REAP Job Announcement

Microgrid Project Manager, Anchorage

Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is seeking a Microgrid Project Manager to work with remote Alaskan communities, national laboratories and other partners to help transition rural microgrids to more resilient energy systems.

Location: Location: Anchorage, Alaska, with 8-12 trips annually across Alaska. The Microgrid Project Manager will have the opportunity to work from home in the greater Anchorage area, with occasional in-person meetings and travel, as required. Full-time office space is available in REAP’s office in The Boardroom at Denali Tower in Midtown Anchorage.

Responsible to: The Microgrid Project Manager reports to REAP’s Community Programs Director and will work closely with the other Microgrid Project Manager and the national laboratories.

Background: REAP is the only nonprofit in Alaska with a statewide focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy education and advocacy. REAP is a coalition of over 60 businesses, electric utilities, developers, Alaska Native organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and local governments. Since its founding in 2004, REAP has worked to educate policy makers and the public on important energy issues. Visit http://alaskarenewableenergy.org to learn more.

The Microgrid Project Manager’s work directly supports REAP’s responsibilities as the Alaska Regional Partner for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP). ETIPP provides strategic energy planning, in-depth technical assistance, and cash awards to remote communities to improve their energy resilience. ETIPP is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The program is supported by a network of four national laboratories and nine regional partner organizations that provide modeling, analysis, capacity building, education, and regional insight to support communities in developing secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Assist communities and NREL in program outreach, applications, selection, and onboarding processes
• Lead multiple complex projects through the entire lifecycle (12-24 months), including offboarding and follow up
• Coordinate, deliver, and facilitate community energy education, engagement, and outreach
• Listen and understand the needs of selected communities
• Connect communities to resources, including funding opportunities, training, education, subject matter experts, etc.
• Serve as a resource for knowledge and expertise around localized culture, energy, stakeholders, economics, and ther regional characteristics to the national labs and other patterns from outside Alaska
• Serve as a liaison and advocate between national lab technical staff and community representatives to ensure scoping and project implementation meet community needs
• Manage relationships between diverse community stakeholder groups, local utilities, technical lab team members outside Alaska and other partners
• Facilitate and/or lead the strategic energy planning process with rural Alaskan communities
• Facilitate the formation and progress of regional and national knowledge-sharing networks
• Collaborate with NREL and REAP staff to provide feedback to improve state-wide and national ETIPP program

Minimum Qualifications:

We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at REAP to apply for this role. Ideal candidates should demonstrate an interest in climate and energy, an ability to think critically about energy issues, and a desire to learn about Alaska’s energy ecosystem.

• Two to five years of experience in a relevant field
• Ability to co-manage a program including record keeping, organization, attention to detail, and critical thinking
• Experience working with Indigenous and/or rural communities, especially Alaska Native communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to engage and collaborate with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds
• Strong interpersonal communications and relationship-building skills
• Budget oversight, deliverable tracking, and coordination of professionals and partners across disciplines
• Self-motivated, team-oriented and excited to travel to rural communities
• Proficiency in standard office IT (Microsoft, Adobe, Google, Mac, Dropbox, etc.)
• Experience facilitating workshops and meetings
• Experience working, living, or traveling in rural Alaska or equivalent cross-cultural environments

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

We highly value candidates with knowledge of microgrids, isolated power systems, and rural utility operations. Ideal candidates will possess one or more of the following qualifications:

• Previous experience with technical assistance opportunities
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization
• Knowledge of Alaskan energy institutions, infrastructure, and funding mechanisms
• Experience working with nonprofits
• Knowledge of microgrid technologies and operations, including distributed energy resources, grid integration, control systems, grid management, energy distribution, and infrastructure development in rural or remote communities
• Hands-on experience with energy projects in rural or isolated areas, particularly in Alaska or similar regions
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and policies relevant to renewable energy and rural utility operations in Alaska (ie. PCE, IPPs, PPAs)

Working Conditions: Most work will be done in a traditional office environment. At times, the Microgrid Project Manager may work in remote locations in variable weather conditions on difficult terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. This position will require travel by jet and small plane.

Compensation: This is a permanent full-time position. $65,000-$75,000 +, depending on experience and qualifications. Includes escalating paid personal leave starting at three weeks and going up to six weeks/year, 14 paid holidays, a 15% no-match required retirement contribution, and optional access to a wellness benefit, as well as personal communication expense reimbursement and continuing education budget. REAP does not have a health care plan.

Application Process: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please email the following five items to Sarah Brey at sbrey@realaska.org

1. cover letter
2. résumé
3. at least one letter of recommendation
4. 2-4 additional references
5. writing sample

Application Deadline: Complete applications for this position will be accepted until Thursday, May 8, with an ideal start date by or before June 2nd, 2025.

REAP follows the spirit and intent of all federal, state and local employment law and is committed to equal employment opportunity. REAP is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, political af iliation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law.

Interested applicants can access a PDF version of this job announcement on REAP’s resource library here.