Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Position Description

Position Title: Rural Sustainability Specialist

Department: Business & Community Development

Reports to: Senior Director, Office of Rural Prosperity

Positio Position(s) Supervised: N/A

FLSA Status: Exempt

*WEDC is a Wisconsin-based organization, with a remote-work first environment. Remote work is intended to be performed in the State of Wisconsin.

Position Summary

The Rural Sustainability Specialist will be responsible for overseeing community engagement, outreach and technical assistance in collaboration with the Resilience and Prosperity in Rural Northern Wisconsin program. The Rural Sustainability Specialist will play a key role in advancing our mission to improve access to sustainable energy technologies across rural and Tribal communities as WEDC works to build an Economy for All. This project-based, benefits-eligible role is not to exceed thirty-six (36) months.

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Responsibilities

The Rural Sustainability Specialist will spend a majority of their time in these activities:

Manage community relationships with Bayfield County, municipal partners, and with the Red Cliff Tribe.
Collaborate with the program leadership team to identify opportunities for community engagement and resource navigation for participating communities.
Develop technical assistance tools and provide project planning support that share learnings from the Resilience and Prosperity in Rural Northern Wisconsin program with rural and Tribal communities across the state.
Establish and maintain partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to provide technical assistance on sustainable energy solutions across rural Wisconsin.
Monitor and implement an annual work plan to measure effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Engage with team members with a high level of trust, commitment, and accountability toward our common goals.
Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and funding programs related to rural clean energy initiatives.
Represent the organization at meetings, events, and conferences to promote rural and Tribal sustainability efforts and build strategic partnerships.
Oversee and provide periodic assessment reports of technical assistance efforts with a final report at the end of the grant period.

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Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, environmental science, engineering, sustainable technology, or a related field; or comparable education, experience, and/or training.
Minimum of 4 years of experience in economic development, clean energy, grant management, project management or a combination thereof.
Experience with providing technical assistance.
Relevant work experience managing complex, multi-partner, and/or cross-sector programs.
Previous economic or community development experience with rural and Tribal communities is preferred.

Skills and Talents:

Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong attention to detail, organizational, and project management skills.
Interest or experience in clean energy, climate change, environmental justice, social impact work, sustainability, economic development, equity, and a willingness to learn.
Self-motivated with the ability to operate successfully accomplish tasks and find solutions with little direction.
Ability and sincere interest in assisting rural areas and Tribal Nations through relationship building via individual cold calls to attending public events.
Proficiency with MS Office.

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Other Requirements:

State-wide travel will occur on an occasional basis, less than 30% of the time. Travel is anticipated to include day and overnight travel.
Possession of a valid driver's license and proof of auto insurance that meets minimum state requirements are required.
This position is eligible for reimbursement according to the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program and requires the employee to provide a mobile device that allows for phone, text, and email access.
Based on the responsibilities of this position, this position may need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

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WEDC DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT

WEDC must be a diverse and inclusive organization reflective of the businesses, communities, and people in Wisconsin and beyond. We believe that diversity drives innovation and commit to create an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace where our differences are celebrated as drivers of our organization’s performance.

TO SUPPORT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AT WEDC, WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS:

Increase WEDC’s racial diversity, specifically with Black/African American, Native American and Latinx populations;
Increase LGBTQ representation across WEDC; and
Increase the diversity of WEDC’s leadership.

TO MEET OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GOALS, WEDC WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

Create an intentional approach to recruit minority candidates by using targeted media channels to promote open positions;
Ensure formal offers are made only after a diverse pool of candidates have been considered at each hiring stage;
Identify and develop a variety of employee resource groups, including groups for African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, LGBTQ+ and more;
Post signage to highlight WEDC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion; and
Revisit EEO disclosures in our application process to highlight statements regarding WEDC’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution and EEO/Affirmative Action Employer committed to excellence through diversity. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications, and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Veteran Declaration

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.
** PROTECTED VETERAN DEFINITION

Protected veteran means a veteran who may be classified as an active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, disabled veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or recently separated veteran.

Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

Armed Forces service medal veteran means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 159).

Disabled veteran means (1) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Recently separated veteran means a veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.

* EEOC RACE/ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES

Hispanic or Latino - A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

White (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.

Asian (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.

American Indian or Alaska Native (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino) - All persons who identify with more than one of the above races.