Posted on July 13, 2012

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Volunteer Relations and Training Fellow

Founded during the 2001 California energy crisis, GRID Alternatives’ (www.gridalternatives.org) mission is to empower under-resourced communities by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment, and training. GRID Alternatives provides these services exclusively to low-income households, including families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. We install solar electric systems for low-income homeowners with volunteers and job trainees, enhancing long-term housing affordability by reducing the household’s energy costs, and we expand economic opportunity for job seekers by providing skills and training in the growing field of solar power.

GRID Alternatives’ Bay Area office is looking for a full-time Volunteer Relations and Training Fellow (VRTF) to join our Solar Corps Program. The Solar Corps Program is an opportunity for highly motivated and enthusiastic people to join GRID Alternatives for a one-year term. Corps members will gain valuable experience in the solar and non-profit industry to help launch their career while making significant contributions to GRID Alternatives and the broader community. The VRTF will work together with a dynamic team of development, construction, outreach, and project management staff to recruit and train volunteers, nurture long-term relationships with these volunteers as integral supporters of GRID’s mission, and will build and maintain relationships with partner organizations.

Job Duties

• Support and best utilize our volunteer base. Tasks include volunteer recruitment (as necessary), developing volunteer training materials, conducting volunteer orientations, coordinating and organizing volunteer communications via phone and email, scheduling volunteers on specific work projects, and supporting our local volunteer base with additional resources.
• Maintaining the volunteer database such that every department in GRID has up-to-date volunteer information and volunteers receive timely communications.
• Take an active role in building and expanding partnerships with community-based job training organizations. Tasks include reaching out to local job training providers, developing plans to integrate GRID Alternatives' programs into their curriculum, conducting orientations, coordinating job trainee installs, and helping leverage GRID Alternatives' industry contacts to support the job training providers in placing their graduates into paid positions.
• Work with the Regional Director to identify and pursue programmatic partnerships and funding opportunities with job training organizations.
• Work with the Development Officer and Regional Director to leverage local volunteer opportunities for fundraising purposes. Tasks include cultivating individual donations from the local volunteer base, identifying corporate sponsorship opportunities through volunteers, and providing volunteers with structured opportunities and direct support to collect sponsorships for their volunteer work (such as for the Solarthon).
• Act as a liaison between the Development and Construction teams so that goals of corporate sponsored installations and media events are met in the field.
• Further develop our local Team Leader program so that guidelines are clear and implemented on a consistent basis. Develop activities to better train, assist and retain Team Leaders.

Position Requirements

• Excellent communication skills: ability to meet with partner organizations, speak to groups about GRID Alternatives’ work, be a positive GRID Alternatives representative in the community, garner support for the GRID mission
• Comfort working and communicating with diverse populations
• Proficient with computers, database management, and MS Office
• Attention to detail, especially in data entry and with deadlines
• Flexible and willing to embrace change, go the extra mile, and bring ideas and energy to rapidly growing organization
• Passion for environmental justice and working with low-income communities, sustainability, affordable housing, and/or the environment
• Available for occasional weekend and evening work
• Able to travel throughout the Bay Area. GRID Alternatives provides travel reimbursement and applicant must have own reliable form of transportation and hold a valid drivers license. Occasional travel to other GRID offices in California may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with individual and corporate fundraising
• Presentation / teaching experience
• Proficiency with Salesforce.com
• Volunteer management experience
• Understanding of job training programs
• Experience and knowledge of solar energy

Office Location

The GRID Alternatives Bay Area office is located in Oakland, CA. This position requires occasional travel to residential sites and partner organizations throughout the Bay Area counties.

Compensation

All Solar Corps members are provided with hourly compensation at $8.00/hr, health and dental benefits, paid time off, continuing education opportunities, and an additional end of year award of $3600 upon completion of the one-year program. The VRTF is a non-exempt, 40 hour per week position reporting directly to the Regional Director. There is possibility for advancement in the company.

Deadline/Start Date

Open until filled. Start date is mid-August.

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit both a resume and cover letter. Applications without full cover letters will not be considered. Submit resume and cover letter at www.gridalternatives.org/jobs . Click on the Bay Area Solar Corps Volunteer Relations and Training Fellow link. Please do not email or call GRID Alternatives.