Head of Policy and Market Transformation

About Rewiring America

The climate crisis is being driven in large measure by the billions of machines we depend on where we live, work, learn, play, and pray and how we get between those places. There is no empirically plausible way to stay inside of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming unless we electrify all of those machines. Addressing the crisis, therefore, is not abstract, but a set of actions to electrify all of those machines, and the location of all that activity is in our physical communities. We believe that the electrification of the economy — starting with understanding the American household as the keystone of our infrastructure — is the most equity-centered way to address the climate crisis.

Meeting this moment requires market transformation. Our view on this involves storytelling and data to ratchet up ambition, policy that jolts the market into action and removes barriers to adoption, a groundswell movement of consumer-driven demand, and real time demonstration of the proof that electrifying everything is a strategy for individual and family wellness and community renewal and reinvestment.

The Opportunity and Position Summary

In this newly created position, the Head of Policy & Market Transformation will drive the development and execution of a strategy to make electrification the default climate policy in Washington and in leading states. Building on our work over the last year, Rewiring America will accelerate the policy transition to demand-side electrification as the most tangible and common sense strategy for addressing the climate crisis. We will do so by building the base through our electrification caucus in Congress and our federal electrification policy coalition, which includes environmental justice, civil rights, energy security, affordable housing, climate, industry, and trades-focused groups. Organizing these stakeholders in Washington, DC and state capitals around the country will be a critical part of the Policy & Market Transformation team’s work.

The incoming Head of Policy & Market Transformation and their team will further develop Rewiring America’s policy leadership role by designing and publishing a federal electrification plan, including next steps of legislative and regulatory action and other market levers, and applying these strategies to at least two states by the end of 2022, with additional markets in 2023. A core part of the work will be navigating the future of electrification with key stakeholders, including labor, utilities, and manufacturers, and tying a political strategy to every policy objective Rewiring America pursues.

Rewiring America is also determined to finish the job on Build Back Better, and the Head of Policy & Market Transformation will continue advocating for the kitchen table provisions in the bill and the effective implementation of the bill’s provisions, with a particular focus on the ease-of-use and market dissemination of consumer-facing provisions.

This is a high profile role for a proven policy leader who has a solid track record of setting and driving bold and inspiring change through policy action. This is a role for someone who can see the big picture and the steps necessary to achieve them. In doing this work, the Head of Policy & Market Transformation will further establish Rewiring America as a national policy leader and a go-to resource for policymakers, policy influencers, and climate advocates around electrification at all levels of government.

What you’ll do

The inaugural Head of Policy & Market Transformation holds key responsibilities that will evolve over time as the team grows and functions are distributed. During the first year of the role, we anticipate a focus on Strategy Development, Advocacy and Market Transformation, Coalition Building and Convening, and Organizational and Team Management. For a full list of key responsibilities, please see the position announcement here: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/careers/head-of-policy-and-market-transformation.

Who you are

Through their track record and expertise as a policy innovator, and as a proven coalition- and team-builder, the successful candidate will develop and drive federal and sub-national policy agendas that generate policy wins to support Rewiring’s market transformation and movement building efforts. The Head of Policy & Market Transformation builds authentic and lasting relationships with policymakers, regulators, and coalition members, listening to their interests and goals and engaging with them as partners in Rewiring’s work. They are creative and solution-seeking in policy design and politically savvy and experienced, with the practicality and know-how to get wins on the board quickly in order to build momentum and scale.

The successful Head of Policy & Market Transformation joins a fast-paced team that operates with a sense of urgency and a track record of success in science, technology, art, business, policy, and politics. The Head of Policy & Market Transformation is entrepreneurial and has the experience of growing and scaling a successful policy shop. Rewiring America has the opportunity to take its advocacy to the next level and seeks a leader with ambition, determination, and the ability to instill confidence, trust, and inspiration.

This role requires an ethos of collegiality, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to manage through influence in a matrixed team. Despite the enormity of the challenges that lie ahead, Rewiring America’s leadership understands how to celebrate successes and seeks a Head of Policy & Market Transformation who leads with positivity and a belief in what is possible. The successful candidate demonstrates a zeal for policy, coalition building, and climate justice and models excellence and integrity in all they do.

Core

• Strong commitment to the mission, vision, and goals of Rewiring America.
• At least 10 years of increasing responsibility in policy, with a proven track record of equity-centered policy accomplishments that have driven lasting change.
• Experience leading successful campaigns and coalitions that engage diverse communities most impacted by injustice.
• Experience in drafting and driving federal or state policy or regulations, building and leading winning campaigns and teams.
• Proven leadership skills with clarity of vision and a commitment to the highest levels of integrity, quality, and collaboration.
• Mastery of relationship-building skills with a wide range of diverse external constituencies, from elected officials and staff, public agencies and government regulators to manufacturers, labor unions, community-based organizations, manufacturers, and philanthropic institutions.
• Outstanding oral and written communications skills.
• Deep understanding of market and consumer-related data, with the ability to integrate these into policy design and action.
• Ability to manage a growing team with competing demands; not easily flustered nor easily overwhelmed by a high volume of activity and projects.
• Sets and achieves high-performance expectations that are motivating and results-oriented.
• Seeks out and delivers timely and direct feedback that contributes to the ongoing development of oneself, team members and a positive organizational culture.
• Promptly resolves problems through timely consultation in an environment of mutual respect.
• Highly collaborative work style with the ability to operate as a peer and thought partner to the CEO, other Leadership Team members, and advisors.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree, particularly in policy, political science, public administration, or law.
• Recent legislative or executive branch leadership experience (at the federal or state level).
• Entrepreneurial drive to build an organization from the ground up; prior start-up experience is optimal.
• Content knowledge in electrification and renewable energy.

Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Rewiring America values diversity in all its forms and is committed to inclusive and transparent recruitment, hiring, and promotion processes. Candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please email Cathy Schreiber at [email protected].

Hiring Statement

Rewiring America is a project of Windward Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Windward Fund is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Windward Fund ‘s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $175,000 – $225,000, commensurate with experience. Rewiring America also offers a very generous and competitive benefits package, including 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, up to 6% employer match on 401k contributions, pre-tax transportation benefits, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and volunteer time off, and access to professional development resources. This position is remote.

Application Procedure

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Cathy Schreiber at [email protected] with “Head of Policy & Market Transformation search” in the subject line. Submission in a combined PDF or Microsoft Word file is preferred. This position is open until filled, with an initial application deadline of 5PM PT on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.