Senior Director, National Programs and Policy

The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) is hiring a Senior Director, National Programs and Policy in Mission, KS, to lead federal policy initiatives and partnerships for the community solar industry. The role involves guiding federal initiatives, managing coalitions, and advocating for supportive legislation and programs. Candidates should have strong communication skills, experience in renewable energy policy, and the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.
The Coalition for Community Solar Access (“CCSA”) is seeking qualified applicants for a Senior Director or Managing Director (depending on experience), National Programs and Policy, to advance the interests of the community solar industry. The anticipated start date for this position is immediate. CCSA is a growing organization working to open, protect, and serve markets for community and distributed solar and storage across the country.

The Senior / Managing Director, National Programs and Policy will lead CCSA coverage of federal policy, cross-cutting issue campaigns, and national coalition and partnership leadership and engagements. CCSA regularly works directly and in coordination with core industry allies including the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), congressional offices, federal agencies and coalitions to advance the community solar industry through supportive federal programs, tax incentives and legislation.

The role will (1) guide CCSA’s federal initiatives and ensure that relevant federal developments are analyzed, assessed and disseminated to members and across the organization, and (2) develop and lead cross-cutting relevant national and organizational projects and initiatives, and (3) lead CCSA management, development, and engagement with key national coalitions and strategic partnerships. CCSA is a fast paced, mission driven, collegial, and fun work environment.

The ideal candidate will share CCSA’s mission to expand access to solar for all, and fit the fast paced and self-starting culture.

Qualifications:
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills with strong technical knowledge of energy related issues and experience engaging with federal policymakers.
• Strong experience in renewable and solar energy policy and with federal congressional and agency advocacy; preferably directly on behalf or within a renewable energy business or association.
• Ability to achieve policy and market goals through a variety of federal engagements including a combination of:
• Congressional outreach and engagement
• Federal agency outreach and engagement
• Advocacy including written and informal
• Ability to speak to and work effectively with both conservative and progressive constituencies.
• Ability to efficiently manage CCSA Member input within organization’s Committee process; working alongside the policy team, members and broader coalitions of local stakeholders.
• Ability to co-lead thought leadership development of policy positions of CCSA with the President and CEO and National Programs staff.
• Ability to work within the trade association environment and represent industry interests to effectuate industry-beneficial outcomes.
• [preferred] Ability to effectively manage a team.

Responsibilities:
• Drive, manage, track and engage through effective advocacy with federal legislation that impacts the Community Solar and distributed solar and storage industries
• Track and engage through effective advocacy with federal administrative agency actions that impact the community solar and distributed solar and storage industries (IRA implementation, EPA’s Solar for All Program and Clean Energy tax credits, etc)
• Develop and lead national cross-cutting issue campaigns. These campaigns often require strong ability to understand and translate complicated market and policy dynamics into easily intelligible and digestible advocacy efforts for key policymakers and stakeholders
• Lead outreach, engagement, and management of CCSA national partnerships and coalitions
• Develop new and expand depth and breadth of existing community and distributed solar and storage
-focused federal opportunities
• Work with and beside CCSA members in anticipating, developing and advocating for policies that advance and expand community solar and distributed solar and storage opportunities
• Serve as lead staff for federal policy efforts
• Manage CCSA federal and national partnership and coalition consultants - including CCSA’s federal lobbyists and consultant for the emerging DER coalition
• Manage and coordinate CCSA participation in FERC related proceedings in coordination with broader DER allies, with support of CCSA regulatory team
• Serve as federal policy expert…