REAP Job Announcement:
Community Energy Educator
Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is seeking a Community Energy Educator to serve as the Regional Energy Catalyst for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP). The Community Energy Educator will work with other SSP regional and community catalysts to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout Southeast Alaska through education, community outreach, and collaboration with REAP’s staff and partners. The Community Energy Educator will interface regularly with teachers, school administrators, utilities, agency personnel, developers, nonprofits, civic and business leaders, and Tribes in Southeast Alaska. The Community Energy Educator will work within a network of organizations with varying goals and practices to find common-ground solutions, mediate conflicts, and build lasting collaborative partnerships.
Location: Juneau (preferred) or Sitka, Alaska, with travel across Southeast Alaska and to Anchorage. REAP works in a hybrid environment and currently has an office space in Juneau.
Responsible to: The Community Energy Educator reports to REAP’s Community Programs Director and works closely with REAP’s Energy Education Director. They will also work closely with other REAP staff, the SSP Director, SSP Regional Catalysts and SSP Community Catalysts.
Background: Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP): REAP is the only non-profit in Alaska with a statewide focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency education and advocacy. Headquartered in Anchorage, REAP is a coalition of over 60 electric utilities, businesses, clean energy developers, conservation groups, Alaska Native organizations, educational institutions and local governments. Since its founding in 2004, REAP has worked to educate policy makers and the public through collaborative outreach, presentations, conferences, public forums, earned media, in-person meetings and other events. Visit http://alaskarenewableenergy.org to learn more.
REAP is a leader in energy education, workforce development, and community capacity support and is working to holistically apply these focus areas when engaging with communities across the state, and specifically in Southeast Alaska in partnership with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP). REAP works closely with national laboratories, the U.S. Department of Energy and other partners to offer specific programs that coordinate utility trainings; connect communities with technical assistance; provide community energy planning support; act as the Energy Catalyst for the SSP; and build and promote clean energy career pathways through workforce partnerships. The Community Energy Educator would provide strategic direction and supervision of REAP’s related community programs and staff to facilitate further collaborations across programs, partners, and communities.
Background: Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP)
The SSP develops the capacity of Southeast Alaska communities and creates projects that model triple-bottom-line approaches to sustainable development. SSP has a unique structure. Community Catalysts are employed by partner organizations and tribes to help local residents design and deploy projects to address community priorities. Regional Catalysts, employed by entities with specific expertise. work closely with community catalysts to identify and implement projects targeting improved food security, energy independence, natural resources, and economic sustainability. Current SSP Community Catalysts operate mostly in the Alaska Native communities of Angoon, Craig, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Juneau, Kake, Kasaan, Klawock, Klukwan, Sitka, Skagway, Pelican, and Yakutat. Visit www.sustainablesoutheast.net to learn more.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Promoting and delivering REAP’s K-12 and adult energy education curricula
- Selecting indicators of change in energy literacy and identifying projects intended to increase it
- Working with SSP Community Catalysts on project planning, implementation and monitoring
- Planning and executing approximately 12 outreach trips per year to SSP communities
- Attending standing meetings with SSP Catalysts
- Attending regular meetings with REAP education and capacity development staff and meeting regularly with REAP’s Community Programs Director and Energy Education Director
- Developing blog updates, quarterly reports, year-end reports, and other written and web materials
- Collecting photos, videos, interviews, etc. for use in outreach efforts
- Organizing and delivering summer energy camps across Southeast Alaska
- Supporting grant writing and reporting
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or five years of experience in a relevant field
- Experience working with, or knowledge of, Indigenous and/or rural communities in Alaska
- Experience teaching science and/or energy concepts or an educational background in science and energy
- Proficiency communicating with the public both in writing and verbally
- Strong interpersonal communications and relationship-building skills
- Experience with cultivating funding and technical assistance opportunities
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects including budgets, and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners across multiple disciplines
- A high degree of self-motivation and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
- A willingness to travel and work across Southeast Alaska approximately 1-2x/month
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Mac, and other standard office technology
- Well-organized and able to meet multiple deadlines
- Demonstrated leadership abilities
Additional Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience developing or editing K-12 curriculum
- Experience leading workshops, facilitating meetings, and making presentations
- Experience and passion for working and living in Southeast Alaska
- Capacity for catalyzing engagement and collaboration with diverse entities, individuals, or groups
- Knowledge of Alaskan energy institutions and infrastructure
- Experience working with nonprofits
- Experience in social media, storytelling, photography, video production, and marketing
Working Conditions: The Educator will be the only REAP employee in Southeast Alaska. At times, the Educator may work at remote locations in variable weather conditions on difficult terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. This position will require travel by jet, seaplane, and ferry to rural communities in Southeast Alaska.
Compensation: This is a permanent full-time position. Salary is $65,000-$75,000+, depending on experience and qualifications. The position receives paid personal leave and holidays, no-match required 15% retirement contribution and optional access to a wellness benefit, as well as personal communication expense reimbursements and a continuing education budget.
Application Deadline: REAP is looking for applicants who can start on or around February 10, 2025. Applications for this position will be accepted until 5pm on January 24, 2025, with initial interviews scheduled shortly thereafter. Applications will be considered and interviews scheduled as they are received.
Application Process: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please email the following five items to Sarah Brey at sbrey@realaska.org
- cover letter
- résumé
- at least one letter of recommendation
- 2-4 additional references
- writing sample