The Sector Leader, Building Decarbonization will manage initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings. This position requires developing and implementing financing programs for energy efficiency upgrades, weatherization programs, green mortgages, electrification projects, and renewable energy installations. The leader will work closely with partners to ensure that these projects are accessible to low-income and disadvantaged communities, fostering environmental justice while promoting economic benefits like lower energy costs and job creation. The program is expected to decarbonize tens of thousands of homes and buildings, leading to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency across the nation.
WHO We Are:
Self-Help started in 1980 with a focus on economic inequality especially in communities that have faced systemic barriers in building wealth. At the core of what Self-Help does is a drive to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity.
Since our founding, we’ve constantly sought new ways to pursue greater economic justice: from providing fair and affordable loans, working with partners to demand that lawmakers change unjust policies, and ensuring an equitable clean energy future.
The Climate Capital team’s charge is to deliver clean energy products, technology, and services to underserved communities as a part of Self-Help’s membership in Climate United. Climate United is a partnership of three national non-profits – Calvert Impact, The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), and Self-Help—that are complementary in their expertise and like-minded about the imperative to make sure that all Americans, particularly those bearing the greatest burden from the climate crisis, participate in and benefit from the movement to reduce carbon emissions.
We are seeking a Sector Leader, Building Decarbonization to join our Climate Capital team in Chicago, IL!
What You’ll Do
- Monitor the industry, regulatory, and tax changes to identify impacts that may affect lending programs.
- Shape Self-Help’s National Clean Investment Fund products, accounting for market demand, market feedback, and Self-Help’s risk parameters.
- Lead and coordinate internal processes to develop a robust pipeline and effectively deliver loan products in keeping with the terms of Self-Help’s National Clean Investment Fund commitments.
- Engage in industry groups, conferences, and events, forming trusted relationships with peer institutions, investors, and other industry actors.
- Contribute to policy discussions and program advocacy.
- Act as a change agent to drive Self-Help’s economic inclusion initiatives by integrating supplier diversity and the use of businesses owned by women and people of color in third-party contracting and vendor management for relevant products and services.
- Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary.
What You’ll Need
- A bachelor's degree, or equivalent, plus 7 years of experience related to clean energy, climate finance, product development, project management, or urban planning. Master's degree in a related field preferred.
- Subject matter expertise related to Building Decarbonization and broader energy efficiency and generation sectors in the residential and commercial markets.
- Contacts and existing relationships within the climate finance sector is a significant plus.
- Demonstrated experience in multiple parts of a full product lifecycle: research, market analysis; compliance review; testing; marketing; deployment; iterating.
- Prior professional experience working in clean energy/climate lending and/or investing preferred.
- Strong commitment to our mission – creating economic opportunity for traditionally underserved communities.
- Preference for working in organizations that place priority on teamwork and collaboration including ability to set priorities, organize competing priorities, and work with remote team members across the country.
- Excellent leadership skills with a proven ability to lead and motivate teammates.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, and vendors across multiple locations throughout the US.
- Proficiency in balancing multiple priorities, meet tight timelines and work effectively.
- Ability to build effective business development networks that lead to loans.
- Strong quantitative skills including the ability to spread and analyze financial statements, projections, and cash flows, and to evaluate information.
- Ability to do quick risk assessment on key financial and other factors to determine if a loan or program might be viable for Self-Help.
- Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Salesforce, and PowerPoint.
- Sensitivity to issues of low-wealth borrowers and a desire to work in a racially- and socially-diverse organization.
- Ability and willingness to travel 10-20%.
- Ability and willingness to work beyond normal work hours, as needed.
If you are interested in who we are and what we do; have a strong desire to work in an organization that places a high priority on teamwork and collaboration; and are interested in working to help create economic opportunity for all – THIS is the place for you! Click the “apply now” button to apply!
Compensation:
Competitive nonprofit compensation, based on experience, plus a generous benefits package.
Self-Help is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, class or family status.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
Experience:
- Climate Finance: 7 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Chicago, IL: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
