Job Description
Who We Are:
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
Who We Are as an Employer:
At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.
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Description:
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs seeks applicants for the position of Director of Climate Resilience and Finance. The Director of Climate Resilience and Finance will report to the Assistant Secretary for Resilience and coordinate cross-government implementation of the ResilientMass Plan and administration of the inter-agency ResilientMass Action Team. They will lead efforts to identify, prioritize, develop, and implement strategies to increase investments in actions that build state and local resilience to climate change in a manner that centers environmental justice and equity.
The Director will coordinate across the EEA Climate Team, and leadership and staff across agencies and with local partners to advance and mainstream climate change resilience into policy and practice. Key initiatives include coordinated implementation of priority and whole-of-government actions in the ResilientMass Plan and implementing the newly developed ResilientMass Funding and Finance Strategy that identifies new revenue sources and finance mechanisms to catalyze and increase the capacity of the Commonwealth's municipal and agency resilience investments. The Director will also coordinate with EEA Finance on expanding implementation of resiliency through the capital planning process.
Responsibilities include:
- Lead strategic implementation and updates of the ResilientMass Plan
- Lead implementation of the newly developed ResilientMass Metrics framework, including development and implementation of a strategy for informing ResilientMass agency actions and annual capital funding allocations, and local resilience funding programs.
- Support strategic development of the resilient.mass.gov website to ensure accessibility and actionability for users, and that MA is communicating progress and telling a clear story of its implementation of ResilientMass. As part of this effort, develop a strategy to host and update resilience metrics on the website to track and communicate progress on implementation, including annual tracking and improvements.
- Coordinate with EEA Finance to administer and improve annual ResilientMass capital budget allocations to EEA and non-EEA agencies, including identification of agency needs, and ensuring prioritization of funding in alignment with ResilientMass Metrics framework.
- Co-lead efforts to develop and integrate resilience standards for buildings and infrastructure into state policy and grantmaking.
- Co-lead development and implementation of future updates of the MA Climate Assessment and ResilientMass Plan, along with partners in the MA Emergency Management Agency.
- Support planning and leadership of the inter-agency ResilientMass Action Team meetings.
- Lead implementation of the ResilientMass Climate Funding and Finance Strategy
- In partnership with a consultant team, OCIR, A&F, EEA Finance, and other stakeholders, lead the development and implementation of the climate resilience finance strategy that identifies new funding sources, partners, and equitable distribution models to increase capacity for and impact of agency and municipal resilience investments through federal, state, and private funding sources.
- Co-lead efforts with EEA Finance and A&F to improve integration of resilience evaluation into the annual capital planning process and across agency grantmaking.
- Serve as a climate finance resource across EEA, staying up to date on latest best practices related to climate funding and finance, and application to climate policy and grant programs; proactively identify opportunities for informing and advancing Climate team programs.
- In coordination with MVP, EEA Finance, and staff from other resilience grant funding programs (e.g., programs run by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, EEA's Office of Coastal Zone Management, and EEA's Department of Ecological Restoration, among others), build out resources for local communities and state agencies on how to leverage various sources of funding to implement their climate resilience projects.
- Support coordination and strategic next steps of resilience policy and implementation
- Support efforts to elevate and coordinate state action on heat preparedness
- Co-lead monthly resilience coordination meetings of relevant EEA staff
- Support coordination across climate adaptation team, including how the MVP team and program and Office of Climate Science support and inform one another, and inform relevant policy discussions.
- Manage a contracted intern/ fellow
Preferred Qualifications:
- At least 3-5 years experience in state government, policy or program management and/or related climate adaptation topics.
- Climate adaptation and policy background and understanding of the field and emerging best practices, with specific background or expertise preferred in state climate resilience planning and climate finance and funding opportunities
- Understanding of federal and state funding programs and policies, particularly those related to climate change, infrastructure, environmental justice, and community resilience.
- Knowledge of financial mechanisms including innovative financing models, with a focus on ensuring equitable access to resources.
- Experience managing complex projects in a team environment, including working across programs and agencies, developing project plans and managing timelines, vendor contracts and budgets.
- General working knowledge of executive branch organization and procedures; ability to quickly learn about a broad variety of energy and environmental programs.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to interact with public and stakeholders respectfully and appropriately, and to translate complex information and recommendations for policymakers.
- Experience in addressing and centering environmental justice communities and concerns and promoting equitable outcomes.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including community-based organizations.
- Proactive and results-oriented mindset, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
- Passionate about climate resilience, environmental justice, and a commitment to advancing collaborative, impactful, and equitable climate action.
Qualifications
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.