Executive Director

The Clean Power Institute (CPI) is ACP’s 501(c)3 affiliate organization. CPI’s mission is to build the public support and workforce to fuel the clean energy future. CPI advances its mission through programming that builds a stable, skilled, and diverse workforce and creates strategic partnerships that promote the benefits of clean energy investments across the country. 

Position Summary

The Clean Power Institute (CPI) is seeking an entrepreneurial and highly collaborative Executive Director to lead the organization through its next phase of growth. Reporting to the COO of ACP/President of CPI and working closely with the CPI Board of Directors, the Executive Director will lead CPI’s day-to-day operations and develop the strategies, programs, partnerships and resources needed to expand its national impact.

CPI is building a national approach to clean energy workforce development that connects industry, educators, workforce organizations and communities to create stronger pathways into clean energy careers. The Executive Director will identify opportunities for growth, develop new programs and business cases, strengthen and scale existing initiatives, and build the partnerships and financial resources necessary to execute them. This is a hands-on leadership role, with the Executive Director expected to directly develop and execute key initiatives while leading CPI’s broader strategy and growth.

CPI’s relationship with ACP provides direct access to the companies investing in, building, operating and supplying America’s clean energy infrastructure. The Executive Director will leverage that connection to ensure CPI’s workforce and education programs respond to real industry needs, while expanding CPI’s partnerships across philanthropy, education, workforce development and communities nationwide.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

Strategy & Organizational Growth

• Lead the development and execution of CPI’s long-term vision, strategy, and operating priorities in partnership with the CPI Board of Directors and ACP leadership. 
• Build the organizational capabilities, team, systems, partnerships, and resources necessary to grow CPI from a portfolio of successful initiatives into an integrated national platform. 
• Identify opportunities for new programs, partnerships, and areas of growth; develop strategies and business cases to evaluate opportunities and bring forward recommendations for investment and execution. 
• Establish CPI as a nationally recognized leader and convener on clean energy workforce development, education, economic opportunity, and community engagement. 
• Establish clear goals and measures of success across CPI’s work and ensure accountability for execution and results.

Programs, Workforce & Education

• Lead a national workforce strategy focused on building sustainable talent pipelines in the communities where clean energy projects are developed and operated, particularly rural communities. 
• Build upon CPI’s existing workforce models and expand its reach across wind, solar, energy storage, transmission, electrical trades, manufacturing, and emerging clean energy careers. 
• Lead the creation of an integrated education-to-career strategy that introduces students to clean energy early and connects them through high school, community colleges, apprenticeships, universities, military pathways, and employment. 
• Build partnerships with K–12 systems, educators, community colleges, and national youth-serving organizations to dramatically expand clean energy career awareness. 
• Lead the development and growth of the Clean Energy Academy as the industry’s premier learning platform and the educational backbone of CPI’s national workforce strategy. 
• Ensure the Academy connects early career awareness, workforce preparation, professional development, and lifelong learning into a cohesive educational ecosystem. 
• Use data, partner feedback, and program outcomes to evaluate impact, identify opportunities, and guide the continued growth of CPI’s programs.

Partnerships, Fundraising & External Engagement

• Serve as CPI’s chief fundraiser and develop a comprehensive, diversified fundraising strategy capable of supporting CPI’s national ambitions. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with foundations, corporations, individual philanthropists, and other institutional funders interested in clean energy, workforce development, education, economic mobility, rural communities, STEM, and the future of work. 
• Develop a compelling philanthropic case for investment that connects CPI’s workforce and education mission with economic opportunity, community impact, and the long-term strength of American clean energy. 
• Ensure strong stewardship of philanthropic investments through measurable outcomes, effective reporting, compelling storytelling, and sustained relationships with funders. 
• Build a national network of strategic partnerships across philanthropy, education, workforce development, youth-serving organizations, economic development organizations, and state and regional clean energy associations. 
• Serve as a national convener capable of bringing organizations with different perspectives and capabilities together around shared workforce and education challenges. 
• Work with state and regional organizations to translate CPI’s national strategy into locally relevant programs and resources, recognizing that clean energy projects ultimately succeed at the community level. 
• Serve as CPI’s principal external ambassador and a compelling national voice on clean energy workforce development, education, economic opportunity, and community impact. 
• Represent CPI with CEOs and industry leaders, philanthropic organizations, policymakers, educators, workforce leaders, community organizations, conferences, media, and other national forums. 
• Build CPI’s national profile and reputation as a trusted, solutions-oriented organization capable of bringing industry and external partners together to solve complex workforce and education challenges.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead CPI’s day-to-day operations and team, establishing clear priorities, accountability, and expectations across the organization. 
• Develop a strong and highly collaborative partnership with the CPI Board of Directors, engaging the Board as strategic advisors, ambassadors, fundraisers, and champions of CPI’s mission. 
• Engage individual Board members strategically based on their expertise, relationships, and ability to advance CPI’s priorities, including industry engagement, fundraising, partnerships, and external visibility. 
• Provide the Board with clear updates on CPI’s performance, major initiatives, and emerging opportunities, and bring forward significant strategic priorities and recommendations for Board consideration. 
• Make CPI’s relationship with ACP and its member companies a defining strategic advantage for the organization. 
• Engage ACP member companies not simply as employers at the end of the talent pipeline, but as partners in identifying workforce needs, shaping curricula and credentials, providing career exposure, creating internships and apprenticeships, and investing in workforce solutions. 
• Position CPI as the place where the clean energy industry can collectively address workforce and talent challenges that individual companies cannot solve alone. 
• Work collaboratively with ACP leadership and staff, leveraging ACP’s industry expertise, relationships, and organizational resources while establishing a strong identity, strategy, and external presence for CPI. 
• Lead and develop CPI staff, establishing clear expectations and accountability while building an entrepreneurial and collaborative organizational culture. 
• Assess CPI’s organizational and staffing needs as the organization grows and recommend the structure, talent, and resources necessary to support its priorities.

Education, Experience & Skills

• 15+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including significant experience in a senior organizational, program, or executive leadership role. Experience in clean energy, workforce development, education, philanthropy, economic development, nonprofit leadership, government, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required; advanced degree in business, public policy, education, nonprofit management, workforce development, economics, energy, or a related field preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop long-term strategy, translate broad organizational goals into actionable plans, and lead complex programs or initiatives from concept through execution and evaluation. 
• Hands-on, execution-oriented leadership style with the ability to move between strategy and direct execution as needed to advance CPI’s priorities.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience developing business cases, managing budgets and resources, evaluating investments and opportunities, and making recommendations that support organizational growth and long-term sustainability. 
• Proven fundraising and resource development experience, with the ability to build relationships and secure support from corporations, foundations, government entities, philanthropic partners, and other funders. 
• Strong understanding of workforce and talent development issues, ideally including experience with education-to-career pathways, workforce systems, apprenticeships, skills development, or employer-led talent strategies. 
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with demonstrated ability to develop trusted partnerships across industry, government, education, philanthropy, workforce organizations, community-based organizations, and other external stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to influence, build consensus, and move complex work forward across teams and organizations where priorities, perspectives, and interests may differ. 
• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors and senior executives, including bringing forward recommendations, communicating complex issues clearly, and exercising sound judgment around matters requiring broader leadership or governance involvement. 
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams, setting clear expectations and accountability, developing talent, and holding leaders accountable for how they manage and develop their own teams. 
• Ability to lead beyond the immediate CPI team, working across ACP functions and leadership to align priorities, leverage shared resources and expertise, and advance broader organizational goals. 
• Strong organizational judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate with significant autonomy, assess risk and opportunity, make decisions with incomplete information, and recognize when an issue requires escalation or broader organizational consideration. 
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills and executive presence, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, adapt messaging for different audiences, and represent CPI credibly with senior industry leaders, funders, policymakers, educators, community leaders, media, and other external audiences. 
• Entrepreneurial and solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to identify opportunities, challenge existing approaches when appropriate, and build the strategy, relationships, resources, and organizational support necessary to move ideas forward. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead through growth and change while maintaining organizational stability, building trust, and creating an accountable, collaborative culture. 
• Ability to operate successfully within a complex affiliated organizational structure, working collaboratively with ACP leadership and staff while advancing CPI’s distinct mission, strategy, and external presence.

Job Conditions

We are a fast-paced, high-energy organization with a very ambitious agenda and a staff that is highly motivated. This position may experience high-level work demands and independent decision-making under tight timelines. Regular travel across the country for meetings or events may be required. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. ACP will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

We reasonably believe that the base salary range for this position is $250,000 to 300,000 annually. A wide range of factors are considered when making compensation decisions including and not limited to skill set, experience, training, education, knowledge, and other business and organizational needs. We offer a 401k, PTO and sick leave, commuter benefits, wellness reimbursement, and professional development/tuition reimbursements for eligible employees.