A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment.
We work on solutions that strengthen communities and provide greater economic opportunity through creation of higher paying jobs, expansion of the nation&rsquo;s industrial base, and greater domestic energy independence while eliminating carbon emissions.
GPI&rsquo;s goals for transforming the energy system are to
- increase energy efficiency and productivity
- decarbonize electricity production
- electrify the economy and adopt zero- and low-carbon fuels
- capture carbon for beneficial use and permanent storage

Sectors

Climate Solutions

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Focus: Mitigation or Adaptation

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Transforming the energy system to boost the economy, create jobs, and achieve carbon neutrality.

Program/Role: Carbon Management Program Associate &nbsp;
Location: WFH Flexible, with preference for Minneapolis, MN. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters is based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN. &nbsp;
Reports to:&nbsp;Senior Program Manager, Carbon Management
Type of Position: Full-time position &nbsp;
Ideal start date:&nbsp;Position will be open until filled &nbsp;
Compensation: Salary range: $50K-$58K, depending upon experience and location of candidate. Benefits include health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, long-term and short-term disability, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, and a communication stipend. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
&nbsp;A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.
&nbsp;
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, pragmatic, and transformative: &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Trusted.&nbsp;We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
Inclusive.&nbsp;We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable.&nbsp;We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes. &nbsp;
Pragmatic.&nbsp;We take a clear-eyed view of the world as it is, even as we seek to improve it.&nbsp;
Transformative.&nbsp;We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE CARBON MANAGEMENT PROGRAM??&nbsp;&nbsp;
GPI&rsquo;s Carbon Management Program is dedicated to fostering deployment of solutions at climate scale for managing carbon emissions from energy, industry, and manufacturing, while protecting and creating high-wage, family-sustaining jobs and providing economic and environmental benefits to affected communities. Through our staffing and coordination of the&nbsp;<a href="https://carboncapturecoalition.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carbon Capture Coalition</a>&nbsp;at the federal level, the State Carbon Capture Work Group and&nbsp;<a href="https://carboncaptureready.betterenergy.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regional Deployment Initiative</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://industrialinnovation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Industrial Innovation Initiative</a>, and the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.carbonactionalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carbon Action Alliance</a>, GPI&rsquo;s Carbon Management Program is playing a transformative role in building broad industry, labor, and NGO (non-governmental organizations) engagement and support for federal and state policies necessary to put our nation on a path to net-zero emissions and achieving midcentury climate goals. The Carbon Management Program is a fast-paced collaborative team with an entrepreneurial spirit that encourages and appreciates equal contribution from members at all levels of the team. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION INITIATIVE
I3 aims to advance solutions key to decarbonizing the industrial sector by midcentury through policy development and implementation; technology demonstration and adoption; and demand-side market development at state, regional, and federal levels. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
I3 values a stable climate, a safe and healthy environment, thriving livelihoods for American workers, and a strong U.S. economy. The policies I3 supports, therefore, focus on putting American industry on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by midcentury, high-wage job retention and creation, technology leadership, and economic competitiveness. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
The scope and complexity of the decarbonization challenge across industrial sectors requires a broad range of stakeholder participation to identify meaningful and lasting solutions. Participants in I3 include key industry sectors, power companies, state officials, energy and environmental non-governmental organizations, and labor unions. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Focused on the most industrialized region of the country, I3 builds on years of state official and stakeholder engagement in the Midcontinent region by the GPI and the World Resources Institute (WRI), as well as extensive work advancing decarbonization solutions important to industrial sectors, including carbon capture, low- and zero-carbon fuels, electrification, renewables, energy efficiency, and low-carbon procurement. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
THIS POSITION
The Carbon Management Program Associate (the Associate) will focus on supporting the advancement of industrial decarbonization through our existing portfolio of work, principally within the&nbsp;<a href="https://industrialinnovation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Industrial Innovation Initiative</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://convenersnetwork.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">States Deployment Initiative</a>. Additionally, the Associate will work to educate our growing network of stakeholders on the regulatory and policy landscape for industrial decarbonization. This will involve developing educational materials, assisting in analytical efforts, and convening relevant stakeholders to support technology deployment and policy implementation. The Associate will support staff, contractors, and Initiative participants collectively to enhance their understanding of the necessary technologies, policies, and market levers to achieve industrial decarbonization by midcentury.
&nbsp;
The Associate will be expected to work both independently and with colleagues on projects. The successful candidate will be able to complete various work elements from conception to completion in a timely manner and follow directions that may be detailed or minimal. The ideal candidate will have the ability to work collaboratively and constructively with project participants from diverse backgrounds, interests and points of view; exercise good judgment in a variety of situations; maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities; utilize effective methods for time management and prioritization of tasks; and possess the ability to identify and address urgent and important needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Hours may be flexible and are typically Monday through Friday during the business day; some nights and weekends may be required.&nbsp;Some travel will also be required. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
JOB DUTIES:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Provide research, communications, and analytical support and collaborate on other work with the Carbon Management Team, including: &nbsp;
(75%) Project Assistance.&nbsp;This position will primarily support the Industrial Innovation Initiative in the following ways: &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Assist in developing and executing, alongside the Industrial Innovation Initiative Project Manager, and other GPI staff and consultants, a detailed strategy for effective policy development and advocacy for industrial decarbonization, including synergies with other projects in GPI&rsquo;s Carbon Management program. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Work with GPI and external colleagues to inform relevant analyses that drive the conversation around industrial decarbonization for impact in policy, communications, and advocacy work; &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Track and research federal and state policies and programs related to industrial decarbonization; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Create project-related content, including a monthly newsletter, blog posts, issue briefs/factsheets, press releases, social media posts, messaging guidance, and other materials; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Recruit, develop, and maintain robust relationships with project participants; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Participate in weekly Carbon Management and project-related staff calls; &nbsp;</li>
<li>Manage administrative details of applicable grants, in coordination with the Carbon Management Operations Coordinator; &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
(25%) Provide assistance to the Vice President of Carbon Management&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Provide direct administrative support (schedule meetings, communicating with project participants and other stakeholders, organizing materials, etc.) for the Vice President of Carbon Management &nbsp;</li>
<li>Coordinate meetings with internal and external partners, including scheduling, agenda development, taking and organizing meeting notes, preparing materials, and ensuring follow-ups are carried through; &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Other programmatic support when needed.&nbsp;Provide other programmatic assistance as needed or requested by the Senior Program Manager, Industrial Decarbonization Manager or Vice President of the Carbon Management program. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
<ul>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree or relevant proven skills and experience. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Knowledge of, or prior experience with, climate, energy and/or environmental issues a plus. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Ability to translate and communicate complex scientific, technological, economic, and policy issues to diverse lay audiences.</li>
<li>Good research, writing, and verbal communication skills. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Experience, professional or otherwise working on a diverse team and developing and maintaining relationships.</li>
<li>High attention to detail and the ability to work independently. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Excellent time and deadline management, project management and team relationship skills. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Demonstrated willingness and ability to work collaboratively and effectively with very diverse individuals and institutions, including those with different backgrounds and political perspectives, with which you may personally disagree. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute and its Carbon Management Program. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The Carbon Management team is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
EQUIPMENT USED:&nbsp;
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:&nbsp;
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY:
Required application materials&nbsp;include a resume and one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:&nbsp;
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.&nbsp;

Carbon Management Program Associate

Program/Role:&nbsp;NextGen Highways Project Manager
Location:&nbsp;WFH Flexible, Minneapolis, MN. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN.
Reports to:&nbsp;Energy Systems Senior Policy Manager
Type of Position:&nbsp;Full time position
Ideal start date:&nbsp;As soon as available, position will be open until filled
Compensation:&nbsp;Salary range: $80K-$93K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit people, the economy, and the environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 60 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.&nbsp;
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, pragmatic, and transformative:
Trusted.&nbsp;We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.&nbsp;
Inclusive.&nbsp;We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable.&nbsp;We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
Pragmatic.&nbsp;We take a clear-eyed view of the world as it is, even as we seek to improve it.
Transformative.&nbsp;We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.
&nbsp;
ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM AREA
NextGen Highways is supported by GPI&rsquo;s Energy Systems Team. The Energy Systems program area is focused on decarbonizing the economy by enabling collaboration and problem solving among electric and natural gas utilities and market operators, regulators, environmental advocates, consumer advocates, state and local governments, businesses, and other key stakeholders.
We work with groups of state governor&rsquo;s offices and environmental and energy regulators to develop and implement decarbonization plans; within the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator stakeholder process on market rules and the transmission build-out; with states, utilities, and other interests to align utility business models with an affordable, reliable, and net-zero greenhouse gas energy system; with states, local governments, and other key actors to bring down the implementation costs of net-zero greenhouse gas technologies and increase consumer demand for net-zero greenhouse gas resources.
We foster collaboration and problem solving through complex stakeholder engagement processes. These often involve groups of 20-100 stakeholders that meet regularly over several months to develop a shared understanding of energy and climate policy and technology issues, discuss varying perspectives on those issues, and collaborate to identify actions to address those issues.
Our team has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are self-starters, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
&nbsp;
OVERVIEW&nbsp;
NextGen Highways seeks a Manager to support our growing work across the United States. The Manager will be responsible for external engagement and outreach with Coalition members, stakeholders and policymakers, along with supporting public relations and communications efforts to advance the deployment of co-located electric transmission and telecommunications infrastructure in the nation&rsquo;s highway rights-of-way.&nbsp;
NextGen Highways is convened by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.betterenergy.org/">Great Plains Institute (GPI)</a>, and the successful candidate will be a GPI employee, subject to its policies and practices. The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer, is committed to building a diverse staff and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.
&nbsp;
RESPONSIBILITIES&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Lead effective integration of the NGH&rsquo;s public relations, marketing, communications and social media strategies and activities with its external education, outreach and advocacy efforts.</li>
<li>Plan and organize external meetings, briefings, and other events.</li>
<li>Oversee maintenance of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database for use by NGH staff to track and manage stakeholder outreach and education efforts.</li>
<li>Support NGH social media engagement, blog posts, and other publications and website maintenance.</li>
<li>Work closely with NGH staff and partners to help develop and enact policy strategy and anticipate policy opportunities.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Maintain and build new relationships and partnerships with state and federal policy makers, staff, regulatory officials, utilities, NGO, community-based organizations, transmission developers, transportation network providers, and other key stakeholders.</li>
<li>Work with staff to identify and reach out to stakeholders for participation in national NGH Coalition and in state-based NGH Coalitions.</li>
<li>Develop, coordinate, and implement education and outreach strategies and activities to engage policy makers, regulators, and key constituency groups.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Support budgeting, recruitment, fundraising, and other strategic activities to enhance the Coalition&rsquo;s capacity and impact.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
<ul>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree or relevant proven skills and experience.</li>
<li>Prior experience (3+ years) working on project management, public relations, government relations, or similar.</li>
<li>Experience, professional or otherwise, coordinating stakeholders in coalitions, organizing events, and attending meetings or public events on behalf of an organization.</li>
<li>Demonstrated willingness and ability to work collaboratively and effectively with very diverse individuals and institutions, including those with whom you may personally disagree.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills.&nbsp;</li>
<li>High attention to detail and ability to work independently and with colleagues in remote locations.</li>
<li>Excellent time and deadline management, project management and team relationship skills.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Knowledge of or prior experience with climate, energy and/or environmental issues a plus.</li>
<li>Experience with campaign strategy and execution in public policy, political and/or other contexts a plus.</li>
</ul>
EQUIPMENT USED:
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.
&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY:
Required application materials include a resume and one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
&nbsp;
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.

NextGen Highways Project Manager

Program/Role: Executive Vice President (EVP)&nbsp;
Location: WFH Flexible, Minneapolis, MN. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN.&nbsp;
Reports to: President/CEO &nbsp;
Type of Position: Full time position&nbsp;
Ideal start date: As soon as available, position will be open until filled&nbsp;
Compensation: &nbsp;Salary range: $175K-$205K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE&nbsp;
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.&nbsp;
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, and transformative: &nbsp;&nbsp;
Trusted.&nbsp;We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.&nbsp;
Inclusive.&nbsp;We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.&nbsp;
Equitable.&nbsp;We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.&nbsp;
Transformative.&nbsp;We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
THIS POSITION:&nbsp;&nbsp;
The EVP will work with the CEO and VPs to develop and implement GPI&rsquo;s overall strategy and be responsible for overseeing and integrating Communications, Development, and Research in service of GPI&rsquo;s program portfolio and mission. GPI&rsquo;s portfolio consists of five program areas: Carbon Management, Communities, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, and Transportation &amp; Fuels. The EVP will work with the CEO and VPs to make GPI&rsquo;s program portfolio ever more cohesive and impactful, ensuring an intentional, strategic, integrated approach to achieving our mission and seeking synergies between and among the teams.
The EVP is responsible for constantly scanning the internal and external landscape, looking for opportunities to increase GPI&rsquo;s impact, including new collaborations and strategic partnerships, and advising the CEO on strategic course corrections. They will also help hold us accountable for our commitments, internally and externally.
The EVP will work collaboratively with the CEO and CFO to execute GPI&rsquo;s overall strategy and, together with the CFO and CEO, will constitute GPI&rsquo;s executive team, responsible for the overall management of the organization in consultation with the VPs.&nbsp;
The EVP will report to the CEO and will have the following direct reports:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>All Program VPs (currently five)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Leads for Communications, Development, and Research.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The EVP would also be supported by the existing executive assistant. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
JOB DUTIES:&nbsp;
Leadership and Strategy&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Serve as a critical strategic partner to the CEO, including oversight and coordination of strategy across all programs.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Work with the CEO and CFO to ensure that all functions at GPI align with GPI&rsquo;s vision, mission, values, strategic priorities, and policies.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Lead and coordinate GPI&rsquo;s annual and multi-year strategy review and development.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Represent GPI and its programmatic work in both public and private settings, including when the CEO is unavailable.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Lead a discrete portfolio of high-impact program work if/when that makes sense given their background, expertise, and interests.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Provide continuity in the event of turnover in senior staff, including the CEO.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Board-Management Relations&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Present to the Board of Directors and its committees as requested by the CEO and board chair.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Management and Staff Development&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Provide leadership for all program, Communications, Development, and Research staff, and work with the CFO to establish internal policies and practices that lead to accountability and excellence in all GPI does.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Serve as a member of the Executive Team, made up of the CEO, CFO, and EVP, and as a primary liaison between the program VPs and the Executive Team.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Help ensure that GPI&rsquo;s culture continues to attract a wide diversity of talent and that we have policies and cultural norms that foster greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Promote a culture of high performance, respectful candor, and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to excellence.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Work with the CFO, CEO, VPs, and others to continue to build a strong organizational culture that is rated highly by GPI colleagues.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Implementation of GPI&rsquo;s Strategy&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Work with the CFO and CEO to establish and execute organizational priorities within GPI&rsquo;s adopted strategy.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Convene the VPs around program strategy, finding synergies across the teams, identifying adjustments in strategic direction as needed, etc.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Troubleshoot and provide strategic direction to address departmental and organizational challenges.&nbsp;</li>
<li>In consultation with the VPs and CEO, make decisions regarding the overall program strategy.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Oversee Development, Communications, and Research to ensure that they are well integrated across GPI and serving GPI&rsquo;s mission and strategy.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Work with CFO to monitor staff workloads and resource needs across programs and Communications, Development, and Research functions to ensure that they have the resources they need, staff resources are efficiently utilized, project needs are met, and problems in staffing are addressed in a timely manner. Recommend to CEO staff reassignments or other changes as warranted.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Take the lead, working with the CFO, CEO, and VPs, to develop and implement key performance indicators at the enterprise and program level as part of an organization-wide plan for project evaluation, including identification of project best practices, success stories, and lessons learned. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:&nbsp;
The EVP will need to reflect GPI&rsquo;s core values and have a passion for its mission. The ideal candidate will also possess the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Proven track record: Proven experience in an executive role. Evidence of exceeding goals and the ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; the ability to balance the ambitions of GPI&rsquo;s work with the realities of a budget and individual workloads; and problem-solving, project management, and creative resourcefulness.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Strategic vision and agility: The ability to think strategically, maintain internal and external situational awareness of the environment in which GPI is operating, anticipate future needs, trends, and consequences, and incorporate them into GPI&rsquo;s strategy and organizational planning and execution.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Empathetic servant leadership: Exceptional capacity for managing and leading people; a team-builder who has experience in helping organizations achieve impact; ability to connect with colleagues both on an individual level and in large groups; capacity to enforce accountability, develop and empower high-performing leaders, cultivate entrepreneurship, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of the team to put people in a position to succeed.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Action orientation: Has a bias toward action, well-informed by consultation and good communication; ability to act and react as necessary, even if limited information is available; not afraid to confront conflict when it arises, and able to stand behind decisions (even unpopular ones) as long as relevant others have had the opportunity to offer input and get their questions answered.&nbsp;</li>
<li>General management: Understanding of, and broad experience in, managing complex professional organizations, including strategic planning, budgeting, program development, communications, fundraising, research, impact measurement, and staff development and succession planning.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Communication skills, including high emotional intelligence: Excellent verbal, written, analytical, problem-solving, and public speaking skills; ability to effectively present information to staff colleagues, funders (and potential funders), board members, and public groups; ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of individuals both internally and externally with a high degree of diplomacy and emotional intelligence; ability to stand in for the CEO when they are unavailable and represent GPI in a professional manner; and able to keep privileged information confidential.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Relevant educational background &amp; experience: Undergraduate degree and a broad understanding of the clean energy and climate field required (advanced degree in relevant field or comparable experience preferred).&nbsp;</li>
<li>Previous experience: Ten-plus years of experience in energy and management and demonstrated experience in the broad range of energy topics covered by GPI&rsquo;s program portfolio (Carbon Management, Communities, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, and Transportation &amp; Fuels). The ideal candidate would know something about GPI, the way GPI works, and the role GPI plays in the clean energy and climate space.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Other job functions: Performs other duties as are obvious or assigned. The above position description is intended to describe the general content, identify the essential job functions, and set forth the requirements for the performance of the position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of job functions or requirements. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested. Position responsibilities are subject to change over time to accommodate changing organizational needs. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
EQUIPMENT USED:&nbsp;
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:&nbsp;
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset. The position may require the lifting of boxes up to 20 pounds on occasion.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Required application materials&nbsp;include a resume and one-page cover letter.&nbsp;Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:&nbsp;&nbsp;
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer&nbsp;and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.&nbsp;

Executive Vice President

Program/Role: Energy Systems Program Manager/Senior Program Manager
Location: WFH Flexible. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN. Occasional travel may be required.
Reports to: Vice President, Energy Systems&nbsp;
Type of Position: Full time position
Ideal start date: August 1, 2023
Compensation: Salary range: Program Manager $80K-$93K, Senior Program Manager $90K-$104K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.&nbsp;
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, pragmatic, and transformative:
Trusted. We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.&nbsp;
Inclusive. We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable. We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
Pragmatic. We take a clear-eyed view of the world as it is, even as we seek to improve it.
Transformative. We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.
&nbsp;
ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM AREA
The Energy Systems program area is focused on decarbonizing the economy by enabling collaboration and problem solving among electric and natural gas utilities and market operators, regulators, environmental advocates, consumer advocates, state and local governments, businesses, and other key stakeholders.
We work with groups of state governor&rsquo;s offices and environmental and energy regulators to develop and implement decarbonization plans; within the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator stakeholder process on market rules and the transmission build-out; with states, utilities, and other interests to align utility business models with an affordable, reliable, and net-zero greenhouse gas energy system; with states, local governments, and other key actors to bring down the implementation costs of net-zero greenhouse gas technologies and increase consumer demand for net-zero greenhouse gas resources.
We foster collaboration and problem solving through complex stakeholder engagement processes. These often involve groups of 20-100 stakeholders that meet regularly over several months to develop a shared understanding of energy and climate policy and technology issues, discuss varying perspectives on those issues, and collaborate to identify actions to address those issues.
Our team has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are self-starters, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
&nbsp;
THIS POSITION&nbsp;
This position will play a lead role in the Energy Systems program&rsquo;s work on utility and regulatory innovation for both electric and gas utilities. The goal of this work is to advance regulatory frameworks, utility business models, and utility initiatives that can support reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also addressing reliability, affordability, equity, safety, and a just transition.
In this work, GPI serves as a consultant to both utilities and utility regulators with stakeholder engagement, meeting facilitation, summarizing party comments, and general advising for complex regulatory proceedings or utility filings. In addition, GPI independently convenes groups of stakeholders to collaboratively develop solutions that can advance innovation among and decarbonization of electric and gas utility systems.
Importantly, GPI does this work as a neutral convener, facilitator, and advisor. Candidates for this position must have the ability to work with a variety of individuals and organizations that may have different perspectives from the candidate.
The ideal candidate will have experience as a meeting facilitator, knowledge of energy regulatory issues, and familiarity with organizations in this space. The ideal candidate will also have excellent interpersonal relationship skills that will support working with a variety of people on challenging issues. Applicants should have experience facilitating meetings of multiple sizes, experience managing projects and people, and strong written and oral communication skills.&nbsp;
The ideal candidate should also have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities, use effective methods for time management and prioritization of tasks, maintain organization and attention to detail, and possess the ability to identify and address urgent and important needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.&nbsp;
Hours may be flexible and are typically Monday through Friday during the business day; evenings and weekends may occasionally be required.
&nbsp;
JOB DUTIES:
Programmatic leadership:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Serve as a programmatic lead for work on a variety of utility and regulatory issues, which may include resource planning, distribution planning, innovation frameworks, performance-based regulation, interconnection of distributed energy resources, rate design, and transportation electrification, among other issues.</li>
<li>Assist utilities with designing and implementing stakeholder engagement processes to inform complex filings that will be submitted to their regulator and made open for comment from stakeholders. These engagement processes may include series of meetings with interested parties, followed by developing process summaries that will be attached to the utility&rsquo;s final filing.</li>
<li>Assist utility regulatory commissions with designing and implementing stakeholder engagement proceedings to solicit input on complex regulatory issues. These proceedings may include meetings, public comment periods, surveys, and other channels for soliciting input.</li>
<li>Work with partners to independently develop and convene stakeholder engagement processes that are seeking to address utility regulatory issues towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector.</li>
<li>Recruit and manage subcontractors that will complete technical analyses needed to inform stakeholder discussions, such as long-term decarbonization scenario planning.</li>
<li>Maintain knowledge about a variety of issues in the utility regulatory space, and throughout the states that GPI is working in.</li>
<li>Maintain existing and develop new partnerships with organizations working in the utility regulatory space to enable GPI to partner with others where such a partnership would be of benefit.</li>
</ol>
Project development, fundraising, budget management:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Develop proposals to philanthropic funders to support the program&rsquo;s utility and regulatory innovation work.</li>
<li>Develop responses to requests-for-proposals from regulatory commissions seeking assistance with implementing regulatory proceedings or soliciting input from parties.</li>
<li>Develop proposals to assist utilities with designing and implementing stakeholder engagement processes to inform the development of major regulatory filings that will impact the utility&rsquo;s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</li>
<li>Collaborate with other program team members, other teams across GPI, and external partners on developing new work that aligns to GPI&rsquo;s mission and strategic priorities.</li>
<li>Manage budgets for multiple projects related to the program&rsquo;s utility and regulatory innovation work, including both grants and contracts.</li>
<li>Assist with developing the energy systems program&rsquo;s annual budget.</li>
</ol>
Meeting facilitation and execution:
<ol>
<li>Serve as the lead facilitator or co-facilitator for meetings of many different sizes and formats, from small team planning meetings, to medium-sized workgroup meetings, to large public meetings or forums.</li>
<li>Ensure high-quality meeting production by developing, or working collaboratively with team members to develop, meeting agendas, pre-read documents, slide decks, meeting summaries, and comprehensive process summaries.</li>
<li>Identify and recruit subject matter experts to present information in meetings to build the collective understanding of all participants and support robust, informed discussions.</li>
</ol>
Supervising and supporting:
<ol>
<li>Supervise staff members working on projects that fall under the focus of this position and support those staff members to success in their work and advance in their career.</li>
<li>Support all team members with advancing the Energy System&rsquo;s programmatic work and ensuring the success of the program and of GPI as a whole.</li>
</ol>
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
<ul>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s and/or Master&rsquo;s Degree in a relevant field of study.</li>
<li>Prior experience (5+ years) working on electric or gas utility initiatives and regulation.</li>
<li>Experience facilitating meetings of many different sizes and formats</li>
<li>Experience designing stakeholder engagement processes to achieve a set of stated goals or outcomes,</li>
<li>Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of political perspectives</li>
<li>Experience developing and maintaining relationships</li>
<li>Experience supervising staff members and supporting them to succeed.</li>
<li>Experience working with different communication styles</li>
<li>Experience working on a diverse team</li>
<li>Self-motivated</li>
<li>Excellent time, deadline, and project management skills with ability to multi-task</li>
<li>Problem solving skills: ability to identify solutions to challenges that arise&nbsp;</li>
<li>Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint)</li>
<li>Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute</li>
<li>Willingness to travel</li>
</ul>
The Great Plains Institute is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
&nbsp;
EQUIPMENT USED:
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY: &nbsp;
Required application materials&nbsp;include a resume and one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.

Program Manager, Utility and Regulatory Innovation

Program/Role: Vice President of Energy Systems
Location: WFH Flexible, Minneapolis, MN. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN.
Reports to: Executive Vice President (EVP reports to the CEO)
Type of Position: Full time position
Ideal start date: July 17, 2023&nbsp;
Compensation: Salary range: $164K-$189K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, and transformative:
&nbsp;
Trusted.&nbsp;We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.&nbsp;
Inclusive.&nbsp;We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable.&nbsp;We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
Transformative.&nbsp;We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.
&nbsp;
THIS POSITION:&nbsp;
GPI seeks an experienced, collaborative, highly networked professional to lead our Energy Systems program. This program&rsquo;s goal is to enable a net-zero carbon emissions energy system that can support the country&rsquo;s energy needs, including the additional load brought on by the electrification of other energy uses. We are also working to decarbonize the end uses of natural gas and hydrogen. We take a systems-level approach to achieve our goals, working at multiple scales and with a diverse range of key actors.
&nbsp;
Notably, this program fosters collaboration and problem solving through complex stakeholder engagement processes. These often involve groups of 20-100 stakeholders that meet regularly over several months to develop a shared understanding of energy and climate policy and technology issues, discuss varying perspectives on those issues, and collaborate to identify actions to address those issues. The program also provides direct assistance and advising services to state government agencies, utility regulatory commissions, and electric and gas utilities.
&nbsp;
This position is one of five vice presidents at GPI, each of whom develop and execute effective strategies for their own program areas while collaborating on cross-team and enterprise-wide initiatives. The VP for Energy Systems will lead overall strategy development and implementation around four distinct current areas of work: 1) utility business model and regulatory innovation (electric and thermal), 2) transmission and wholesale markets, 3) multi-state initiatives, and 4) individual state engagement where it is strategic to do so. Inherent in this role is continually scanning the horizon for new opportunities to increase GPI&rsquo;s impact. The successful candidate will be a proven leader who can demonstrate a holistic understanding of how the energy system is becoming more integrated and interdependent, the kinds of policy and regulatory interventions needed to decarbonize the economy, and a demonstrated ability to build high-leverage partnerships internally and externally.
&nbsp;
Our work is fast-paced, and our hardworking staff is passionate about GPI&rsquo;s mission. GPI is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
JOB DUTIES:
Leadership and Strategy
<ol>
<li>Lead strategy development and execution for the Energy Systems Team and continually seek to identify and seize synergies for impact across GPI programs.</li>
<li>Serve as an organizational leader on GPI&rsquo;s Management Team, working with fellow VPs, the EVP, CEO, and CFO to maintain enterprise-wide clarity, alignment, and consistent advancement of GPI&rsquo;s vision, mission, values, strategic priorities, and policies.</li>
<li>Lead and coordinate the Energy Systems team&rsquo;s contribution to GPI&rsquo;s annual and multi-year strategy review and development, including an annual work plan for the team consistent with GPI&rsquo;s overall strategic plan.</li>
<li>Represent GPI and the Energy Systems teams&rsquo; programmatic work in both public and private settings.</li>
<li>Lead on a discrete portfolio of high-impact program work while supporting and advising on the team&rsquo;s full program portfolio. In other words, this role requires the VP to help on projects and fully lead initiatives where needed (see Programmatic Work section below). The role requires someone who will &ldquo;do the work&rdquo; in addition to overseeing the team&rsquo;s work as a whole.</li>
<li>Support effective, well-integrated enterprise-wide functions by working closely with Finance &amp; Administration, Comms, Development, and Research staff to advance GPI&rsquo;s mission and strategy, and programmatic goals.</li>
<li>Provide information to the Board and help carry out board-directed initiatives as requested by the CEO and board chair.</li>
</ol>
Management and Staff Development
<ol>
<li>Provide leadership for the Energy Systems team while supporting team member development and cross-team collaboration.</li>
<li>Help implement internal policies and practices that lead to accountability and excellence at both the team and enterprise level.</li>
<li>Lead fundraising efforts for the team and support fundraising for GPI broadly, in close coordination with the EVP, Development team and the CEO.</li>
<li>Cultivate a strong working relationship with the other VPs and with the EVP to help shape program strategy, find synergies across the Teams, and identify adjustments in strategic direction as needed, etc.</li>
<li>Anticipate and prevent departmental and organizational challenges when possible, and constructively address them when they arise.</li>
<li>Oversee development of Impact Measures for the team and contribute to impact measurement for the enterprise as a whole (including quantitative and qualitative measures) as part of organization-wide program evaluation.</li>
<li>Lead by example and help steward a strong organizational culture that is rated highly by GPI colleagues. This includes promoting a culture of high performance, respectful candor, and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to excellence.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Provide mentorship to team members and foster their professional development.</li>
<li>Anticipate and oversee the Energy Systems team&rsquo;s staffing&mdash;including succession planning&mdash;while helping to implement GPI&rsquo;s adopted Equity Policy Statement and work plan.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Monitor staff workloads and resource needs to ensure that the team has the resources it needs, staff resources are efficiently utilized, project needs are met and problems in staffing are addressed in a timely manner. Recommend to the EVP staff reassignments or other changes as warranted.</li>
</ol>
Programmatic Work
<ol>
<li>Maintain and expand a network of organizations and individuals who can participate in, support, or otherwise inform the work of the Energy Systems program.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Provide expert advisory support and strategic problem-solving guidance to project partners and clients, which may include utilities, regulatory commissions, and state agencies and officials.</li>
<li>Serve as a lead facilitator or co-facilitator for engagement meetings of various sizes and purposes, from large public meetings to smaller groups seeking consensus or negotiating.</li>
<li>Develop, review, and provide feedback to programmatic written documents including meeting summaries and policy recommendations.</li>
</ol>
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
<ul>
<li>Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute.</li>
<li>Proven track record: Proven experience in an executive role. Evidence of exceeding goals and the ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; the ability to balance the ambitions of GPI&rsquo;s work with the realities of a budget and individual workloads; and problem solving, project management and creative resourcefulness.</li>
<li>Strategic vision and agility: The ability to think strategically, maintain internal and external situational awareness of the environment in which GPI is operating, anticipate future needs, trends, and consequences, and incorporate them into the team&rsquo;s and GPI&rsquo;s strategy and organizational planning and execution.</li>
<li>Empathetic servant leadership: Exceptional capacity for managing and leading people and problem solving to elicit the best in them; a team-builder who has experience in helping teams achieve impact; ability to connect with colleagues both on an individual level and in large groups; capacity to enforce accountability, develop and empower high-performing leaders, cultivate entrepreneurship, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of the team to put people in a position to succeed.</li>
<li>Action Orientation: Has a bias toward action, well-informed by consultation and good communication; ability to act and react as necessary, even if limited information is available; not afraid to confront conflict when it arises, and able to stand behind decisions (even unpopular ones) as long as relevant others have had the opportunity to offer input and get their questions answered.</li>
<li>General Management: Understanding of, and broad experience in, managing complex professional teams, including strategic planning, budgeting, program development, communications, fundraising, research, impact measurement, and staff development and succession planning.</li>
<li>Communication Skills, including High Emotional Intelligence: Excellent verbal, written, analytical, problem-solving and public speaking skills; Ability to effectively present information to staff colleagues, funders (and potential funders), board members and public groups; ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of individuals both internally and externally with a high degree of diplomacy and emotional intelligence; Ability to represent GPI in a professional manner; and able to keep privileged information confidential.</li>
<li>Relevant Educational Background &amp; Experience: Undergraduate degree and a deep understanding of the clean energy and climate field as it relates to the electricity and thermal sectors required (advanced degree in relevant field or comparable experience preferred).</li>
<li>Previous Experience: 10+ years of experience in energy and management with a holistic understanding of how the energy system is becoming more integrated and interdependent, the kinds of policy and regulatory interventions needed to decarbonize the economy, and a demonstrated ability to build high-leverage partnerships internally and externally. The ideal candidate would know something about GPI, the way GPI works, and the role GPI plays in the clean energy and climate space.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Proficient in Microsoft Office&nbsp;(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint)</li>
<li>Other Job Functions: Performs other duties as are obvious or assigned. The above position description describes the general content, identifies the essential job functions, and sets forth the requirements for the performance of the position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of job functions or requirements. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested. Position responsibilities are subject to change over time to accommodate changing organizational needs.</li>
</ul>
EQUIPMENT USED:
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY: &nbsp;
Apply <a href="https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1741733">here</a>. Required application materials include a resume and one-page cover letter. We will consider applications on a rolling basis.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:&nbsp;
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.

Vice President of Energy Systems

Program/Role: Writing and Research Specialist, Energy Systems
Location: WFH Flexible. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN. Occasional travel may be required.
Reports to: Program Manager, Energy Systems&nbsp;
Type of Position: Full time position
Ideal start date: August 1, 2023
Compensation: Salary range: $50K-$70K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, and transformative:
&nbsp;
Trusted.&nbsp;We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.&nbsp;
Inclusive.&nbsp;We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable.&nbsp;We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
Transformative.&nbsp;We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.
&nbsp;
ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM AREA
The Energy Systems program area is focused on decarbonizing the economy by enabling collaboration and problem solving among electric and natural gas utilities and market operators, regulators, environmental advocates, consumer advocates, state and local governments, businesses, and other key stakeholders.
&nbsp;
We work with groups of state governor&rsquo;s offices and environmental and energy regulators to develop and implement decarbonization plans; within the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator stakeholder process on market rules and the transmission build-out; with states, utilities, and other interests to align utility business models with an affordable, reliable, and net-zero greenhouse gas energy system; with states, local governments, and other key actors to bring down the implementation costs of net-zero greenhouse gas technologies and increase consumer demand for net-zero greenhouse gas resources. &nbsp;
We foster collaboration and problem solving through complex stakeholder engagement processes. These often involve groups of 20-100 stakeholders that meet regularly over several months to develop a shared understanding of energy and climate policy and technology issues, discuss varying perspectives on those issues, and collaborate to identify actions to address those issues.
&nbsp;
Our team has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are self-starters, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
&nbsp;
THIS POSITION
This position will support various Energy Systems projects through a variety of writing and secondary research tasks, including note-taking, report-writing, blog-writing, developing slide decks, developing and administering surveys, and conducting secondary research on topics of interest to GPI and its stakeholder groups.
&nbsp;
For a typical stakeholder engagement process, this position would attend all stakeholder meetings to take meeting notes, assist with developing a written summary after each meeting that can be sent to attendees, and assist with developing a final process summary that describes the overall process and outcomes. Process summaries vary in detail and length from around 10 pages for a high-level summary, to upwards of 100 pages for a detailed summary that may include a description of modeling results and several detailed recommendations.
&nbsp;
The ideal candidate will have excellent writing, research, and oral communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal relationship skills that will support working with a variety of people on challenging issues. In addition, the ideal candidate should have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities, use effective methods for time management and prioritization of tasks, maintain organization and attention to detail, and possess the ability to identify and address urgent and important needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Familiarity with state level energy policy, state climate action planning, energy system decarbonization, or electric or gas utility business models and regulation is desired. In addition, the ideal candidate will exhibit attention to detail in their daily work.
&nbsp;
Hours may be flexible and are typically Monday through Friday during the business day; evenings and weekends may be required at times.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
NOTE: While GPI conducts primary research and analysis on a variety of topics, this position is entirely focused on secondary research. This position is not a good fit for someone who would like to conduct primary research and analysis activities.
&nbsp;
JOB DUTIES:
Writing and Research Assistance (85% of time):&nbsp;The Energy Systems program area convenes many stakeholder groups that meet regularly. The primary role of this position is to support those groups with note-taking, writing, and secondary research tasks, including but not limited to the following, and at the direction of program staff:
<ol>
<li>Take notes during stakeholder meetings, making sure to capture key discussion points in an organized fashion. After meetings, work with program staff to clean up notes and send to stakeholders for review.</li>
<li>After individual meetings, assist with writing meeting summaries capturing the key take-aways from the meeting and send to stakeholders for review.</li>
<li>After the conclusion of a stakeholder engagement process (i.e., a series of meetings), assist with writing process summary documents outlining the process followed, issues discussed, and areas of consensus and disagreement. In addition, describe modeling and other activities that were conducted to inform stakeholder discussions. Work with GPI staff and stakeholders to revise these summaries over multiple iterations of edits.</li>
<li>Assist with developing surveys to solicit stakeholder feedback on both process design and policy issues; consolidate, organize, and summarize survey feedback. Present feedback during stakeholder meetings as needed.</li>
<li>Review large documents and sets of information, such as in regulatory dockets and state and federal legislative bills, and organize and summarize that information for GPI staff, clients, and stakeholder groups.</li>
<li>Conduct secondary research in response to questions raised by GPI&rsquo;s stakeholder groups. Develop written and visual materials to convey complex policy topics to stakeholder groups for discussion. Present results of research in stakeholder meetings to inform discussions, while maintaining a neutral perspective on policy issues.</li>
<li>Track policy developments on topics and/or in locations of interest to GPI&rsquo;s work and alert relevant staff to those developments.</li>
<li>Write blogs on GPI&rsquo;s work and projects, including summarizing and highlighting stakeholder engagement processes and relevant updates on matters of interest to GPI&rsquo;s stakeholders.</li>
<li>Collaborate with GPI&rsquo;s communications team in developing written materials and publications that will be shared publicly.</li>
<li>Work with program staff and GPI&rsquo;s communications team to develop and update content on webpages and websites.</li>
<li>Draft social media posts that professionally communicate about GPI&rsquo;s work.</li>
<li>Format written materials in adherence to GPI&rsquo;s style guide.</li>
<li>Review written materials for grammar, punctuation, formatting, and other improvements to ensure quality of written work products.</li>
<li>Assist with writing fundraising proposals, including to philanthropic foundations, in response to competitive procurement opportunities, and for private sector consulting opportunities.</li>
<li>Communicate effectively and positively with internal colleagues, external clients and partners, and with large stakeholder groups in a timely manner and while ensuring information is clear, succinct, and accessible to all parties.</li>
<li>Assist with uploading meeting resources and materials and maintaining lists and databases of knowledge resources for multiple different stakeholder groups on GPI&rsquo;s server, in Excel spreadsheets, and in online databases.</li>
<li>Assist with drafting stakeholder meeting agendas.</li>
<li>Assist with writing communications (typically email) for stakeholder groups.</li>
</ol>
Meeting Coordination and Administrative Assistance (15% of time):&nbsp;In addition to the primary tasks of writing and research, this position may be asked during times when staff are capacity-constrained to assist with meeting coordination and administrative tasks, including the following:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Take notes during project planning meetings, making sure to capture key decisions related to timing and next steps, and disseminate notes immediately to the project planning team to clarify responsibilities for all parties.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Schedule meetings with clients, partners, and stakeholders and sending meeting invitations through Microsoft Outlook.</li>
<li>Set up virtual meetings in Microsoft Teams and Zoom.</li>
<li>Coordinate with meeting presenters and speakers in a respectful, professional, and timely manner, including coordination of PowerPoint slide decks and speaking times during all-day agendas.</li>
<li>Assist with developing, assembling, and disseminating meeting materials, including agendas, nametags and/or name tents, printed resources such as reports, electronic resources such as PowerPoint slide decks, flip charts, markers, and large post-it notes.</li>
<li>Assist with meeting execution, including setting up and staffing welcome tables with name tags and meeting materials, testing A/V equipment, and ensuring that food and beverages arrive as scheduled.</li>
<li>Respond in a timely and positive manner to requests for assistance from GPI staff, partners, clients, and stakeholders during meetings.</li>
<li>Travel to meetings and assist with transporting materials to and from meetings. Currently, most meetings are virtual, but in the future plane travel will be required.</li>
<li>Assist with developing project and program budgets.</li>
</ol>
Other Programmatic Assistance:&nbsp;As requested by the Program Managers or Vice President of the Energy Systems program area.
&nbsp;
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
<ul>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree and/or Master&rsquo;s Degree in a relevant field of study.</li>
<li>Work or academic experience related to energy policy, state climate action planning, energy utilities, or other related fields is preferred.</li>
<li>Experience with writing and secondary research</li>
<li>Strong writing, research, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills</li>
<li>Strong organizational skills and attention to detail</li>
<li>Experience, professional or otherwise, working on a diverse team and developing and maintaining relationships.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Ability to work well with people from a variety of backgrounds and political perspectives that may differ significantly from oneself.</li>
<li>Ability to work independently and follow directions</li>
<li>Time management skills with ability to prioritize a large volume of tasks and deadlines</li>
<li>Self-motivation, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn</li>
<li>Experience in using Microsoft Office.</li>
<li>Commitment to the mission of the Great Plains Institute.</li>
</ul>
The Great Plains Institute is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
&nbsp;
EQUIPMENT USED:
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset. &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY: &nbsp;
Apply <a href="https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1793118">here</a>. Required application materials include a resume and one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.

Writing and Research Specialist, Energy Systems

GREET PROGRAM SPECIALIST&nbsp;
Program/Role: Transportation &amp; Fuels/GREET Program Specialist&nbsp;
Location: WFH Flexible, Minneapolis, MN. GPI&rsquo;s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN.&nbsp;
Reports to: Vice President, Transportation &amp; Fuels&nbsp;
Type of Position: Full time position&nbsp;
Ideal start date: ASAP&nbsp;
Compensation: Salary range: $55K-$74K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE&nbsp;
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Increased demand for GPI&rsquo;s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI&rsquo;s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation&rsquo;s most respected philanthropies.
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, and transformative:&nbsp;
Trusted.&nbsp;We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
Inclusive.&nbsp;We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.&nbsp;
Pragmatic.&nbsp;We take a clear-eyed view of the world as it is, even as we seek to improve it.&nbsp;
Equitable.&nbsp;We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.&nbsp;
Transformative.&nbsp;We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
THIS POSITION:&nbsp;&nbsp;
GPI seeks a bright and highly motivated individual to lead the Transportation &amp; Fuel program&rsquo;s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) analysis efforts. Working closely with program staff and Argonne National Laboratory GREET researchers, the Specialist will stay apprised of GREET model updates, develop training materials, and co-develop a train-the-trainer program to train additional analysts on the model. They will serve as GPI&rsquo;s go-to resource on the GREET model and advise on analysis projects using the model.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Our work is fast-paced, and our hardworking staff is passionate about GPI&rsquo;s mission and the environment in general. The Transportation &amp; Fuels team is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
JOB DUTIES:&nbsp;
(50%) GREET Expertise:&nbsp;Working closely with Argonne National Laboratory GREET researchers, the specialist will be responsible for understanding and staying up to date on the next generation of the GREET model and modules. They will understand the key functionalities, model structure, simulation steps and workflows, data management and processes, and unique modeling features for specific technology areas, including hydrogen, electricity, and sustainable aviation fuel.&nbsp;&nbsp;
(30%) GREET Program Development &amp; Instruction:&nbsp;Working closely with Argonne National Laboratory GREET researchers, consultants, and GPI staff, the specialist will develop a GREET train-the-trainer program. Specific activities will include:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Assist with identifying organizations interested in hosting GREET trainers&nbsp;</li>
<li>Assist with recruiting prospective trainers, screening them, and selecting a cohort of 20 initial trainers&nbsp;</li>
<li>Develop training materials, including frequently asked questions and tutorial videos&nbsp;</li>
<li>Conduct hands-on training to a cohort of 20 trainers and provide on-demand technical assistance&nbsp;</li>
<li>Support regional training sessions led by the cohort of 20 trainers&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
(15%) GREET Research and Analysis:&nbsp;Using knowledge of the GREET model, the specialist will advise on research and analysis projects across GPI with particular attention to projects housed within the Transportation &amp; Fuels program. They will also work with consultants on additional lifecycle assessment analyses.&nbsp;
(5%) Fundraising:&nbsp;The specialist will support fundraising activities led by the Transportation &amp; Fuels program, including narrative contributions for grants, contracts, and reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Other programmatic assistance:&nbsp;As requested by their supervisor or Senior Program Manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and communicate them to various audiences&nbsp;</li>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree in mechanical engineering, physics, or related field or relevant proven skills and experience&nbsp;</li>
<li>Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute&nbsp;</li>
<li>Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills, as well as ability to prepare and convey technical material in concise, plain language&nbsp;</li>
<li>Excellent time, deadline, and project management skills with ability to multi-task&nbsp;</li>
<li>Experience with specific applications in carbon and emissions accounting like GREET Experience working on a diverse team and with different communication styles&nbsp;</li>
<li>Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Self-motivated&nbsp;</li>
<li>Skilled at math, data management, spreadsheet analysis, graphical data interpretation&nbsp;</li>
<li>Technical problem-solving skills: ability to identify solutions to challenges that arise&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Experience in environmental science areas such as lifecycle assessment, soil carbon, land use, or forestry&nbsp;</li>
<li>Experience with analytical and/or computer programming software packages such as JavaScript, Python, R, and GIS&nbsp;</li>
<li>Experience developing and conducting training programs on technical applications&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
EQUIPMENT USED:&nbsp;
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:&nbsp;
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HOW TO APPLY:
Required application materials&nbsp;include a resume and one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until filled.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:&nbsp;&nbsp;
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It&rsquo;s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer&nbsp;and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.

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