Harvesting Clean Energy Organizer

POSITION SUMMARY:
Climate Solutions' mission is to accelerate practical and profitable solutions to global warming by galvanizing leadership, growing investment and bridging divides in the Pacific Northwest. Since our founding in 1998, Climate Solutions has emerged as one of the most effective, accomplished climate groups in the nation. In partnerships with an extraordinarily wide array of business, farm, government, and civic interests, Climate Solutions is building a new, sustainable prosperity in the region. And we aim to do it in ways that build the technologies, policies, and enterprises that can deliver climate solutions to the world. Climate Solutions has offices in Seattle, Olympia, Portland, and Missoula. For more information about Climate Solutions, visit www.climatesolutions.org.

Climate Solutions’ Harvesting Clean Energy program has a 10-year track record of effectively promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency to advance rural economic development in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Our annual Harvesting Clean Energy conference is the Northwest’s premier event bringing together the agriculture and energy communities to advance rural economic development through clean energy.

This position couples two major roles in the HCE program:

Coordinator for HCE’s new Online Community (2/3rd time)

With funding from a grant from the US Department of Agriculture, this new project will develop a vibrant HCE on-line community whose goal is to fuel economic development by increasing the number and success rate for smaller-scale renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the rural Northwest. The project will do this by:
• Connecting farmers, small businesses, and other landowners – as well as the field staff for public agencies (like USDA) that assist them -- with expertise to help them better develop their renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities;
• Helping lenders, project developers, and equipment suppliers understand and access this smaller-scale clean energy market.

Tapping a set of expert moderators drawn from HCE’s extensive network of regional allies, and working with Climate Solutions’ HCE team, the HCE Organizer will coordinate implementation strategies for these key project elements:
• Topic Forums – interactive forums with expert moderators, supplemented with high-value resources
• Webinars – regular online seminars on topics of greatest interest
• Rural Jobs and Jobs Training Bulletin Board – rural Northwesterners’ go-to bulletin board for job postings and training opportunities in the clean energy field
• Rural Youth Section – a vehicle for engaging the next generation in the clean energy field
• Project Marketing – a sustained, multi-platform campaign to spread the word and generate participation

Organizing support for the HCE Conference Steering Committee (1/3rd time)

Now in its 11th year, the Harvesting Clean Energy conference consistently draws over 500 participants from a diverse range of fields – from motivated farmers and ranchers to professionals from the agriculture, utility, economic development, university, finance, energy, and government sectors. The conference rotates between Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana each year, utilizing several dozen top-notch speakers with a focus on practical steps to successful project development. The energy opportunities addressed include wind power, biofuels and biopower, solar and geothermal resources, microhydro, energy innovation in the food processing sector, and efficiency technologies to reduce energy costs and enhance profitability.

The HCE Organizer will provide vital logistical support to the Conference’s Steering Committee ranging from setting up meetings and tracking action items and follow-ups, to helping recruit speakers and sponsors, to publicity work. The next HCE Conference is set for Boise, Idaho on October 23-25, 2011.

The location of the position is in Climate Solutions’ Olympia office. This position is supervised by the Director of Strategic Innovation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Execute the implementation plan for the HCE Online Community, working closely with key Climate Solutions staff.
• Coordinate our expert moderators for the specific topics of the online forum and conduct relevant webinars.
• Coordinate experts to blog on the web and interview weekly for our radio spot on a regional rural radio network.
• Conduct extensive outreach to market the forum and to generate participation.
• Develop and post content as needed to stimulate discussion.
• Recruit and coordinate the HCE Rural Youth Advisory Committee.
• Screen and post content for the Jobs Bulletin Board.
• Recruit sponsors.
• Provide extensive and varied logistical support for the HCE Conference, leveraging contacts from the HCE Online Community.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience and Education:
• At least 2 years of community organizing, project marketing or related professional experience.
• A year of experience in event coordination.
• At least a Bachelor’s degree with emphasis on energy, environment, and or rural economies.

Skills and Knowledge:
• Highly organized, with strong verbal, presentation, writing, editing, and analytic skills.
• A collaborative and inspirational nature.
• Familiarity with rural communities and the clean energy sector.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Desktop publishing skills including experience with blogging and editing
• Solid understanding of social networking tools.
• Ability to operate desktop computer, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and specialized software applications in a network environment.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and with a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong commitment to the mission and vision of Climate Solutions.

Licenses or Certificates:
• Possession of or ability to possess within 3 months, a U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance.

REMUNERATION
This is a 1 year, temporary position. The salary range starts at $43,000 based on the successful applicant’s skills and experience. There are no benefits associated with this position.

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