Location: Montpelier, VT
Department: Climate and Environment - China Program

Description

ISC is seeking a Senior Program Officer to support the implementation of its climate and energy programs in China and potentially elsewhere in Asia. In the near-term, the person in this position will be a primary VT-based staff person working on ISC’s two major programs in China: the Guangdong Environmental Partnership (GEP) and the US-China Partnership for Climate Action (PCA). These programs are working intensively with factories, government agencies, communities and schools in two Chinese provinces (Guangdong and Jiangsu) to identify, assess and implement effective actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency and bolstering the supply of, and demand for, renewable energy. We are doing this by providing training and peer-learning services to local climate and energy practitioners; linking Chinese practitioners with their US counterparts and leading experts; accelerating the transfer of promising practices in local climate and energy solutions; and building the capacity of Chinese partners to serve as learning and networking hubs.

The position also will provide support to other aspects of ISC’s Climate & Environment Program, including the design and implementation of a program development strategy for China and Asia, an organization-wide climate adaptation strategy, and our US-based Climate Leadership Academy.

The successful candidate will be an experienced and entrepreneurial professional with strong and proven abilities to design and implement complex programs in collaboration with multiple US- and China-based partners. Exceptional research, analytical, communications and project management skills are required. Qualified applicants will have extensive experience with community-based action to increase energy efficiency, reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to climate impacts. The person in this position works closely with other ISC staff based in both the US and Asia.

Organization Description

ISC is an independent non-profit organization that gives passionate, committed people the tools, skills, and resources they need to make their communities better places to live. Our current areas of programmatic growth include strengthening democratic institutions and citizenship in transition countries; helping communities in the US and China become more resource efficient and transition to low-carbon economy; and supporting sustainable community development – particularly in areas recovering from natural disasters or vulnerable to climate disruption. With our headquarters in Montpelier, Vermont, and offices in China, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, the Caribbean and Washington, DC, ISC has an international staff of approximately 90 people and an annual budget of approximately $14M. Since our founding in 1991 by former Vermont Governor Madeleine M. Kunin, ISC has led transformative community-driven projects in 23 countries across the globe.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the Guangdong Environmental Partnership, including the Community-Based Energy Efficiency (CBEE) component of the Guangdong Environmental Partnership. This program is working closely with three pilot communities in China’s Guangdong Province, helping them identify, assess, fund, implement and measure the impact of energy efficiency improvements;
• Support the implementation of the US-China Partnership for Climate Action, including Clean Energy Cities component. Modeled on ISC’s US-based Climate Leadership Academy initiative, this program will provide intensive training and peer-learning services to local and regional climate and energy practitioners in selected cities in the Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces
• Support the implementation of the Environment Health and Safety Academy (EHSA) in both the Guangdong and Jinagsu provinces, which is training supply chain factory managers in those provinces in EHS best practices, including energy efficieny and carbon emissions reduction;
• Provide technical and program support – research, analysis, program design assistance, strategic advice, etc. – to counterparts in ISC’s offices in Guangzhou and Shanghai
• As appropriate and feasible, provide technical and program support to ISC’s US-based Climate Leadership Academy
• Keep ISC’s VP of Climate & Environmental Programs informed about progress, issues, challenges and opportunities

Relationships

• Manages 1 - 2 project stafff
• Works closely with other members of ISC’s VT-based Climate & Environment Team, in particular another Senior Program Officer focused on the industry-oriented components of ISC’s China programs, and a part-time Program Assistant supporting implementation of both China programs
• Works closely with ISC’s China-based program staff – especially the GEP/CBEE Program Manager located in Guangzhou and the PCA/Cities Program Manager located in Shanghai

Working Conditions

• Position requires working in an office setting and some travel to China

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree and at least five years of professional experience in a field related to ISC’s mission and its Climate & Environment Program;
• Experience with, and demonstrated success in, promoting effective community-scale action to increase energy efficiency (related to both building and transportation-related energy use) and/or reduce climate pollution;
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;
• Program design and implementation experience;
• Research, analytical and budgeting skills;
• Strong work ethic, personal integrity, and sensitivity to people from different countries/cultures;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and meet deadlines;
• Above average skills in Microsoft Office suite, data processing (SAGE), email, Internet browsers, and other software; and
• Willingness and ability to travel.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, China – including language skills and understanding of local climate- and energy-related challenges and opportunities, is a huge plus;

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience;
• Medical insurance; employer paid dental insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays; employer paid life, short- and long-term disability and AD&D insurance; and Section 125 medical, dependent care, parking and transit reimbursement account;
• Employer contribution to retirement account;
• Staff development opportunities;
• Relocation assistance available.

To Apply

Submit cover letter, resume, and salary history to: employment@iscvt.org. Position open until filled. Please specify Last Name, First Initial and Senior Program Officer/China in the subject line of your email.

All applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.

ISC is an equal opportunity employer.