Senior Advisor - Clean Energy

Overview

Job Summary 

EDA’s Economic Transformation division accelerates the growth of New Jersey’s economy by developing and implementing initiatives that will enhance the state’s long-term economic competitiveness within key strategic sectors, including offshore wind, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, finance and professional services, technology and life sciences, non-retail food and beverage and advanced transportation and logistics. NJEDA’s Senior Advisor - Clean Energy is responsible for shaping and leading all of the Authority’s efforts to accelerate growth of the clean energy industry, in New Jersey. He/she is a member of EDA’s strategic sector development team. He/she will oversee critical advanced policy initiatives and will grow and manage a team that will develop sector-specific policy and programs. 

NJEDA’s current involvement in the clean energy space includes: 

• Offering a portfolio of grant, tax credit, and financing products to support clean energy and offshore wind businesses and investment in clean technologies 
• Development of the New Jersey Wind Port, a purpose-built offshore wind marshaling and manufacturing port 
• Working to establish the Wind Institute for Innovation and Training, to coordinate and catalyze workforce and R&D efforts 

The role of the Senior Advisor – Clean Energy will complement these efforts by carrying out the duties and responsibilities below. 

$99,871 - $110,968

Note: The NJEDA currently offers a hybrid work schedule for up to 2 days of telecommute work from home. To participate, you will be required to have high speed home internet access and a managers approval. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJEDA employees to establish and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Develops, pilots, and scales initiatives and programs that strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem and increase competitiveness in focus industries; these efforts may include: contributing to the development of sector and issue-focused strategies and programs, identifying and engaging key companies and broader stakeholders, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, defining program implementation plans, impact metrics, budgets, etc. 
• Develops clean energy industry expertise for EDA through project-based research and analysis; these efforts may include tracking industry trends at the state, regional, and national level, identifying which key industry issues state government could help to resolve, providing industry and policy updates to internal government stakeholders 

• Works with Sector Leads to manage relationships with key clean energy industry stakeholders and acts as an industry-development advocate; these efforts may include representing the Authority at industry events, conducting company research, and acting as a company liaison within EDA 
• Participate in strategic collaborations to support the clean energy industry and progress toward the state’s clean energy goals, including but not limited to: NJ Council on the Green Economy supporting efforts related to the Office of Climate Action in NJ, Partnership to Plug in, and NJ’s Fuel Cell Taskforce 
• Understands firm-level and industry-level value-drivers and dynamics across a variety of the State’s sectors and will contribute this knowledge to the methods and processes involved in the analysis and evaluation of public policy. 
• Demonstrates a leadership and ownership mindset within the Strategic Sector Development department alongside Sector Directors and Project Officers, including suggesting new ideas for how to improve the division 
• Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer- focused work environment among division, EDA staff, and external customers.  

• Builds, develops, mentors, and coaches Economic Growth teammates to develop skills and behaviors to enhance performance; helps mentor new Project Officers within the Strategic Sector Development team 
• Supports the development and execution of Strategic Sector Development department goals; reviews and evaluates own performance against key metrics 
• Helps to institutionalize best practices; defines and implements needed systems and policies 
• Supports the Managing Director on other Strategic Sector Development strategic initiatives as necessary 
• Ensures department practices and processes are in compliance with EDA policies and guidelines and are consistently applied. 

• Must complete annual and semiannual self-assessment as required. 
• Performs duties to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism 

Qualifications

Required Skills and Abilities 

Ability to build industry expertise 

• Industry knowledge in one or more segments of the clean energy industry, including energy storage, solar PV, offshore wind and renewables, energy efficiency and power conversion, (or) experience in other related industry and outstanding qualifications on other job requirements. Knowledge of/experience with the offshore wind sector is highly valued for this role. 
• Ability to engage credibly and thoughtfully in conversations with industry and government leaders 
• Comfort with engaging in technical details of the industry and related supply chain development 
• Ability to quickly master an understanding of EDA’s existing programs and services 

• Knowledge and understanding of economic development, sector development approaches, and public policy and governance 

Entrepreneurial leadership  

• Oversees all sector-based policy-related efforts, crafting comprehensive outreach plans and working cross organizationally to achieve alignment, integration and successful implementation 
• Demonstrated ability to self-motivate and self-lead own work planning and execution with a strong results orientation 
• Exceptional history of strong performance and consistent high-quality delivery on commitments  

• Ability to prioritize own workload - must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously, and work independently within limited time constrains with little supervision 
• Ability to adapt to changes in work environment and manage competing demands 

Problem solving and communication 

• Demonstrated proficiency in creative and analytical problem solving, including the ability to structure issues, define critical analyses or facts required, execute complex analyses with limited errors and oversight, synthesize findings, and propose actionable solutions 
• Strong written (presentation, memos, and emails), oral, interpersonal and presentation skills, and the ability to effectively interface with a broad range of audiences, including senior management, EDA Board of Directors, staff, government officials, business and industry partners, as well as individual customers and prospects 

• Ability to work on small project teams tackling complex and challenging work 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new software packages 

Customer orientation 

• Ability to build strong relationships and contacts within the industry  
• Track record of consistently meeting private sector customer service-level expectations 

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and EDA staff 

Management and ownership mindset 

•  
• History of sound decision making and ability to understand the impact and implications of decisions 
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including ability to influence and engage team leaders and peers 

• Demonstrates respectful behavior and promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer- focused work environment among division, EDA staff, and external customers 
• Maintains strong ethical orientation, including exercising sound financial stewardship  
• Commitment to and passion for EDA’s mission and inspires a sense of shared purpose 

Required Qualifications 

Education and Experience Requirements 

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in a relevant field such as business, policy, energy, engineering, or environmental studies 
• Seven to ten years of practical business experience related to the clean energy industry with significant exposure and credibility, preferably with some experience in offshore wind (or) within a similar position in another capital-intensive industry 

• Experience in program development, public policy development and basic financial principles 

Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience 

Physical Demands 

• Minimal 
• Ability to work outside normal business hours, as needed 

Travel 

• As necessary to events, meetings, businesses, etc. 

Certificates and Licenses Required 

• License: Staff are required to possess a valid driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essentials duties of the position 

Note 

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job description. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope, general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job.  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. 

Your employment at NJEDA is voluntary and subject to termination by you or NJEDA at will, with or without cause, or with or without notice, at any time.  Nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to conflict, eliminate or modify the employment-at-will status of NJEDA employees.   

This position is considered exempt and is excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers under the FLSA. 

NJEDA reserves the right to amend/revise this job description as necessary to meet current and changing business needs. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Position Requirements 

• Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date.  If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded. 
• Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011 to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources. 

• Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.  

Salary : $99,871 - $110,968