This professional-level position is responsible for developing and implementing work plans for the California Renewable Energy Program with a focus on renewable energy project siting and planning within the California desert and Central Valley. The California Representative will serve as an energy planning and policy expert and liaison to other organizations, federal/state/local agencies, elected officials and their staff, the media and the general public. The position requires excellent communications and writing/editing skills to provide energy planning and policy analysis and to draft and revise documents and publications. 

Assignments are results- or goal-oriented, requiring substantial discretion on the part of the position in determining how to design and implement program elements to meet the assigned goals (e.g., conservation of at-risk species through ecosystem and habitat protection while identifying and supporting environmentally suitable and sustainable renewable energy development). This position requires interdepartmental collaboration between Field Conservation and Landscape Conservation, including the Renewable Energy and Wildlife Program. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Monitor and strategically engage in regional renewable energy planning activities at the federal, state and local government levels in coordination with other Defenders’ staff.
• Monitor and strategically engage in administrative reviews and permitting for individual renewable projects at the federal, state and local government levels in coordination with other Defenders’ staff.
• Formulate guidance and recommendations to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, county planning commissions and boards of supervisors, other relevant agencies and renewable energy project proponents regarding the potential impacts of projects, suggestions for modifications and alternative locations.
• Engage renewable energy developers, utilities and mining companies to identify environmentally suitable and sustainable locations for project development and recommend changes to proposed projects or alternative locations as necessary to support Defenders’ goals.
• Study and investigate federal, state and local land use projects and policies that would impact at-risk species and their habitats, including but not limited to monitoring the implementation of habitat protection measures and the impacts to special status species from renewable energy and transmission projects.
• Support Defenders Geographic Information Systems data collection, mapping and planning effort for renewable energy in the Central Valley and California desert regions.
• Provide timely and relevant information to our membership and the general public about the implications for development of renewable energy projects on wildlife and natural resources.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and management of federal, state and local agencies having responsibility for management of natural resources and their habitats, and other prominent conservation NGOs involved in natural resource management and conservation; identify new partners as appropriate.
• Coordinate with Defenders’ Renewable Energy and Wildlife Program on various federal renewable energy and infrastructure policies and planning efforts.
• Recommend protest, appeals and litigation where appropriate and provide professional and technical support to management and legal staff.
• Represent Defenders in coalitions, public meetings, hearings, press events, conferences, other forums, and in general communications with public officials, the media, Defenders’ membership, the donor community, and the general public.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.