Outreach Manager - Willamette Valley and Coast

Position: Outreach Manager, Willamette Valley and Coast 

Reports to: Senior Manager, Communications and Customer Service (CCS)

Compensation*: Competitive starting salary: $81,600 - $102,700 commensurate with skills and experience, Full Pay Range: $81,600 - $124,000

Employment Classification: Full Time, Exempt

Anticipated Start Date: Early January 2025

BACKGROUND

About Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. We serve Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista, and SW Washington customers of NW Natural. Year over year Energy Trust is recognized as one of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon.

Our Vision

Clean, affordable energy for everyone.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We recognize the lack of diversity in our industry, and we actively seek to address it with our hiring and retention practices as well as our values. We believe every person and their lived experience is integral to building a vibrant culture and delivering effective services to all customers we serve. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.

Our Location

Energy Trust offers a variety of work location options, including remote, hybrid, and in-office arrangements. We hire candidates from across Oregon and Washington; however, for the Outreach Manager, Willamette Valley and Coast position, it is preferred that the successful candidate reside in that region. The Outreach Manager will be expected to report to the Portland office at least quarterly for company-wide meetings and team meetings. 

This role involves representing Energy Trust in public settings and at community events. Ideal candidates will have experience and a strong interest in engaging with stakeholders, customers, and community members in person. The position requires primarily in-region travel, both during and outside of standard work hours.

What We’re Looking For:

The Willamette Valley and Coast Outreach Manager maintains a regular schedule of outreach activities in their designated region (Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Marion, Polk, Linn, Benton, and Lane counties) and may also support other regions to ensure a high level of awareness and engagement of Energy Trust programs, services and impact among community members and leaders, customers, contractors, cities, counties and stakeholders with a particular focus on serving rural, environmental justice and small business interests. 

As a regionally based position, the Outreach Manager, Willamette Valley and Coast engages with Energy Trust program and contractor resources assigned to serve the region, handing off leads generated through outreach activities, and establishing best practices for effective community engagement, coordination and relationship management on behalf of the organization. As the Outreach Manager, you will support community engagement, marketing and public relations activities, launch new initiatives, maintain knowledge of local priorities, and ensure Energy Trust’s participation in regional events and forums. This position broadly represents Energy Trust, including current customer offers, and organization priorities, mission, plans and budgets. The Outreach Manager is an important resource for gathering local input on community needs and Energy Trust services and helps shape and consult on program delivery and design in the region. 

What You’ll Do:

• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders and community members in the region, including utilities, municipalities, tribal governments, state and federal agency representatives, associations, trade groups, media, businesses, and community groups, as well as local organizations providing services for customers related to energy or other needs that may have a connection with energy. 
• Effectively position Energy Trust as a resource for local capacity building with community organizations and environmental justice communities. 
• Maintain effective and productive relationships with local utility contacts who conduct outreach and provide energy efficiency information to customers and stakeholders, and support the delivery of utility community-based program collaborations in region. 
• Assist Energy Trust staff and leadership in understanding local developments that could potentially impact program delivery or help Energy Trust meet savings or generation goals. Serves on local groups with energy efficiency or renewable energy development initiatives. Initiates forums to gather insights. 
• Serve as a member of the Energy Trust outreach team and supports the development and use of processes, practices and tools that result in coordination of outreach activities; utilizes customer relationship management system and other tracking tools for documenting and reporting on outreach activities. 
• Provide first-stop information and advice on energy efficiency and renewable energy to customers and contractors seeking a local resource, and transitions that lead to the most appropriate resources. 

• Serve as relationship manager for community-based organizations in the region seeking to work with Energy Trust and point of contact for municipalities engaged in energy planning.

• Focus activities to make progress toward Energy Trust customer, community and diversity, equity and inclusion objectives and metrics.
• Recommend memberships and maintains contacts with local civic organizations, such as rotary clubs or chambers of commerce, to provide updated Energy Trust materials and information and engage local leaders.
• Identify relevant community events for Energy Trust participation, such as cultural events, energy fairs, county fairs, home shows, solar/green home tours and trade shows. Engages in these opportunities through staffing, organizing events, referring to other resources or participating in event steering committees. 
• Develop, support and deliver presentations to various audiences on Energy Trust, its programs, services and impact in the region, including civic events, chambers of commerce, local government forums, conferences, and other venues.
• Serve as a spokesperson for local media.  
• Identify communication needs such as fact sheets, photography, case studies, newsletter articles, or other documentation pertinent to the region, and plans engagements and events for Portland-based staff and board visiting the region.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
• Perform all functions of the job in a safe manner.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no supervisory responsibilities. Role may require coordination and training of interns, program field staff and community representatives. 

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree (communications, public relations, or related field) – or equivalent experience – preferred. 
• 5 years of experience deploying outreach strategies with an emphasis on energy efficiency or renewable energy development or related field. 
• Experience working with and engaging diverse communities.

• Strong connections in the Willamette Valley and Coast and knowledge of the region, and its key stakeholders and community characteristics.

• Experience planning, organizing and coordinating large-scale community initiatives and events and mobilizing resources to achieve success.
• General knowledge of housing, built environment, energy efficiency and renewable energy development programs, Energy Trust cash incentives, state and federal tax credits and other available funding.
• Experience working with utilities on outreach activities – preferred. 
• Awareness of community events and relationships with associations and other groups in the region that would be opportunities for presentations/tabling. 
• Strong sales or customer service skill background with experience directly assisting customers at events and in other settings. 
• Experience tracking and reporting customer and stakeholder relationships in a data management system.

• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Excel, Power Point and Word software applications, and familiarity with SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  
• Strong writing and communications skills, as well as experience presenting to large groups.
• Experience serving as a spokesperson and working with the media.
• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Valid driver’s license in the State of Oregon; position entails travel mostly within Oregon.

The above information is designed to outline the functions and position requirements of this job. It does not identify all tasks that may be expected, nor address the performance standards that must be maintained.

What You’ll Get:

• Health/dental/vision insurance
• Employer sponsored and paid life/disability
• 401(k) with a company contribution of 6% of your salary after 90 days of employment
• TriMet pass
• Access to health and dependent FSA/HSA accounts
• Generous paid vacation, holidays and sick days
• Paid volunteer hours
• Employee assistance program
• Career advancement opportunities
• Great colleagues and culture
• Flexibility to work from home and/or an office space at the Portland, OR location  
• Work from home Energy Trust laptop provided, including keyboard, mouse, headset and monitor
• $750 annual stipend for home office set up
• Read more about our benefits here 
• Outreach Managers will receive stipends and reimbursement to support travel and outreach responsibilities 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: 

Please submit a cover letter and resume on Energy Trust’s website www.energytrust.org/About/careers.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that candidates from certain demographics are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification—for example, women and People of Color. At Energy Trust we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace—if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. 

Energy Trust of Oregon is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, mental and physical disability, political affiliation, union membership, status as a parent, military or veteran status or other non-merit based factors. We will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the application, interviewing and employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, contact us. Energy Trust of Oregon is an E-Verify employer. This policy is applicable to all phases of the employment relationship, including hiring, transfers, promotions, training, terminations, working conditions, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Energy Trust is committed to pay equity. Energy Trust is committed to fair employment practices and non-discrimination, including pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class (race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation) in the payment of wages or screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. We determine salary by completing a review of your application materials to evaluate your related education, experience and training.

*Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, and certifications in the pay equity assessment to determine equitable salary placement. Candidates should expect compensation offers within the starting compensation range. The full pay range is included to show the earnings potential for this position with sustained high performance.   

www.energytrust.org