Partnerships Manager
Why you want to work here...
GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. GRID is an entrepreneurial, high-growth non-profit organization that provides direct solar installation and project development; clean mobility options; workforce training and service learning opportunities; and low-income solar policy advocacy.
Our Vision: a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone.
Our Mission: to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy.
Based in Oakland, California, GRID has 8 regional offices and affiliates serving all of California, Colorado, Mid-Atlantic/Washington D.C. region, and Tribal Lands within the U.S. Additionally, GRID has international operations in Nicaragua, Mexico, and Nepal. GRID has a dedicated staff of 400 and growing!
What It's Like At GRID…
At GRID, we care about each other and know that each employee has a whole self that includes life outside of work. Our culture supports learning, growth and well-being of all of our team members. Every member of GRID Alternatives must be dedicated to participating in the organization's equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) work.
GRID Alternatives provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. Because we value EID at GRID Alternatives, we encourage folks from all backgrounds to apply, even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications.
- Hired CA candidates must be able to pass a screening for drugs that are illegal in the state of California, including: amphetamine, cocaine metabolite, opiates, and PCP.
About Solar Access for Nationwide Affordable Housing (SANAH), a Solar For All Program...
Funded and overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), GRID Alternatives is leading a ten-organization team of mission-driven nonprofit affordable housing providers and clean energy allies to develop and implement the Solar Access for Nationwide Affordable Housing Program (SANAH).
SANAH is designed to maximize household and community benefits and advance justice while reducing unhealthy pollution and addressing climate change. By providing financial assistance in the form of grants and incentives and connecting larger scale projects to loans — along with technical assistance from organizations with deep experience in equitable deployment of residential-serving renewable energy — SANAH will support equitable solar deployment for over 35,000 households living in single- and multifamily affordable housing across 29 priority states and territories.
Program benefits include expanded access to solar and energy storage for income-qualified households; energy savings and burden relief; energy efficiency and electrification co-benefits; job training and inclusive workforce development opportunities; support for American manufacturing; opportunities for small- and disadvantaged business enterprises; increased community and grid resilience; and community-centered engagement and participatory governance based on relationships of respect and trust. GRID Alternatives' SANAH program is currently under development with the EPA and partner organizations across the nation. The SANAH program is slated to launch by May 1, 2025 and will run through April 30, 2029. You can read more in GRID’s press release: https://gridalternatives.org/learn/press/press-releases/epa-awards-grid-alternatives-solar-all-grant
SANAH builds on GRID’s experience over the last 20 years as the nation’s largest nonprofit solar energy provider, and Solar For All is modeled, in part, on programs and initiatives that GRID has helped to pioneer through its Energy For All Program, which brings solar and its benefits, including nearly $700m in savings to income-qualified households and families in tandem with nation-leading workforce development programming.
The Opportunity...
Partnership Management and Administration
- Lead the multi-state coalition of SANAH's nine partner organizations: Habitat for Humanity International, NeighborWorks America, National Equity Fund, Enterprise Community Partners, National Housing Trust, Housing Partnership Network, LISC, Rewiring America, World Resources Institute.
- Manage the relationships with SANAH’s nine partner organizations and oversee the successful implementation of contracts, scopes of work, deliverables, and reporting.
Multi-stakeholder Communication & Coordination
- Ensure productive collaboration between SANAH’s program partners and other stakeholders, including GRID staff spanning multiple departments, to strategically implement SANAH’s scope of work.
- Maintain effective communication channels across relevant GRID departments and program partners to promote relationship-building, alignment, and ensure successful implementation of workplan and partner contract scopes.
- Support the development of a positive, collaborative, and cohesive team culture—internally and with partners—fostering alignment and inclusion.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Budgeting
- Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and partner deliverables with a focus on equitable outcomes.
- Track and manage partner contracts, budget and timely invoicing as well as support any other administrative needs. Work closely with quality assurance and compliance staff to ensure that partners are complying with federal EPA subaward requirements.
- In partnership with the Program Director, proactively monitor and evaluate program progress, identify risks, manage change and source creative solutions to ensure program compliance and the attainment of shared goals.
Equity and inclusion
- Apply a strong equity lens to all aspects of the program and partnerships, ensuring alignment with GRID's mission and core values.
- Ensure the partners achieve equity outcomes through robust equity inputs, continuous evaluation, and change management when needed.
What You Need To Bring To This Role...
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity, with a strong understanding of the connection between the energy system and economic and environmental justice.
- Track record of building relationships with external partners to implement large, multifaceted programs, managing diverse stakeholders, contracts, budgets and deliverables to cultivate productive partnerships and programmatic outcomes.
- Stellar interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Strong project/program, interpersonal and relational skills, and inclusive decision-making abilities
- Flexibility and adaptability with an ability to inspire positive, collaborative, active, and proactive problem-solving amid diverse and ongoing challenges.
- Organized, attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple priorities.
- Working knowledge of relevant software technologies: Microsoft Office and Google Suite, Zoom, task management tools (such as Asana), file management systems, and other tools in common use for program administration and management.
It would be great if you also had…
- Knowledge of the solar, renewable energy sector in the US and/or affordable housing landscape.
- Experience with large federal grant/program implementation
- Existing relationships with any of the SANAH program's nine program partners
- Professional or lived experience with affordable housing and environmental justice
- Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) tools (such as Salesforce)
Where you will sit and the places you may go…
This position may require a small amount of out-of-town travel for partner meetings and special projects such as company-wide celebrations or team-building retreats, etc. Availability to work nights and weekends may very rarely be required.
GRID Alternatives may provide vehicles for work travel and/or travel reimbursement for personal vehicle use. In this instance, applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record.
Let's Talk Money!
This is a full-time, exempt position which can be located anywhere in the United States. Salary pay commensurate with experience within the pay band
(up to $90k annually), plus the benefits below.
How We Take Care Of You...
Medical, Dental, Vision/Eye Care insurance, 5 weeks paid time off (PTO),13 paid holidays, Commuter Checks, 403b Retirement Plan, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), STD, LTD, and AD&D insurance
Ready to Apply?
Submit a resume describing your interest. Due to the high volume of inquiries, mailed and emailed applications are not accepted. Please do not call and/or email requesting an update.
Thank you for your interest in GRID Alternatives! 
