Program Director, Energy Innovation

About Mid Hudson Energy Transition Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, Inc. (MHET) is a not-for-profit community-based organization that empowers municipalities, their residents, and businesses to own and share renewable energy, create healthier buildings, and join in community wealth-building to strengthen the resilience of the Hudson Valley in the face of climate change. We engage and build on the active involvement of communities, with particular emphasis on low-income and communities of color that are being harmed first and worst by climate change. Job Summary The Program Director, Energy Innovation is responsible for identifying, developing, and advancing renewable energy projects that deliver community ownership, shared benefit, and long-term wealth-building to priority populations in the Hudson Valley. Projects will be identified, prioritized and guided by our community via our Community Council and an ongoing participatory planning project. This role is responsible for taking those community-identified priorities and turning them into real projects: scoping what's feasible, finding the financing, building the partnerships, and driving development forward. Current areas of active exploration include thermal energy networks, community-owned solar, and agrivoltaics – but the portfolio will grow and evolve with the community. Reports To Managing Director, Programs & Impact Direct Reports Program Associate (part-time intern) Energy Innovation Energy Innovation (EI): Energy Innovation encompasses a portfolio of projects with the central goal of empowering marginalized communities to own and share renewable energy; as such, it includes community solar (discounts on electricity bills through shared solar projects), renewable energy project development, and community energy planning. Currently, the EI team has been exploring a municipal thermal energy network, community-owned solar project, and an agrivoltaics pilot (agricultural farms paired with solar generation). Community ownership models, income generation for frontline communities, and local grid resilience are core considerations. Responsibilities Renewable Energy Project Development (50%) This is the core of the role. MHET is building toward a future where frontline communities own and benefit from the energy systems that serve them. The Director is responsible for making that concrete, translating community vision and organizational strategy into funded, operational energy projects. Maintain a live portfolio of energy innovation opportunities – across technologies, financing models, and community contexts – that MHET is actively exploring, developing, or preparing to launch; ensure the portfolio is always moving forward and grounded in community need. Lead pre-development and development work on community-identified energy projects from initial scoping through to construction or launch – including technical feasibility analysis, energy and financial modeling, project structuring, procurement (RFP/RFI development and management), and stakeholder coordination. Identify and pursue project funding from state programs (NYSERDA, NYPA, EDC, IDA), federal sources, philanthropic funders, and private capital; evaluate opportunities rigorously for alignment, feasibility, and timeline; lead or support grant applications and funding proposals with accurate, compelling project narratives and budgets. Build and manage project partnerships with municipalities, utilities, developers, engineers, and other external partners; represent MHET's interests and community priorities clearly and consistently across all development relationships. Track project milestones, risks, and decisions with rigor; maintain clear documentation so that MHET's organizational knowledge of each project is captured and accessible. Stay current on the evolving landscape of renewable energy technologies, community ownership models, clean energy financing, and policy developments at the state and federal level; bring relevant opportunities and risks to the attention of organizational leadership proactively. Pilot small, targeted, community-informed projects that are responsive to specific ideas or priorities surfaced through participatory planning with attention to feasibility, benefit, and replicability; document what works and what doesn't with the same rigor as larger projects. Community Solar Program Management (15%) Community solar is MHET's most established mechanism for delivering energy bill relief to priority populations. The Director is responsible for the following: Oversee subscriber recruitment, enrollment, and account management led by the Outreach & Education team; ensure the pipeline runs smoothly, that accurate records are maintained in Hubspot, and that subscribers – especially low-income households – are enrolled, receiving savings, and supported when issues arise. Manage existing and cultivate new relationships with community solar project partners; oversee project performance, billing, and contract obligations; identify and resolve issues before they affect subscribers. Identify opportunities to expand access to community solar savings for low-income households, including through new projects, new geographies, or new bill assistance integrations. Community Participatory Planning (15%) MHET does not determine the energy future of Kingston unilaterally. Our participatory planning process is how we ensure that community members – especially those who have been most harmed by the current system – shape what we build and who benefits. Lead MHET's participatory planning process in Kingston, including survey design, individual meetings, and group sessions. Coordinate closely with the Outreach & Education team to reach community members who have not previously engaged with MHET, including Spanish-speaking residents; ensure verbal and informal feedback from O&E events is captured and incorporated. Oversee all participatory planning activity in HubSpot (participants, engagement formats, feedback, demographics, and outcomes) so that community input is organized, searchable, and actionable rather than diffuse. Actively integrate community feedback into the design and delivery of current EI projects on an ongoing basis; document how community input shaped decisions. Produce memos or reports documenting participatory planning processes (methods, metrics, lessons learned, and community-identified energy solutions) that are useful both internally and as a resource for peer organizations undertaking similar work. Knowledge-Sharing & External Engagement (10%) MHET is doing work that is nationally significant in a small city. Sharing what we learn multiplies our impact and positions MHET as a field leader. Contribute to MHET's blog and podcast output by producing or co-producing content that documents EI project progress, lessons learned, and energy justice topics relevant to our work. Represent MHET at external conferences, webinars, and convenings, presenting on EI projects and participatory planning work with clarity, credibility, and the genuine warmth that MHET is known for. Design learning opportunities that ensure the full MHET team and broader Kingston community has growing fluency in energy systems, technologies, and justice. Cross-Team Collaboration & Operations (10%) Partner with the Development team on grant applications and funder reporting related to EI projects and community solar; provide accurate project narratives, budgets, and impact data on time and to the standard required. Coordinate with the Outreach & Education team on community engagement for both participatory planning and community solar recruitment; ensure workflows, referrals, and data sharing between teams are clearly defined and functioning. Work with the Systems team to ensure all program data is fully integrated into HubSpot as the organizational source of truth. Maintain clear program documentation, including policies, procedures, project records, and opera