• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $155,000-$175,000

Position Summary

The Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs seeks a Director of Non-Technical Barriers to provide executive-level administrative, operational, and strategic support to the technical and policy team members working on reducing the hurdles that impede the execution of clean energy infrastructure. While there is currently significant support and funding for such initiatives at the Federal level, there are a series of implementation challenges, rooted in legal and regulatory barriers, lack of understanding of market rules and economic incentives, and crippled by lack of social acceptance of clean energy technologies, and how to responsibly and equitably make them accessible to communities. The Director of Non-Technical Barriers will play an instrumental role in building and leveraging relationships and subject matter expertise across the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University more broadly, and beyond campus to enable the Center to identify potential pathways to address and eliminate these obstacles to implementing clean energy infrastructure in support of informed decision-making at the federal, state, and local levels.

The position will engage at a high level with key stakeholders, both within and beyond the university. Strong verbal and written communication, as well as cultural awareness skills, are required.

Responsibilities

Lead the Non-Technical Barriers Initiative, working with the CGEP leadership team. This would include:

• Oversees daily operations of the Initiative and fostering a collaborative team environment
• Represents the Initiative as an officer of the University at internal and external functions
• Serves as the point of contact for media, policy, and corporate inquiries
• Responsibility for budget and project outcomes

Collaborates with the Center on Global Energy Policy and University leadership to identify, create and implement strategic plans to support the execution of the Non-Technical Barriers Initiative. Contribute to the development of related ongoing and future work at the Center.

Provides linkages between other areas of ongoing work across the School of International and Public Affairs as well as the Climate School, Earth Institute, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy, and Columbia University more broadly.

Hires, mentors, and manages an Associate Director who will assist with the execution of the Non-Technical Barriers Initiative mission and work plan.

Develops partnerships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including partners across Columbia University, within New York State, and across the United States and North America including members spanning the energy ecosystem.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of directly related experience in energy policy, government relations, non-technical barriers, or other related fields.
• Exceptional project management skills, including experience managing complex research and communication projects of varying sizes, with competing timelines and diverse internal and external contributors.
• Strong analytical skills to solve complex problems with excellent judgment based on analysis of multiple sources of information.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision on complex assignments, with a high degree of initiative and independent judgment.
• Strong capability to write, present, and communicate complex concepts to diverse stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
• Passion for collaboration, forward-thinking, and building community, skills, and awareness among students, fellows, policymakers, and colleagues.
• Demonstrated experience translating information into general terms and helping others understand the impact, including influencing and communicating effectively at a high level.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in linking policy objectives to broader societal and economic impacts.
• Support and foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
• Some domestic and international travel for meetings and conferences will be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s in relevant field or JD, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise and leadership experience in energy policy deployment and analysis.
• Experience collaborating with State and/or Federal stakeholders.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.