Microgrids Manager

GreenRoots, in partnership with Chinatown Power, seeks a full-time Microgrid Manager to plan and implement pilot community-led microgrid projects to increase energy efficiency, resilience, and equity in Chelsea and Boston Chinatown.

Organizational Mission and Microgrid Projects

GreenRoots, Inc., is a grassroots community-based organization with a 25-year track record of achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea, Massachusetts and the Greater Boston region. The mission of GreenRoots is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.

Chinatown Power, Inc. is founded by the Chinatown Community Land Trust (Chinatown CLT) and the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) to develop, sponsor, and operate microgrid projects in Boston Chinatown.  Chinatown CLT works to stabilize the future of Chinatown as a neighborhood for working class families and the elderly as well as a regional hub for the Chinese community through community control of the land, development without displacement, permanently affordable housing, and shared neighborhood spaces. CPA is a grassroots community organization which works for full equality and empowerment of the Chinese community in the Greater Boston area and beyond.

Chinatown Power and GreenRoots will coordinate and support development of virtual microgrid projects in Chinatown and Chelsea respectively, to increase energy efficiency, use of renewable sources, resilience in the face of disasters, shared economic benefits and community control of resources.

Job Description

The Microgrid Manager will work with community organizations and municipal partners in Chelsea and Boston Chinatown to plan and implement local microgrid projects, including coordination with community members, property owners, municipal government, ESCOs and utility energy efficiency programs in a variety of work that includes planning, finance/fundraising, contracting, hiring, community outreach, installation, and operations.

Duties

• Work with community board on development of RFPs, contractor qualification and selection, negotiations and oversight of contracts and leases

• Liaison, agreements, and ongoing coordination with property owners, managers and residents, including planning and coordination of microgrid expansion

• Coordinate with and administer multiple applications to energy efficiency and demand response programs for savings and incentives

• Coordinate integration of component parts to build the microgrid network

• Work collaboratively with community team on community outreach, membership development, resident recruitment and employment

• Work collaboratively with technical team and contractors to trouble-shoot and resolve technical issues, including optimization of resources, measurement and verification of savings

• Coordinate with municipal partners on planning, startup, operations, and expansion plans

• Support fundraising and finance efforts with data collection, accounting oversight, and budget management

Qualifications

• Five years of experience in energy efficiency, climate resilience, utility programs and /or related fields

• Minimum of 3 years of program or project management experience, including contractor bidding, selection and negotiation

• Fluency with electric grid and energy storage system design and engineering preferred but not required

• Comfortable with managing and fostering relationships across a broad spectrum of people and organizations including local residents, community organizations, utility companies and private, municipal, state and federal agencies.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Highly attentive to detail.

• Accountable self-starter.

• Able to successfully manage multiple deadlines with efficient organizational and excellent interpersonal skills.

• Commitment to social and environmental justice preferred.

• Must be a positive and committed team player.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and able to learn new software and applications with confidence.

• Familiarity with Chelsea and Boston Chinatown.

• Language proficiency in Spanish and/or Chinese encouraged.

• Bachelors and higher degrees in technology, engineering, climate studies or related fields desired but not required.

This position is a shared role between GreenRoots and Chinatown Power.  The position will be housed at GreenRoots and administered by GreenRoots with shared time in each community. We are looking for a Microgrid Manager who is a quick learner, articulate, innovative and who takes initiative and is respectful of lived experiences and community expertise. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative.