loops to both listen and iterate based on shared learning.

Location: Remote within US

Responsibilities:

· Conduct culturally tailored outreach, develop feedback channels, and support project development in rural communities across the United States.

· Research best practices in the field of rural development, and share any evolving regulations, norms, and opportunities in the field with the broader Climate United team.

· Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with local organizations, nonprofits, and government entities to enhance outreach efforts and expand Climate United's presence in rural areas.

· Provide early-stage technical assistance including sharing information about Climate United financing options and connecting projects to other funding sources such as philanthropy to rural projects.

· Support the Investment team with feedback surrounding the design of financial products specifically serving and targeting the needs of rural communities. · Conduct needs assessments to understand the specific challenges and opportunities in rural communities related to clean energy adoption, and tailor outreach strategies accordingly.

· Develop and implement systems for tracking outreach activities and outcomes in rural communities. Analyze data to measure the effectiveness of outreach strategies and make data-driven recommendations for improvement.

· Develop and pilot innovative outreach programs tailored to the unique needs of rural communities, incorporating feedback from community stakeholders and adjusting strategies as necessary.

· Organize and facilitate community meetings, listening sessions, and educational workshops in rural communities to provide information on clean energy technologies and gather feedback on Climate United's programs.

Other:

· Support the cross-functional work of the Community Team, which includes impact measurement and management, capacity building, pre-development grantmaking, as well as stakeholder engagement and communication.

· Be a positive contributor to our high-performing, self-starting, no-ego, mission-driven culture.

· Engage with colleagues on the team and across the organization on special projects as needed.

· Be flexible and responsive to new opportunities as they arise.

Required Qualifications:

· 5+ years of experience working in community organizing, lending, economic or environmental justice, or a related field.

· Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills, with experience presenting to diverse audiences including community members, government officials, and industry stakeholders.

· Strong strategic planning and organizational skills, with experience developing long-term outreach strategies and aligning them with broader organizational goals.

· Demonstrated cultural competence and experience working with diverse populations, particularly within rural, low-income, and Native communities.

· Passionate about the mission and work of Climate United, Calvert Impact, and our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

· Has a well-rounded set up professional skills and is comfortable in an entrepreneurial, flat working environment.

· Has a customer service orientation (respectful, responsive) in all aspects of work, including with internal and external people and partners.

· Is a self-starter and is able to drive large and complex projects and programs from start to finish in coordination with a broader team.

· Is proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and is systems minded.

· Is intellectually curious, combined with a good sense of humor, high integrity, and team orientation (“We” vs “I” mentality).

· Is an effective and respectful communicator and listener, both orally and in writing, with strong proficiency in English

· Has a positive, “can-do” attitude focused on implementing solutions.

· Is willing to travel up to 25%, including a variety of conferences and engagements with local communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience working on rural economic development projects, particularly those related to energy access and sustainability, sustainable agriculture, local business growth, or infrastructure development.

· Knowledge of lending experience as it relates to clean energy technologies (such as solar, wind, and energy storage) and their applications in rural settings.

· Ability to understand and communicate to partners in Spanish.

At Climate United, we’re excited to hear from candidates who are passionate about our mission. While you might not meet every qualification listed, if you meet most of them and are enthusiastic about the role, we encourage you to apply.