Manager of Community Energy Planning and Policy

The Manager of Community Energy Planning & Policy is responsible for planning and implementing A Climate to Thrive’s (ACTT) projects, educational programs, engagement, statewide collaborations, policy work, and general strategy related to community-led energy work. Areas within this work include community-driven renewable energy, energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, demand management projects, as well as participating in grid planning, state and municipal policy processes, and more. ACTT’s focus within energy work is increasing community ownership, ensuring that benefits flow to the communities involved, building resilience and reliability, and addressing inequity and affordability issues related to energy access.

The Manager collaborates closely with the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience, the Executive Director, and ACTT’s Board of Directors to inform strategic planning for ACTT as a whole and collaborates closely with the Executive Director to identify and secure supportive funding. The Manager will have the opportunity to support other team members, including interns and potentially coordinator positions, and work closely with volunteers, collaborators across the state, and community members broadly.

Qualifications

This position requires strong communication skills; ability to articulate vision; creativity; and skill in both collaboration and independent, self-driven work. An eagerness to learn from and seek connection with diverse personalities is essential. The ideal candidate will have familiarity with energy planning, policy, and projects and with the intersection between energy work, addressing climate change, building local resilience, and community engagement and affordable energy access. Comfort with public speaking is essential.

ACTT’s work is highly emergent in nature and we seek individuals who are comfortable engaging in emergent processes, in which action sometimes must begin before an entire pathway is mapped. ACTT is based in a small island community and engages in a balance of work focused in the local community and statewide work. We seek a candidate who is comfortable living and working in a small, seasonal community.

We are also seeking individuals who are interested in exploring shared leadership models and becoming engaged in shaping the work culture and collaborative learning and leadership experience.

Logistics

1. Full-time position.
2. Starting salary between $60,00 and $70,000 depending on experience, with room for near-term salary growth.
3. Work out of ACTT’s office space with the option of occasional work-from-home hours.
4. Benefits: health insurance monthly stipend of $250 is available through ACTT’s QSHERA option. Dental and vision insurance is also available.
5. Paid time off and holidays: ACTT has an unlimited paid time off policy. Under this policy, it is asked that staff work to ensure their time off is planned with advance communication wherever possible and with respect for work demands and flow. The policy is reviewed annually. ACTT recognizes all federal and state holidays.

Hiring timeline and how to apply

This job is being posted on October 21, 2025 and will remain open until the position is filled. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Our ideal timeline is to begin a new team member in this position in early January 2026. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to ACTT Executive Director Johannah Blackman at [email protected]. Thank you!

About ACTT

How we transition off fossil fuels matters. Within this transition lies an opportunity to build empowered, equitable, collaborative, and resilient communities. A Climate to Thrive (ACTT) dwells in that opportunity. ACTT works towards energy independence for Mount Desert Island by 2030 through decentralized, local, renewable energy solutions including efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy generation. We seek solutions that build community ownership and equity and bring the community together around shared goals and priorities. We prioritize collaboration within and beyond the MDI community and actively work to build a network of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action throughout the state of Maine. We are committed to climate justice through building systems of inclusion, increasing equity and ownership of climate solutions and participation in the development of those solutions, and through an intersectional approach to climate work. ACTT is also committed to the empowerment of young climate leaders and the broadening of the climate movement and cultivates both through internships, educational programs, and volunteer opportunities. Join this vibrant community committed to climate change action and solutions, dedicated to the pursuit of climate justice, and driven by ambitious, science-based goals! Read more at aclimatetothrive.org

About the ACTT work culture

Across roles, ACTT staff support one another to create synergy between projects. Our approach is nimble, collaborative, and not driven by ego, emphasizing forward motion over perfection. Staff take ownership for implementing an iterative set of programs that are constantly evolving to respond to feedback and changing conditions. ACTT is intentional about creating a culture where staff can sustain their whole selves within their work by extending flexibility, empathy, and trust.