About Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. We serve Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista, and SW Washington customers of NW Natural. Year over year Energy Trust is recognized as one of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon.

Our Vision

Clean, affordable energy for everyone.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We recognize the lack of diversity in our industry, and we actively seek to address it with our hiring and retention practices as well as our values. We believe every person and their lived experience is integral to building a vibrant culture and delivering effective services to all customers we serve. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.

Our Location

Energy Trust provides for a range of work location options, including remote, hybrid and in-office work. This position will represent Energy Trust in public settings and potentially at community events. We are open to candidates who live throughout Oregon and Washington. The Policy and Outreach Specialist would be expected to report to the office on a quarterly basis, at minimum.

Energy Trust is currently a fully vaccinated workplace for COVID-19. All staff must submit proof of vaccination status or request an exception for health or religious reasons.

What We’re Looking For:

The Policy and Outreach Specialist will support the organization’s ability to monitor, participate in and communicate about a wide range of state regulatory dockets, legislative proposals, and expanding stakeholder relations and community engagement needs in the energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean energy space.

The Policy and Outreach Specialist will primarily support the Policy Services Team in tracking, reporting and communicating on clean energy and related policy developments, within the bounds of the organization’s non-advocacy role. The person in this position will be responsible for managing an organization-wide policy tracking system, monitoring state legislative bills related to Energy Trust’s core mission, preparing internal and external stakeholder reports and presentations, and monitoring assigned Oregon Public Utility Commission dockets and other state agency policy forums. This role supports the Communications and Customer Service Group on outreach needs and efforts to support local governments establishing and implementing climate, sustainability or energy plans, and to support coordination with utility partners’ community engagement and planning processes. The specialist will also provide research and analysis, project management, communications and outreach work to help communities, stakeholders, policymakers and policy implementers understand Energy Trust’s role in helping Oregon meet its clean energy goals.

What You’ll Do:

• Support staff in being a resource to local, state and federal policy makers and implementers, including by assembling responses to information requests and preparing for informational briefings.
• Maintain an internal policy tracking system, including working with subject matter experts to obtain cross-organizational updates and reporting to the Policy Services Team and others.
• Track, review and prepare reports on state legislative proposals and bills that could impact energy efficiency, renewable energy and/or Energy Trust’s ability to serve customers with clean energy programs.
• Track and provide internal summaries of Oregon Public Utility Commission and other state agency rulemaking and dockets related to Energy Trust, energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental justice.
• Develop public presentations to the Energy Trust board and advisory councils on public policy updates, including state legislative sessions and federal policy implementation.
• Coordinate with Outreach Team and other internal teams to support coordination with utility partner community engagement and planning processes.
• Track city and county policy work related to energy efficiency and renewable energy, sometimes in the form of climate policies and plans, and capture information in spreadsheets or other tracking tools. Prepare resources and informational materials to support this work as needed, working with colleagues in communications and outreach.
• Assist with a variety of projects and tasks related to Policy Services Team, including research and analysis of clean energy policies and programs, project managing an annual legislative reporting project, enhancing the internal policy tracking system, supporting listening sessions with stakeholders, and maintaining awareness of current policy developments and potential impact and opportunities for Energy Trust.
• Provide input and review of communications and outreach materials developed by co-workers communicating about policy topics.
• Utilize Energy Trust’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and other tools to track activities and stakeholder interactions.
• Undertake other assignments on behalf of Energy Trust.
• Perform all functions of the job in a safe and professional manner.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function within our organization.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, political science, public policy, law, public administration or commensurate experience working in a policy environment, community or government relations role.
• Experience with communications, project support or policy tracking in a community, government or stakeholder relations setting is preferred.
• Strong written communication skills and experience organizing presentations or information to consumer, business and government audiences. A writing or presentation sample is required when submitting an application.
• Ability to work independently and as a supportive, contributing team member in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint. Willingness to learn SharePoint and Customer Relationship Management systems.
• Must be able to interact with a diverse workforce and stakeholder base.
• Highly effective organization skills and ability to coordinate numerous projects.
• Project management experience preferred.

What You’ll Get:

• Health/dental/vision insurance
• Employer sponsored and paid life/disability
• 401(k) with a company contribution of 6% of your salary after 90 days of employment
• TriMet pass
• Access to health and dependent FSA/HSA accounts
• Generous paid vacation, holidays and sick days
• Paid volunteer hours
• Employee assistance program
• Career advancement opportunities
• Great colleagues and culture
• Flexibility to work from home and/or an office space at the Portland, OR location
• Work from home laptop provided

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and People of Color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Energy Trust we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace—if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Please submit a cover letter, writing or presentation sample, resume and application (found on Energy Trust’s website www.energytrust.org/About/careers) to careers@energytrust.org.

Attn: Policy and Outreach Specialist

Energy Trust of Oregon is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, mental and physical disability, political affiliation, union membership, status as a parent, military or veteran status or other non-merit based factors. We will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the application, interviewing and employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, contact us. Energy Trust of Oregon is an E-Verify employer. This policy is applicable to all phases of the employment relationship, including hiring, transfers, promotions, training, terminations, working conditions, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.