Sol Systems is seeking an experienced executive-level individual to lead a team overseeing both community engagement and government affairs.

As head of Community Engagement (CE), this person would lead a team of a CE director, regional CE leads, and onsite representatives, and collaborate with the development execution team. This position will support the CE team with understanding the needs of projects’ host communities and creating a positive impression of the company and of solar to support the development team’s efforts in obtaining permits and bringing a project into construction with support from the community.

As head of Government Affairs, this person would represent the Company as a diplomat to the industry and our stakeholders, both legislative and regulatory at the state, regional, and Federal levels. This role would also serve with Sol Systems Chief Executive Officer on the Board of the National Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), other trade association roles as required, and require frequent communication and collaboration with other companies to elevate and spearhead policy initiatives. This position will work directly with our policy director, our finance, development, and trading teams, and the CEO to help cultivate business development opportunities in key states and to defend business interests through policy advocacy and analysis.

The role will be focused on managing strategic renewable energy and electricity policy initiatives for the Company at the state, regional, and Federal levels. The initial scope shall cover legislative and regulatory policy efforts across the country for both our development team (primarily focused in ERCOT, MISO, SPP, and PJM), and environmental commodity team (which covers an expansive portfolio in both compliance and voluntary REC markets across the country). Key policy coverage and advocacy will require strategic offensive and defensive state legislative and regulatory campaigns focused on renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and other renewable incentive programs, interconnection, permitting, energy storage, utility integrated resource plan (IRP), and regional transmission organizations (RTOs). The role will also focus on wholesale and retail electricity market policy developments in PJM, MISO, SPP, and ERCOT.

The position is ideal for someone with both community and government affairs experience that’s looking to join a growing company, work in an entrepreneurial environment, impact solar energy project development, expand into new environmental & energy commodities markets, and commit to an organization dedicated to financing and developing clean energy infrastructure.

Sol Systems is a leading solar energy firm based in Washington, DC, dedicated to building a more sustainable future. Founded in 2008, the company deploys renewable energy infrastructure across the United States, with a specific focus on ensuring that these projects have a positive economic impact on the communities in which they operate. The company has financed or developed well over $2 billion of solar energy assets to date. We work with some of the largest corporations in the world to achieve a carbon-free and sustainable future. Sol has been founder-led throughout its 16 years of operations and is backed by KKR, one of the largest private equity firms in the world.

The Senior Director will be responsible for:

• Community Engagement Strategy - Create and enact goals and a strategic plan for the community engagement team. Determine the appropriate methods and team makeup. This position will be responsible for developing next-level strategies to improve community relations beyond the industry’s prior tactics. It will also maintain and disseminate Sol’s commitment to community engagement throughout the development team and the company.
• Community Engagement Guidance - Decisively guide the company on whether or not to pursue M&A and greenfield opportunities by relying on a deep pool of previous experiences.
• Community Engagement Leadership – lead a team of community engagement professionals to execute the strategic plan.
• External Policy Advocacy - Maintain, enhance, and build awareness for strategic initiatives that will support Sol Systems businesses. Assist in the development, coordination, implementation, and management of policy strategies at the legislative and regulatory level. Participate and engage in rulemaking and regulatory proceedings through event attendance, coalition building, educational toolkits, the submission of written and oral public testimony.
• Relationship Management - Develop, maintain, and expand relationships with legislative offices, lobbyists, peer-company regulatory affairs professionals, industry associations, environmental groups, and others critical to the policy-making process.
• Regulatory Coverage – Select and work with lobbyists and consultants to obtain high quality market intelligence and outcomes that advance Sol Systems and the solar industry’s strategic interests. Help inform business development decisions through on-the-ground regulatory research.
• Regulatory Analysis - Quantify risks and impacts of proposed or pending regulatory actions and advise and communicate with internal team leaders as needed. Assemble analysis into timely, concise, clear, accurate, and well-written reports.

A successful candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• 10+ years of total related experience, both in community engagement and in a government affairs role or in a legislative or regulatory agency staff position
• Degree in a policy, environmental, business or related field
• Extensive knowledge of state regulatory environments, FERC, and ISO markets
• A deep understanding of utility-scale solar development and financing
• A deep understanding of campaign-based community engagement strategies
• A deep understanding of competitive market policies and a strong interest in advancing open, tradable, and competitive market-based solutions for both energy and environmental commodities
• Strong interest in infrastructure finance, commodity trading, and renewable energy markets
• Ability to connect how policy initiatives impact market fundamentals and project finance economics
• Ability to perform and understand regulatory analysis –finding the “bottom line” for business teams and making appropriate recommendations
• Ability to understand, evaluate, write, and recommend language revisions to legislation or regulations that Sol Systems or its affiliates are tied to
• Ability to review and analyze policy updates and information quickly and provide written analysis or graphic summaries
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Time management and attention to detail, especially for externally prepared materials
• Strong collaboration and relationship skills

Location & Hours: This is a full-time role with preference for candidates to be based in our Washington, DC office but not required.

Commitment & Compensation: Compensation will be commensurate with experience. In addition, Sol Systems provides health insurance, retirement benefits, partial gym reimbursement, transportation benefits, education benefits, paid vacation and federal holidays, plus the opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment.

To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter and salary requirements. Applicants that are missing items from this list will not be considered. Sol Systems is an equal-opportunity employer, and does not discriminate based on gender, race, ethnicity, orientation, creed, or other trait. Sol Systems supports and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Deadline: We hope to hire for this position immediately and will review applicants on a rolling basis.