New job Community Development Officer- Climate/Energy and Broadband in Maine | 2021

STATUS: Exempt, Full-Time

LOCATION: 386 Main Street, Rockland, Maine

Summary: The Island Institute seeks a Community Development Officer (CDO) to provide project-management and community-engagement support to multiple organizational project teams, primarily the Climate/Energy team and Broadband Team. The CDO will project manage the Energy Transitions Initiatives Partnership Program, support community engagement in Energy Projects and support municipal leaders engaging in community-driven broadband projects. We are searching for a candidate who has experience managing projects that facilitate change at the community level, as well as a working knowledge of clean energy solutions, and the energy landscape.

In this role, the CDO will be team-minded and self-aware, able to give and accept constructive and consistent feedback, and committed to the Institute’s organizational values. Most importantly, the CDO must be able to carefully allocate their time and organizational resources while working across multiple projects.

Qualifications required:

• An undergraduate degree; advanced degree preferred
• At least five years’ experience working directly or indirectly with public, nonprofit and private-sector enterprises, with proven success in the area of project management in various scales and across multiple stake-holder groups
• Deep knowledge of clean energy solutions, and a working knowledge of the energy sector and landscape. Experience in Maine energy sector preferred.
• Professional interests that align strongly with the goals of the Island Institute
• Exceptional written communication skills; able to effectively convey the organization’s mission, priorities, and programs to diverse audiences in a variety of formats
• Outstanding verbal and interpersonal communication skills; able to speak about the organization’s work in an articulate, professional, and compelling manner (one-on-one and with groups)
• The ability to understand island and rural communities and how change happens locally

• Organizational skills and attention to detail in planning and coordinating project work
• The ability to give and receive constructive and helpful feedback with staff colleagues and community partners
• Comfort with technology and adapting quickly to information technology systems, including Office 365 applications

• The ability and willingness to travel

Qualifications Desired:

• Knowledge of municipal processes and systems in place to move community projects forward.
• Base knowledge of Broadband partners and networks in Maine, as well as the interdependence of reliable internet on community structures and sustainability.
• Proven ability to sustain project work in and with communities
• Experience in running effective meetings that meet clearly identified objectives

Essential Functions:

• Serve as a member of project teams and complete the tasks assigned by and within teams in a timely and professional manner
• Serve as the project manager for the ETIPP (Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program), working alongside the Climate Energy Project Lead and Operations Coordinator to fulfill all grant requirements. This includes tracking and reporting on grant deliverables, managing the ETIPP budget, and supporting the community engagement contacts.
• Offer support to community partners in energy projects not directly relate to ETIPP including facilitating community conversations, connecting to and building out energy networks, and developing relationships to build a pipeline of future energy projects.
• Work closely with coastal and island communities engaged in the Community-Driven Broadband projects, including strengthening information and process loops between committees and municipal leaders.
• Document and deploy best practices for supporting infrastructure projects through municipal process.
• Seek and participate in professional development opportunities to build cross-sector and essential skills
• Promote the Institute’s work by representing the organization before external audiences as requested
• Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: the employee is required to sit, enter data using computer keyboard and mouse, stand, walk, bend over occasionally and move about the office space as well as between building floors. There is no requirement to lift and/or move weights of more than 15 pounds. The employee will be expected to travel on occasion by boat and ferry to various island and remote coastal locations. There will be times when working long hours on evenings and weekends will be required
• Travel: Must be comfortable traveling for extended periods of time by any mode of transportation in cross-cultural contexts
• Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

The Community Development Officer position is a full-time, year-round salaried position starting immediately, with a competitive salary range of $40,000 to $50,000 plus benefits.

There is no application deadline, but preference will be given to candidates whose materials are received by March 26, 2021. Only electronic applications are accepted.

Based in Rockland, Maine, the Island Institute is a nonprofit organization and an equal opportunity "at-will" employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities based upon an individual's ability and qualifications. We do not discriminate against people on the basis of race, citizenship, ancestry, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, mental or physical disability.

For more information about the Island Institute and our work along the Maine coast, please visit www.islandinstitute.org.