Energy and Climate Federal Funds Officer

Position Title: Energy and Climate Federal Funds Officer  
Hiring Salary Range:  $115,000 - 135,200 annually

FLSA Classification: Exempt (not over time eligible)

The Position:

The Colorado Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery (“Recovery Office”) has organized an internal team to maximize and strategically coordinate federal funding opportunities, including ARPA, IRA and IIJA funding opportunities. The team consists of 18 staff, with three leadership positions, 13 Recovery Officers embedded within relevant state agencies and one Recovery Officer dedicated entirely to supporting local governments and tribes in their efforts to obtain IRA and IIJA funds. 

The Energy and Climate Federal Funds Officer will report to the Director of IIJA and IRA Strategic Coordination and work regularly with the Recovery Officer for Local Government Coordination and the Recovery Officer for the Colorado Energy Office. The position will collaborate and coordinate with state agency and policy team experts. 

The goal of this position is to maximize awards of IRA and IIJA funds to entities located within the State of Colorado in alignment with State goals around renewable energy, greenhouse gas and air pollution reduction, environmental justice, and climate adaptation and resilience. 

Two federal laws – the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – are driving transformational investments in renewable energy, greenhouse gas and air pollution reduction, environmental justice, and climate adaptation and resilience. This position will lead efforts to support Colorado agencies, local governments, Tribes, schools, non-profits, special districts, and their partners in maximizing awards of IRA and IIJA funds in alignment with State goals. This position will provide support for funding opportunities for which the state is not the lead applicant, that bridge different agencies or do not align squarely under one agency. The position will work in close collaboration with state agencies and other Governor’s Office staff.   

The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, experienced in grant writing, an innovative thinker, and has demonstrated the ability to build trusting relationships and work collaboratively with implementers like state agencies, local governments, Tribes, non-profit leaders, and other stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have experience and skills that align directly with or can be transferred to work that includes:

• Funding opportunity analysis and grant writing

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency project financing

• Stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and facilitation 

• Project management including overseeing and managing consultants and managing multiple work streams simultaneously 

• Training or providing technical support to local governments, Tribes and non-profits

• Data collection, reporting and evaluation on the impacts of this position

• Working with small, rural, and/or under-resourced local governments

Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder Engagement, Facilitation, and Fund Development

This work will be done in coordination with state agencies and other Recovery Officers, with a focus on climate-related funding opportunities where the state is not eligible or not the most competitive applicant, and opportunities that bridge different state agencies or do not align squarely under one state agency. 

• In coordination with the Recovery Officer for Local Government Coordination and state agencies, serve as a point of contact for stakeholders wanting to partner with the state on IIJA and IRA grant applications and projects.  Ensure that the appropriate state agency is engaged to address stakeholder needs. 

• Engage non-state agency eligible entities to encourage application to IIJA and IRA opportunities by proactively identifying potential applicants and communicating funding opportunities, information sharing, convening key stakeholders, leveraging state agency expertise, and providing technical assistance. 

• Collaborate with state agencies and other partners to develop plans to engage with and provide technical support to eligible entities to apply for IIJA and IRA opportunities where the State of Colorado is not eligible or not seen as the most competitive applicant.

• Facilitate stakeholders for collaborative federal funding applications.

• Assist with grant writing, grant review, and project plans. 

• Coordinate Letters of Support from state agencies and the Governor.

• Other support to state agencies and partners to maximize IIJA and IRA investment in Colorado as needed and as directed by the state agency.

Technical Assistance and Training  

IRA provides new opportunities for local governments and non-profit organizations to take advantage of tax credits for clean energy projects - referred to as “Direct Pay” tax credits. 

• Develop expertise in eligibility, implementation, and filing for Direct Pay in order to advise potential recipients.

• Understand new and evolving financing tools and mechanisms for local governments and non-profit organizations to facilitate Direct Pay eligible projects. 

• Understand and leverage new and evolving national technical assistance resources related to Direct Pay.

• Conduct broad outreach to local governments, non-profit organizations and Tribes about Direct Pay opportunities. 

• Develop and conduct technical assistance offerings for local governments, Tribes and non-profits to facilitate the implementation of clean energy projects eligible for Direct Pay. 

• Coordinate and learn from other states, the National Governors Association, US Treasury, and other stakeholders to share and implement best practices for Direct Pay technical assistance.

• As appropriate engage consultant assistance to provide effective technical assistance to local governments, Tribes and non-profits to take advantage of Direct Pay. 

• Track the impact of the Direct Pay technical assistance. Evaluate impacts and adjust program as needed to maximize the value of clean energy projects eligible for Direct Pay in Colorado. 

• As available, consolidate and report on direct pay and other tax credits received by businesses, local governments, households, and other entities in the state.

The position may also provide technical assistance and training related to IRA High Efficiency Electric Home Rebates, Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole Home Rebates, and individual and business clean energy tax credits under the direction of the Colorado Energy Office. 

Project Management and Consultant Oversight

The Governor’s Office has two consultants under contract to assist with grant writing and project planning. These consultants are deployed by task order by the Governor’s Office to assist with specific projects on behalf of state agencies, local governments, or Tribes. This position will be assigned specific consultant-led projects to oversee and manage. 

• Collaborate with Client (state agencies, local governments or Tribes) to define a scope of work for grant writing or project planning for an external consultant (already under contract with the Governor’s Office). 

• Work with consultant(s) to determine an acceptable level of effort and budget.  

• Monitor the budget and activities of the contractor

• Oversee the completion of the consultant’s scope of work, including approval of work produce and invoices. 

• Participate in resolution of conflicts between the consultant and the Client if needed.

• Ensure that Client is meeting its responsibilities to the consultant.

Grant Tracking, Data Management, Reporting, Communications

• Identify and track federal funding opportunities that advance the energy, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate resilience goals of the state.   

• Establish and monitor milestones and other measures of success for technical assistance and other projects under the leadership of this position. 

• Enter data into Salesforce database to track return on investment of technical assistance and grant writing assistance.  

• Provide data for internal and external reports as needed.

• In collaboration with the Communications Team, develop case studies and other communication materials to promote the success of the program and best practices. 

Minimum Qualifications

At a minimum, this position requires:

• At least seven (7) years* of professional experience working on the implementation, financing and or technical assistance for clean energy, climate resilience or other infrastructure projects; AND

• Demonstrated ability to produce professional communications through email, phone, video and in-person meetings; AND

• Understanding of and commitment to meeting federal Justice40 goals.

• *Note: Bachelor’s or Associate degree from an accredited college or university or specialized training in fields relevant to this position may substitute for related occupational experience on a year-for-year basis up to four years. 

Preferred Qualifications Include:

• Experience with federal grant opportunities (e.g. grant writing, grant reviewing, grant navigation)

• Experience analyzing or utilizing federal clean energy tax credits or other related tax credits.

• Experience working across sectors (non-profit, business, government) including facilitating conversations and meetings 

• Experience analyzing and implementing financing tools for clean energy or climate resilience projects. 

• Experience developing project scopes of work and budgets

• Experience with State of Colorado contracting, invoicing, and project management.

• Working understanding of two or more of the following topics (renewable energy, building electrification, energy sector manufacturing, industrial electrification, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy efficient buildings, electricity transmission, and the ability to quickly develop a working knowledge of priority topics covered by IIJA and IRA in order to engage with key stakeholders.  

• Experience working within resource-constrained local governments and Tribes. 

• Understanding of financing limitations imposed by TABOR 

Conditions of Employment:

Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

To Apply:

A resume and cover letter must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your resume and cover letter must provide sufficient detail to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience, relevant skills, and achievements. 

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including: 

• Medical, dental and vision plan coverage - including extensive prescription drug coverage (many preventive medications covered at no cost)*.

• Health Savings Account (with state contribution) when electing HDHP medical coverage*.

• Wellness programs - participation can reduce employee premiums*.

• Short-term and optional long-term disability coverage*.

• Life and Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance*.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*.

• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).

• 11 Paid Holidays Annually 

•  13.33 hours of Annual leave and 6.66 hours of sick leave accrued each month.

• Welcome Aboard Program - July 1, 2023.pdf
  
  

• Retirement benefits** - including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans - https://www.copera.org/

• Hybrid work arrangements.

• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Discount Program.

• Training and professional development opportunities, including reduced college tuition through CSU Global (contact CSU Global for latest offerings).

• Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP): offers confidential mental health counseling, professional coaching, employee mediation, 24/7 crisis support.

• Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees.

• Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility.

*To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit the state’s benefits portal: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

**For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), see COPERA for details: https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. 

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.  If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us

Salary : $115,000 - $135,200