Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

THE MISSION

In the race to combat climate change, time is of the essence. The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is investing billions of dollars in projects that will play an essential role in achieving the world’s net-zero goals, deploying next-generation energy technologies across America. OCED’s mission is to deliver clean energy demonstration projects at scale in partnership with the private sector to accelerate market adoption, deployment, and the equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system.

If you want to be a significant player in this space, we’re offering an opportunity you can’t afford to ignore.

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DEPARTMENT

The OCED Engagement Office (EO) was formed with the recognition that a wide variety of external partners and stakeholders are critical to both the success of OCED’s demonstrations and broader commercialization objectives. EO integrates across OCED’s multi-technology portfolio, structuring outreach and engagement to help manage portfolio risk, increase direct and indirect program outcomes, and achieve scaling objectives. Engagement activities are designed to both proactively and passively ingest learnings and feedback from a diverse base of stakeholders, synthesize and share findings across OCED, and mobilize specific resources that can help to manage risk and deepen program outcomes and impact. 

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the lead for engagement with assigned OCED program and ensure OCED is effectively conducting ongoing outreach to key stakeholder groups, including but not limited to: industry, state, local, tribal governments, unions and investors to build the relationships and buy-in necessary for successful demonstration projects. Refine and implement the program Engagement Strategy and work closely with the OCED Engagement Office and Program Managers on goal setting, engagement planning and execution.
• Regularly conduct outreach and engagements to key stakeholders to receive feedback and input and to share insights and learnings. Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders relative to OCED programs by leading engagement activities including but not limited to: attending conferences, participating in panel discussions, hosting webinars, sharing regular updates with stakeholders and more.
• Work closely with the OCED Community Engagement Specialist for your program in designing and implementing community engagements, including workshops and meetings.
• Maintain current knowledge of market actors and trends relevant to assigned OCED program to ensure OCED is maximizing engagements to advance demonstration projects and stay ahead of risks.
• Lead and collaborate closely with OCED Program Managers and Communications team on event/workshop planning and execution. Oversee contractor support and brief OCED leadership on plans. Staff OCED leadership where participation in these events occurs, including drafting talking points and memo content, and recommending side meetings.
• Collaborate with OCED Energy Justice Liaisons and Program Managers to manage the execution of OCED’s Justice40 and Community Benefits Plan requirements.
• Coordinate closely with OCED Communications team to develop and execute strategic communications plans that reach OCED’s key stakeholders. Share potential concerns and risks related to the public and media.
• Work with the OCED Legislative Affairs team to identify opportunities for engagements with Congress and develop these into concepts for leadership review. Share potential concerns and risks related to Congress with OCED legislative affairs.
• Work closely with other DOE staff to coordinate engagement approaches where appropriate to maximize impact and efficiency (e.g., to avoid DOE reaching out to the same stakeholders on the same/similar topic frequently). Ensure feedback from engagements is shared in a timely manner within OCED and with other DOE staff, as appropriate.
• Ensure that OCED’s engagement tracker is updated consistently with activities and stakeholder contacts.

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CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Possess and maintain strong organization, coordination, listening, public speaking, written communication, and collaboration skills.
• Gain the respect of peers and within a leadership team, forge strategic alliances, influence peers across the department to achieve OCED goals.
• Ability to effectively discern pathways of action through changing and complex situations; ability to pivot and refine pathways as situations and markets change.
• Ability to design processes and facilitate complex groups of participants.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (including but not limited to Sharepoint, Teams, Outlook, Dynamic365).
• Previous Direct Air Capture (DAC) project experience required.

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