Executive Director

Description

The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) is seeking a strategic, thoughtful, emotionally
intelligent, and inspiring leader who can advance its mission to strengthen energy efficiency
across the Commonwealth and guide the organization through a transition to its next phase of
stability and growth. VAEEC is looking for a leader who can bring steady organizational
management, staff development, financial stewardship, and clear direction to a small and
committed team. The Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors, manage an
average annual operating budget of approximately $350K, and supervise up to 3 full-time
employees.

The Executive Director will be responsible for carrying out VAEEC’s strategic plan by advancing
policy priorities, supporting membership committee-led work, delivering biannual member
convenings, growing membership, and strengthening funding through grants and partnerships.
To advance policy priorities, VAEEC is looking for a professional who can represent the
organization with credibility in legislative and regulatory venues, including stakeholder
workgroups, in legislative coordination and development efforts, in Virginia State Corporation
Commission (SCC) proceedings, and with state agencies.

The ideal candidate will bring strong relationship-building skills, experience navigating public
policy, organizational financial management and operations, and demonstrated understanding of
energy efficiency issues in Virginia. Moreover, the ideal candidate will be someone who values
collaboration, can maintain a positive internal organizational culture, and is prepared to work
closely with the Board of Directors, members, state partners, utilities, local governments, and
the wider energy efficiency and clean energy community.

This position is based in Virginia, with a preference for location in or around Richmond, VA. The
position is eligible for a hybrid work environment. Periodic travel to other regions of the
Commonwealth will be required

Job Duties

The Executive Director’s primary responsibilities will include:

● Guide development and lead implementation of VAEEC’s Strategic Plan to advance the
organization’s established objectives and outcomes in partnership with staff, the Board
of Directors, and stakeholders.
● Ensure VAEEC’s financial health through financing planning, budgeting, operational
excellence, and reporting for an approximately $350K annual operating budget.
● Seek out and write grant funding proposals and perform other financial development
activities.
● Recruit and grow a diverse VAEEC membership; cultivate and maintain positive
relationships with VAEEC members.
● Cultivate and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and
partners, including state agencies, utility companies, local governments, and other
public, private and nonprofit entities.
● Strategically advance VAEEC’s energy efficiency policy and regulatory priorities,
including supporting legislative priorities and engaging in relevant Virginia State
Corporation Commission (SCC) proceedings.
● Represent VAEEC through active involvement in state agency and related stakeholder
processes, stakeholder organizations, meetings and events, at conferences, and in
media interviews and external communications.
● Develop and execute VAEEC’s operations, marketing and outreach plans, systems for
program and grant reporting, and biannual member events and special programs.
● Manage and facilitate VAEEC’s member committees: Finance, Education and Events,
Membership, Policy and Programs, Technology, and Workforce.
● Support the Board of Directors meeting delivery, financial and program reporting,
cultivation and training of new board members, ensuring compliance with bylaws and
policies, and in organizational strategic planning.
● Cultivate VAEEC’s values within the organization and set a professional, healthy, and
positive tone.
● Recruit, manage and coach VAEEC staff to ensure individual excellence in the
performance of their assigned responsibilities and collective excellence in contribution to
success of the organization; integrate volunteers and interns in an effective manner.

Skills Required

A candidate who demonstrates many of the following qualifications is preferred:

● Ten (10) years of progressive organizational leadership experience, including executive
management experience or responsibilities in a non-profit, membership-based, or energy
trade organization.
● Strong understanding and demonstrated history in non-profit financial management,
grant management, reporting, and a track record of successful fundraising.
● Demonstrated experience in cultivating strong Board of Directors relationships and a
familiarity with facilitating Board governance.
● Proven ability and experience in navigating and leading through organizational change,
including transition, stabilization, or growth periods.
● Demonstrated experience as a compassionate, inclusive, and inspirational leader with
high emotional intelligence who has a track record of creating a positive environment of
collaborative decision-making.
● Experience working or leveraging existing professional relationships with state
legislators, state agencies, utility companies, local governments, and other public,
private and nonprofit entities.
● Experience building partnership relationships across sectors.
● Knowledge of Virginia’s energy (and related) policy environment.
● Experience preparing, coordinating, or delivering input for regulatory proceedings or
legislative processes.
● Expertise in related issues, including clean energy, housing, project finance, public
health, etc.
● Experience developing and producing membership events, workshops, webinars, or
related events.
● Experience in developing and executing outreach, marketing, or stakeholder
communications strategies.
● Experience serving as an organizational representative in public forums, conferences, or
media settings.
● Experience with strategic planning processes.
● Understanding of organizational risk management issues.
While no one person may possess all these preferred qualifications, VAEEC encourages
candidates to apply who may bring many of these qualities or experiences to the organization

Work Schedule

– Hybrid work environment
– Residence in or around Richmond, VA or ability to regularly travel to Richmond, VA.

Additional Info

For more information, please visit: https://vaeec.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/VAEEC_Executive-Director-Job-Advertisement_20260109.pdf