Description

NECEC (The Northeast Clean Energy Council) is a regional non-profit clean energy business, policy, and innovation organization whose mission is to lead the just, equitable and rapid transition to a clean energy future and diverse climate economy. NECEC helps clean energy companies start, scale, and succeed with our unique business, innovation, and policy leadership.

NECEC is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We embrace a broad range of perspectives that will make our organization stronger and our work more just. We will continuously look inward at our own culture to make sure we’re reaching our goal of promoting these values. And, as the voice of the Northeast clean energy industry, NECEC will work with our members and community to embed these values across the industry. We are dedicated to securing a just transition to a clean economy, one that corrects the disproportionate impacts of climate change and secures a better future for all. This is the path to a prosperous clean energy future that benefits all communities.  

Purpose

The Navigate Director leads Cleantech Navigate Northeast (Navigate), NECEC’s innovation resource network offering industry connections and development support to accelerate commercialization and deployment of cleantech/climatech solutions. Navigate also convenes and grows collaborative connections across the innovation ecosystem to build emerging and growth companies to advance the just and equitable climate economy. The Program Director has the ultimate goal of growing and operating the Navigate programming, resources and networks and its impact.

Essential Functions

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and lead the execution of the Navigate program and resource network strategy
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with Navigate stakeholders, such as startup support organizations (eg. startup incubators, accelerators, universities, and associations), investors, corporates, utilities and customers, startups and sponsors.
• Connect startups with investors, corporate strategies and customers, and track connection outcomes.
• Grow funder and partner relationships, develop responsive proposals for funding and support, and recruit additional resources and connections to grow the capacity of the program.
• Collaborate across NECEC to leverage relationships with NECEC’s members, sponsors and partners.
• Plan and execute events.
• Conduct market research and perform limited due diligence on startups, investors, and partners.
• Champion the regional cleantech entrepreneurship community and the growth of the Northeast’s cleantech innovation ecosystem as a visible spokesperson and active public speaker.
• Work with NECEC Management to determine annual budget and manage program revenue generation and expenditures.
• Play a critical support role to the NECEC Management team in maintaining relationships with and enlisting funders to provide them maximum benefit and fulfill budgetary needs of NECEC’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship programs.
• Continue to build principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice into the foundation of the resource network’s programming and services, including hiring, procurement, and supervisory work and foster a culture of respect and inclusion.
• Ensure effective tracking of progress and results as well as regular evaluation of program elements to foster learning and to measure and communicate successes to key stakeholders, including funders, mentors, entrepreneurs, and investors.
• Occasional travel is required within the Northeast region and sometimes beyond.

Requirements

Requirements & Qualifications
This position requires a motivated self-starter to manage the internal operations and external presentation of the program and well as the network of key relationships with program partners and participants. Successful candidates will have a bachelor’s degree or higher and at least 5-7 years of professional experience in an entrepreneurial management role with a passion in green/clean businesses, and a demonstrated track record of excellent performance. Previous clean energy experience involved.  Candidates should also be able to demonstrate:

• Proven ability to understand, communicate, and present complex technical  
• Ability to relate to and negotiate with both startups and senior executives.
• Experience with partnerships and business development work.
• Experience organizing events.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail.