Program Director, Transportation Electrification

Position Summary:

The Director, Transportation Electrification is responsible day-to-day for managing TEP to ensure steady progress towards the goals and targets set forth in the Zero Emission 2028 Roadmap. This includes, but is not limited to: leading  strategic goal setting for the partnership, securing new corporate and public sector partners, leading grant-writing to advance TEP initiatives, planning and executing regular meetings and convenings of the Partnership, engaging partners in a variety of initiatives, and crafting and shaping related policies. The Director of Transportation Electrification  reports to the SVP Market Transformation and coordinates closely with the CEO on TEP strategy; the Director  participates in LACI’s Management Team.

What You’ll Do:

• Manage the Transportation Electrification Partnership: The Director  manages the day-to-day of LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) to advance the ambitious regional goals set by its members. The Director ensures that the 25+ partners in TEP are coming together to achieve steady progress towards the ambitious goals the partnership established in the  Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap. This will entail:
  • Working closely with the SVP of Market Transformation and CEO to determine annual goals for TEP, plan the strategies and actions needed to achieve those goals, and oversee day-to-day implementation and evaluation of those actions.
  • Engaging existing TEP members to stay active  (e.g., identifying opportunities for each partner to contribute thought leadership to advancing TEP’s goals).
  • Recruit new corporate and public sector partners for TEP to ensure financial stability of the Partnership and new insights and energy for the Partnership.
  • Planning and executing meetings of TEP members and  key stakeholders—and engaging thought and policy leaders in conversations to inform current and future priorities, including annual events (TEP Retreat, TEP Summit), quarterly partnership meetings, monthly member working group meetings, and regular Leadership Group meetings.
  • Leading TEP’s 2024 International Study Trip to meet with transportation electrification leaders–public and private sector–in key European cities.
  • Crafting and shaping related policies at the local, state and federal levels with LACI leadership and TEP members.
• Oversee Implementation of Specific Research Grants/Projects: Oversee the implementation of relevant state and federal grants secured for research and implementation projects to advance TEP goals and targets.
• Budgeting and Grant Writing/Management: Work with the SVP of Market Transformation  to create the annual transportation budget. Lead relevant grant writing opportunities, coordinating with the Development Team.
• Staff and Consultant Management: Manage staff (currently 2) to ensure that they are actively engaged in and supporting TEP as appropriate with the JD for their roles, and to actively cultivate  growth and career pathing opportunities, as appropriate.  Additionally, hire and manage interns and consultants, as needed.
• Subject Matter Expertise and Startup Engagement:  Help source, vet, recruit, select early stage clean transportation company applicants to LACI’s programs. Support LACI startups by facilitating connections to TEP events and partners, where appropriate.
• Represent LACI and TEP externally:  Engage regularly with policymakers, industry leaders, startups, NGO and CBO communities and speak at related conferences on behalf of LACI and TEP. Oversee the publication of LACI’s zero emission transportation newsletter and provide strategic guidance for the development of TEP related MarCom materials.

Why You’re Right for the Job:

• You’re  a natural leader: With superior supervising, management, and interpersonal skills, you have the ability to connect with people and connect people to each other, enabling you to build strategic partnerships and lead mutually beneficial collaborations across groups with seemingly different interests.
• You’re politically savvy: You have the ability to digest political and market signals, and incorporate those insights into strategic decision-making.
• You have exceptional project management and leadership expertise: You’ve mastered project management frameworks & methodologies, with the ability to break the big picture down into manageable plans and  to help others understand the best way to track and communicate project goals, decisions, obstacles, and deliverables.
• You are adaptable, strategic and agile: You naturally anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan, and when things (inevitably) don’t go according to plan — you know how to roll with the punches.
• You have experience in transportation electrification and understand the needs of the sector: You have worked in transportation electrification related policy, OEMs, mobility, and/or goods movement, and see scaling electric vehicle technology as critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as to advancing equity through improved air quality, green jobs and access to mobility.
• Public speaking doesn’t scare you at all: In fact, you have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with and between a variety of stakeholder groups and project teams. You know how to synthesize and translate complex information for a broad spectrum of audiences, from technologists to policymakers to community leaders.

Requirements:

Basically, we want to know you can get the job done. This means you have:

• BA/BS degree in relevant field, preferred
• 6+  years related experience, preferred
• Experience in deploying innovation as a city staff member and/or with local governments as well as with subject matter experts to scale equitable climate action
• Strong project management skills including ability to assess dependencies, manage details, adhere to deadlines, and follow up on action items without micromanagement
• Passionate about helping cities to innovate to creatively and effectively deploy climate solutions
• Approaches opportunities and challenges with an empowered, resourceful mindset
• Ability to be flexible in approach and pivot when necessary to achieve project objectives
• Demonstrates LACI’s core values: catalytic, systemic, inclusive and impact-oriented
• Strong interpersonal skills as LACI is a fast-paced matrixed organization in which cross collaboration across other internal teams and programs is essential for success
• Strong oral, written and presentation skills;  ability to communicate clearly and effectively with and between stakeholder groups, project teams, and internal staff
• Ability to manage up, consciously establishing a good working relationship with your supervisor to ensure mutual success
• Proven ability to manage project budgets with multiple funding sources

Work Requirements

• Must work onsite from LA office two to three days/week, some travel may be required

Position Details:

This is a full-time position, starting immediately. LACI operates out of the La Kretz Innovation Campus, in the bustling Downtown LA Arts District. Since we are rapidly growing, you will be getting in on the ground floor at LACI, with the opportunity to evolve with us and shape your future here.

Salary Range: Director Range $88-109k commensurate with experience, education, skills, etc and total compensation package including health benefits, 401k match, professional development, commuter benefits and more.

In addition to working on a campus with other innovators, we offer industry competitive benefits including: paid holidays, vacation/sick time, health benefits, 401(k) plan with match, and paid parking (with EV charge stations). We also support alternative transportation with a metro pass and bikeshare for every employee.