Senior Energy Researcher

Communities for a Better Environment is seeking a Senior Energy Researcher in Huntington Park, CA. The role involves supporting campaigns for energy affordability and utility accountability, with a focus on renewable energy and fossil fuel reduction. Responsibilities include policy research, technical support, community engagement, and collaboration with various stakeholders. Candidates should have experience in energy planning and a commitment to social and environmental justice.
General Position Summary

The Senior Energy Researcher Will Support The Work Of Our Statewide Campaign For Energy Affordability And Utility Accountability, With The Broader Context Of CBE’s Work To End Our Reliance On Fossil Fuels And Promote Clean Renewable Equitable Energy Models. The Senior Energy Researcher Will Provides Policy, Research And Technical Support For CBE’s Campaign To Address Underlying Causes Of Unaffordable Energy And Investor-owned Utility Abuses. This Campaign Is One Important Component In CBE’s Longstanding Effort To Bring Renewable, Non-combustion Energy Resources Into Communities And Facilitate Retirement Of Gas-fired Power Plants. The Senior Energy Researcher Reports To The Director Of Research And Policy, And Will Collaborate With Both Our Southern California And Northern California Regional Teams. Tasks For This Position May Include, But Are Not Limited To
• Support organizers in meeting with the community about energy
• Review and technical assessment of proceedings at CPUC, CEC and CAISO
• Research diverse issues (i.e. health, electricity systems, economics, demographics, communications)
• Draft expert analysis and reports to support coalition and shared advocacy
• Create fact sheets and presentations for member organizations within our coalitions of allies and for community members
• Participate in meetings with allies
• Provide technical and policy support to staff and members, engaging in policy advocacy, contributing to written comments, testifying at various hearings, and attending stakeholder meetings
• Giving presentations to a wide range of audiences, such as CBE members, elected officials, policy makers, students, media, donors, and the general public
• Support gas retirement efforts in the power sector while advancing clean energy initiatives such as offshore wind, battery storage, other renewable technologies etc.
• Facilitate internal CBE power sector communication through meeting check-ins, emails, and team meeting updates
• Contributing to research reports
• Collaborating with allies in various coalitions
• Working with academic partners and other experts in various fields

Experience And Job Requirements
• Strong understanding of and commitment to social and environmental justice
• Background in working with modelers preferred
• Familiarity with production cost modeling (PLEXOS, SERVM) and RESOLVE a plus
• Excellent verbal, written and communication skills
• Positive attitude and problem-solving mindset
• Excellent analytical skills
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, work independently, and contribute to a positive, diverse, team-oriented environment
• Ability to engage a broad spectrum of people representing various social, cultural, and professional backgrounds
• Ability to work collaboratively with other team members, including organizers and attorneys, in a manner that complies with organizational standards and policies
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus
• Five years of experience in Energy Planning or technical analysis of energy systems or equivalent educational research and experience

Benefits And Compensation

This is a full-time, overtime-exempt position, with an annual salary of $108,000. The Senior Energy Researcher will receive CBE’s comprehensive benefits package, including a generous vacation and leave policy; fully-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance; an additional mental health benefit; a 401(k) retirement plan; and a flexible spending plan. CBE pays full premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee, spouse or domestic partner, and any dependents.

To Apply

Please submit cover letter, resume and three references by May 26th to via the Apply link.

In accordance with CBE’s Transformative Organizing Model, we strongly encourage community members to apply, and we can provide on-the-job training for competitive applicants. CBE is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other protected category. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ folks, and all qualified persons to apply for this position.